"Hot Spell" (1958)

It was based on a novel by Lonnie Coleman, who also wrote "Sam," a novel about gay life in Manhattan in the 1950s considered quite daring for its time.

I never took a shine to Shirley Booth but my grandmother never missed an episode of Hazel.

Anthony Quinn destroys every movie he's in.

I know it should be past tense, but it's too immediately present when he shows his face and starts that inevitable routine.

It’s not a classic because it doesn’t regularly show up on TCM a few times a year where people can actually see it.

There are no champions these days for most of the Paramount library.

[quote]Anthony Quinn destroys every movie he's in.

I agree you often get the same performance, just different ethnicities. But watch The Shoes Of The Fisherman sometime. The movie is trash but he's very good. He gives a very restrained performance. You can see how he was seriously considered for the role of Don Corleone in The Godfather.

I still remember seeing this on the late late show as a kid. The two Shirley's were the big draw for me.

R2 where Elieen Heckart gives sex tips to Shirley Booth is so believable. Eyeroll.

The two Shirleys...

Much like you r7, I'd seen it as a young teen late at night.

it seemed slight.

As for Anthony Quinn... often unintentionally hilarious. Must see in "Portrait in Black" with Lana Turner, Richard Basehart, and SANDA DEE. so bad it's almost good. Poor Lana is forced to drive a car.

[quote]The two Shirley's were the big draw for me.

Oh, dear.

Just watched ‘’Hot spell’’.So-so. Love Earl Holliman in anything! Did not know or even imagine Holliman was gay. As a kid I was in love with him in ‘’Police Woman’’. He was Bill Crowley along with Pepper Anderson (Angie Dickinson). The Rainmaker w/ Kate Hepburn 1956 was great. Earl Holliman is still alive at 95!

How did Anthony Quinn ever get into the movies? Maybe he was blackmailing the producers.

Paramount tried to put Shirley Booth over, but it just didn’t work.