Movie Review: Heat Lightning (1934)
Synopsis: Sisters Olga and Myra run a gas station and motel in the middle of a southwestern desert. Olga is content with her life but the younger Myra dreams of something more and becomes resentful of her sister when Olga doesn't even want her going to a dance. What Myra doesn't know is Olga's protective nature comes from a complicated past. That past catches up to Olga, however, when her criminal ex-boyfriend, George, pulls into the station while fleeing to Mexico with his partner because of his part in a robbery and murder. To make matters worse, Olga realizes she still has feelings for George, even though she knows he is bad news and may be trying to rob two wealthy women staying overnight at the motel.
Who's in it? The movie stars Aline MacMahon, Ann Dvorak, Preston Foster, Lyle Talbot, Ruth Donnelly and Glenda Farrell.
Review: I'm not the kind of person who normally picks a movie solely because of the actors that star in it. However, when I came across Heat Lightning a couple nights ago, my decision to add it to my library had much more to do with the names I recognized than the plot, which left me undecided. I wound up watching it this morning and it ended up being a good choice both because of the cast and the plot.
So, first of all, for an isolated gas station, it sure was busy. I found myself wondering how those two sisters managed to stay on their feet since it seemed like they were working night and day. This added a lot to the film too because some of the suspense and entertainment was built around who just might come driving in at any minute. This included the pair of divorcees (Donnelly and Farrell) who added a bit of comic relief to the drama while being someone instrumental to the plot because the only reason George (Foster) was sticking around with his partner, Jeff (Talbot) was the jewels they left in a safe.
The main story involving the two sisters was much more engaging than expected. Olga (MacMahon) was strict and disciplined and, after being introduced to George, it was easy to understand why while, at the same time, I did feel a bit for Myra (Dvorak) because it wasn't difficult to tell she was the kind of woman who would be miserable in that setting. It made me wonder why Olga wouldn't at least tell her a bit about her past life, to help her understand.
Olga's lingering feelings for George were an unexpected complication in the film. At first, it seemed believable when she wanted him to leave immediately only to see her eventually end up in his arms. This made the movie a lot less predictable because I wasn't sure if she would realize she once again made a mistake or if those lingering feelings would result in him once again getting away. I also liked how the movie created a bit of a parallel with Myra by having her fall in love with Steve (Theodore Newton) who turned out to be very much like George.
Jeff was a bit of a wildcard in all of it as well because of his lingering nervousness. The longer they stayed and the more nervous he became, the more I wondered if he would end up doing something impactful.
The film's ending was a bit simple but satisfying, with a surprise twist that gave Olga some much-needed closure. My only criticism is I wish it would have done the same for Myra, rather than ending on a bit of a sad note regarding her. At minimum, some comeuppance relating to Steve would have been nice. However, even without that, I didn't hate it.
Final Opinion: It's not normally the type of movie I would choose if it weren't for the recognizable cast. However, it turned out to be an entertaining drama that was worth taking the time to watch.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other movies from the 1930s:
Movie Review: Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
Movie Review: The Death Kiss (1932)
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