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Heat Lightning

Play trailer Poster for Heat Lightning 1934 1h 4m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Olga (Aline MacMahon) runs a hotel and gas station in the desert with her younger sister, Myra (Ann Dvorak). Olga tries to look out for the naive Myra, especially regarding her boyfriend (Theodore Newton), whom Olga doesn't like. One night, Olga sees an old love, a thief now named George (Preston Foster), on the run with his partner, Jeff (Lyle Talbot). Although Olga still cares for him, she is also suspicious about his intentions, especially since there are valuable jewels locked in her safe.
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Heat Lightning

Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Jun 20, 2013
The proletarian era at Warner Bros. was still in full swing when Mervyn LeRoy directed this crackling 1934 adaptation of a play by Leon Abrams and George Abbott. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Mar 6, 2026
2.5/4
Heat Lightning benefits from its assortment of agreeably melodramatic subplots and raft of compelling, above-average performances... Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Sep 30, 2011
B-
The ambitious plot line is as satisfying as drinking Coca-Cola in the desert to quench one's thirst. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mar 25, 2017 Itâ(TM)s a little bit depressing that this masterpiece has been around for 78 years now, and it is still almost entirely unknown. (However, Hollywood brought this on itself by releasing too many great films during the Pre-Code years.) The immediate physical presence of this location and the actors is overpowering. The day scenes are actually filmed out in the middle of the desert, and everyone looks like they are one glass of water away from passing out. Aline MacMahon looks like she stepped out of a Dorothea Lange photo. When the actors walk toward the camera, Leroy lets them come slightly too close for comfort, putting us in their space. A girl and a gas station, thatâ(TM)s all you need for a movie. See more May 17, 2009 This is a really interesting movie. It's very low-key, and has a good cast of under-appreciated actors (that seems to be the theme running in today's reviews). It does have the feeling of being just a filmed play, but the acting is really excellent, especially from Aline MacMahon, who I'm more used to seeing in comedy. See more Jun 28, 2008 It's a good movie and I like it how Jerry is amazed after Olga transforms her-self into a pretty woman See more Read all reviews
Heat Lightning

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Cast & Crew

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Aline MacMahon

Olga

Ann Dvorak

Myra

Preston Foster

George

Lyle Talbot

Jeff

Glenda Farrell

Mrs. Tifton
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Heat Lightning

Heat Lightning (1934) Heat Lightning (1934) Heat Lightning (1934) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Olga (Aline MacMahon) runs a hotel and gas station in the desert with her younger sister, Myra (Ann Dvorak). Olga tries to look out for the naive Myra, especially regarding her boyfriend (Theodore Newton), whom Olga doesn't like. One night, Olga sees an old love, a thief now named George (Preston Foster), on the run with his partner, Jeff (Lyle Talbot). Although Olga still cares for him, she is also suspicious about his intentions, especially since there are valuable jewels locked in her safe.
Director
Mervyn LeRoy
Screenwriter
Leon Abrams, George Abbott, Brown Holmes, Warren Duff
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2012
Runtime
1h 4m
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