alexanderdavies-99382 "Torrid Zone" was the final film with real life friends, James Cagney and Pat O' Brien. They made several memorable films together for the studio, "Angels With Dirty Faces" being the best. The above is a light-hearted and amusing film about the various struggles on a Mexican plantation. The script is fairly standard but the cast really a lot to the screenplay by giving good performances and demonstrating a flair for light comedy. Ann Sheridan is a very good leading lady for James Cagney. She plays a card shark and nightclub singer who is on the run. They and O' Brien play off each other to amusing effect. The gunfight scenes add a bit to the proceedings as well.Released in 1940, "Torrid Zone" probably did respectable business at the box office.

John T. Ryan HAVING OPENED ON Broadway at The Times Square Theatre (August 14, 1928 to April 29, 1929), the Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur comedy had been adopted many times to the screen, of both the Movie and TV varieties.AS FAR AS theatrical productions are concerned, we had various "Front Pages" in 1931, 1940 (as HIS GIRL Friday) and 1974. In 1988, we were presented with SWITCHING CHANNELS; in which the setting and business underwent sort of a superficial 'plastic surgery', transforming the subject's media from the printed page to the electronic world of a Cable News Channel.BUT ONE FILM that is often overlooked as a reworking of the original play is the James Cagney/Anne Sheridan/Pat O'Brien vehicle, TORRID ZONE (Warner Brothers, 1940). Perhaps the extreme change of locales and business that makes up the heart of the story were transformed so drastically because of another production, over at Columbia Pictures.THIS WAS THE very same year that Howard Hawks' HIS GIRL Friday was released. Being that this was THE FRONT PAGE with a sex change for character Hildy Johnson (to Rosiland Russell's feminine guile), why would Warners bring out a picture, which would repeat all of the same action and story? HENCE, THE TRANSFORMATION from newspapers to a banana plantation in a fictional Central American country.IN THE CAST, we find Mr. James Cagney as the main character, who is the one being tricked into staying on as manager of the plantation. Doing the manipulation is Mr. Pat O'Brien, as the conniving, lying and totally unscrupulous big shot; who will do anything to exact the desired tasks from the now former employee.WITH THE CASTING of Pat O'Brien in this role, it was a sort of 180 degree turnabout from his portrayal of Hildy Johnson in THE FRONT PAGE of 1931. It was also a sort of reversal of on-screen images for Cagney and O'Brien; making Pat the heavy and Jimmy the innocent patsy.* IN PLACE OF a lot of what we can only call "Damon Runyonesque" type of underworld characters, the Central American gives us Banditos. George Tobias portrays 'Rosario' and is supported in highly exaggerated and now politically incorrect characters of Sancho and Carlos (George Reeves & Victor Killian); doing some very 'Speedy Gonzalez' type dialect.LIKE ALL THE other versions of the play, it's strictly a comedy or (more precisely) a Farce; being a true farce, much like so much of the "Media" is today.NOTE * Inspite of the roles that they portrayed and the chosen images that Jack Warner and company had chosen for them, Cagney and O'Brien were basically the opposite in real life. The 'brash, cocky Cagney was much more introverted and O'Brien's personality was outgoing and extroverted. Can you say "Typecasting?"

vincentlynch-moonoi This film is a very good example of the difference between which is more important you -- reality or an entertaining film? This is an entertaining film. No question about it. And yet, as I sat there watching it, I logically felt it included so much that I didn't like. Let's start with Pat O'Brien. Was he a really good actor? For me, the answer is no. He talked too fast and seemed to think that good acting was nothing more than raising his voice. Yet most people -- including me -- usually enjoyed him on the screen. Even James Cagney can't be considered a good actor. I remember watching a Cagney film once with an Asian friend, and he kept asking me why Americans enjoyed someone who was so clearly overacting. And Cagney certainly was often guilty of that...although in this film he is more restrained, and as a result it is a better performance. But, the answer is that we enjoyed Cagney on the screen. Andy Devine...is that good acting? No, but there was something endearing about his buffoonery. I have to admit that George Tobias (who we usually see as a Bronx or Queens type) did well in playing a stereotypical Latin revolutionary. Stereotypes here galore, particularly in how the Latinos are depicted...lazy...stupid. And how Cagney, and particularly O'Brien treat the locals in downright disgraceful.Yet, this is an entertaining film.Is there any really good acting here? I'd single out Ann Sheridan, who has some pretty snappy dialog in a role that highlights her acting style. Although this is more a drama, her performance reminds a lot of her performance in "I Was A Male War Bridge" with Cary Grant, although that was a comedy. No doubt, she's enjoyable on screen.Although the part isn't very substantial, also watch for George Reeves (television's Superman) as a Latino.Considering that this film was made in Hollywood, I have to admit that Warner Brothers did a pretty decent job of making it look like Central America.So, despite the many things in this film that I generally dislike, it's an interesting flick. For fun...recommended.

mark.waltz "Mister, the stork that brought you must have been a vulture!" That's how American chanteuse Ann Sheridan refers to South American plantation owner Pat O'Brien when he has her fired and deported in this reunion of the three stars of "Angels With Dirty Faces". James Cagney, with pencil thin mustache, is the nuisance hero that annoys O'Brien but is also someone he can't run the plantation without. Some might find the bandito character played by George Tobias as offensive. He recites common phrases with humorous alterations such as, Now you see the tables are inside out and I save this money for a rainstorm. At times, Tobias sounds like Bela Lugosi as Igor. The best dialog is Sheridan's romantic denials towards Cagney and her verbal sparring with Vinson. O'Brien is a borderline villain, manipulating Cagney, harassing Sheridan and threatening his two aids, . Andy Devine and Grady Sutton every time they take a collect wire from Cagney.As for Devine, it is interesting to note how maliciously Sheridan's character treats him with, such obvious contempt displayed simply because of his appearance. She never even looks him in the face. But his loyalty towards Cagney over his own boss is touching and he delivers each comical line with squeaky voiced glee. A mix of comedy, adventure and romance makes this a sure crowd pleaser.