Heatwave movies

[Ray de Galles]

Dragging my sorry arse through London's ridiculous temperatures this morning I was reminded of the oppressive heat that permeates every scene in 'Do The Right Thing'. I started to wonder about other movies where a heatwave is key to the plot or behind the character's actions.

The other film that immediately came to mind was another Spike Lee joint 'Summer of Sam', poor though it was, but I can't remember if it was just power blackouts in that or a heatwave too.

Any other suggestions? Obviously films set in the US summertime are far more likely to throw up candidates.

[Stumpy Pepys]

Body Heat
In the Heat of the Night (possibly)

[Ray de Galles]

'Body Heat' is an excellent and embarrassingly obvious call. I've not seen 'In The Heat Of The Night' for years and can't recall how key the heat is in that.

[Benjm]

Dog Day Afternoon is set in a heatwave, I think. It comes across most in the bits with the crowds outside the bank.

[Gangster Octopus]

[ursus arctos]

The oppressive summer heat here is also a major player in Do the Right Thing

[ad hoc]

Dog Day Afternoon is set in a heatwave, I think. It comes across most in the bits with the crowds outside the bank.

That indeed is the meaning of the title https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days?wprov=sfla1

[ad hoc]

Double post

[elguapo4]

"The day the earth caught fire" though that was caused by us meddling humans
It's not a specific heatwave film but "Reservoir dogs "is one of the sweatiest films I've ever seen

[Benjm]

That indeed is the meaning of the title https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days?wprov=sfla1

Another entry for the lengthy list of things that I used to know but had forgotten somewhere along the way...

[Benjm]

It's not a specific heatwave film but "Reservoir dogs "is one of the sweatiest films I've ever seen

Angel Heart strongly suggests oppressive heat once the action moves south to New Orleans.

Aussie western The Proposition is uncomfortable even to watch, teeming flies and all.

[Ray de Galles]

The oppressive summer heat here is also a major player in Do the Right Thing

Sorry, am I not getting that or did you miss my mention of it in the OP?

[ursus arctos]

Missed it, soz.

Must be the heat.

[ursus arctos]

Summer of Sam also featured the dog days of August, but it will be an element of any realist film set here in the summer.

[Ray de Galles]

Yeah, that's what I was trying to recall about Summer of Sam, how crucial the heat was to the film.

I'm thinking of films where the heat is driving the plot or actions as opposed to where it just happens to be hot at the time or set in a place that's always hot.

[diggedy derek]

There was a great tweet out there a while back: "this heatwave is officially long enough to qualify as a plot device in a movie or book."

Kurosawa's Stray Dog is a prime example. Like many of his films, weather and the changes in it often marks key moments in the story.

[sw2borshch]

Rear Window

[Pietro Paolo Virdis]

Falling down with Michael Douglas

[Pietro Paolo Virdis]

'

[ursus arctos]

The heat is important to Summer if Sam (and even more important to the real story) because it caused people to go out (and to the beach, etc) when they knew they would be better off staying at home.

[treibeis]

"Hundstage", the second-best Ulrich Seidl film.

[Ginger Yellow]

Sexy Beast
Picnic At Hanging Rock/Walkabout double bill

[Gangster Octopus]

If you're going to have Walkabout, you should also be allowed Ice Cold In Alex, but they're both set in hot places.

[Fussbudget]

Not a film, but heatwaves always bring to mind the Twilight Zone episode The Midnight Sun

[Satchmo Distel]

Inherit The Wind uses the heat in court to evoke the stifling nature of Deep South Bible culture.

Bridge Over The River Kwai, maybe