IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Two rival newsreel photographers join forces to find an aviatrix's missing brother, who has disappeared in the Amazon rainforest.Two rival newsreel photographers join forces to find an aviatrix's missing brother, who has disappeared in the Amazon rainforest.Two rival newsreel photographers join forces to find an aviatrix's missing brother, who has disappeared in the Amazon rainforest.
- Awards
- 4 wins total
Ernie Alexander
- Projectionist
- (uncredited)
Eddie Arden
- Cycle Messenger
- (uncredited)
King Baggot
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
A sometimes thrilling adventure that is first and foremost a Clark Gable vehicle. He's as cocky and quick-witted as ever. There are some good lines and a few good laughs, but his performance completely dominates and overshadows this movie, even when he's in a chicken suit. You would think that a movie with Myrna Loy would have some great zingers back and forth with the male lead. This happens too few times, however, and Loy looks like she doesn't want to be in this movie. This is some of the least amounts of chemistry from either of these two actors that I've ever seen.
I liked the story a lot, with its focus on the "backstage" of early newsreels. Much of the satire is still true today, and this movie doesn't look dated because of it. There are some holes and only Gable is truly worth watching. There are also a few too many racist references that might make a modern viewer uncomfortable.
It's still worth watching though, even if just for the antics of Gable and the jokes about the news business.
I liked the story a lot, with its focus on the "backstage" of early newsreels. Much of the satire is still true today, and this movie doesn't look dated because of it. There are some holes and only Gable is truly worth watching. There are also a few too many racist references that might make a modern viewer uncomfortable.
It's still worth watching though, even if just for the antics of Gable and the jokes about the news business.
When I saw the first time this movie I was a teenager and now after 15 years I have the same feelings, it's a masterpiece, really a great movie of the '30s. Yes I'm a fan of Clark Gable and Myrna Loy. Everybody can enjoy the speech the timing, the screenplay. Gable at his best, don't forget that in '38 Gable and Loy were nominated King and Queen of Hollywood. Why?
Just watch the movie and immediately realized!Let's have a lot of fun and malencony of a period that will never come back again.
Walter Connoly was a great actor and his part of journalist was remarkable.
Really a must to see for all of you who like the golden period of Hollywood and the movies of his king and queen.
Just watch the movie and immediately realized!Let's have a lot of fun and malencony of a period that will never come back again.
Walter Connoly was a great actor and his part of journalist was remarkable.
Really a must to see for all of you who like the golden period of Hollywood and the movies of his king and queen.
The epitome of the madcap comedy/adventure genre! From the Japanese invasion of China to the bustle of midtown Manhatten to the Amazon jungle, never a dull moment. This could have served as the prototype for the "Indiana Jones" films or "Romancing the Stone".
War correspondent Gable is not beyond inventing a scoop if none is readily available. Myrna Loy, playing a sort of Amelia Earhart role, is duped by a rival news organization into a ploy to beat Gable at his own game. How the action moves from China to New York to a burning ship off the east coast to South America is....too complicated to describe in a short review. This may not be the best Gable film or the most convincing role ever played by Myrna Loy (although it's quite similar to her "Thin Man" roles), but it is highly entertaining. Both the filming and the story may be a little simplistic for today's taste and is certainly a far fetched plot but it's a good rip-roaring yarn nevertheless. I'll downgrade it to a 9 out of 10 only because the transfer that I saw wasn't up to the highest standards.
War correspondent Gable is not beyond inventing a scoop if none is readily available. Myrna Loy, playing a sort of Amelia Earhart role, is duped by a rival news organization into a ploy to beat Gable at his own game. How the action moves from China to New York to a burning ship off the east coast to South America is....too complicated to describe in a short review. This may not be the best Gable film or the most convincing role ever played by Myrna Loy (although it's quite similar to her "Thin Man" roles), but it is highly entertaining. Both the filming and the story may be a little simplistic for today's taste and is certainly a far fetched plot but it's a good rip-roaring yarn nevertheless. I'll downgrade it to a 9 out of 10 only because the transfer that I saw wasn't up to the highest standards.
WARNING: These comments may reveal portions of the film plot.
This is what I enjoy about classic films -- good writing, good directing, and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. It's a good laugh watching Clark Gable and Walter Pidgeon both try to woo Myrna Loy. Don't take the film too seriously, and you'll enjoy it too!
Acting: Gable, Pidgeon, and Loy all are great, although Loy doesn't quite carry off the "missing brother" pathos as well as she does the brave pilot parts.
Writing: Also good, with lots of silliness to go around, while creating a solid romantic comedy.
Direction: Jack Conway let the actors do their best, and they did it well.
Effects/Cinematography: Why did they always speed up the fight sequences in those old films? Anytime there is action, the film picks up speed. The good news is, that the actual flying sequences look pretty realistic, considering that at one point Gable climbs onto the wing of a plane to get a good shot of a ship at sea that is on fire!
Other: Makeup, music, soundtrack, etc. all are solid, but these were not a big focus for films in the 30's, so there is nothing that stands out.
OVERALL: Check it out. I'm finding myself more and more of a Gable fan all the time, and this is the kind of movie that helps that image.
This is what I enjoy about classic films -- good writing, good directing, and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. It's a good laugh watching Clark Gable and Walter Pidgeon both try to woo Myrna Loy. Don't take the film too seriously, and you'll enjoy it too!
Acting: Gable, Pidgeon, and Loy all are great, although Loy doesn't quite carry off the "missing brother" pathos as well as she does the brave pilot parts.
Writing: Also good, with lots of silliness to go around, while creating a solid romantic comedy.
Direction: Jack Conway let the actors do their best, and they did it well.
Effects/Cinematography: Why did they always speed up the fight sequences in those old films? Anytime there is action, the film picks up speed. The good news is, that the actual flying sequences look pretty realistic, considering that at one point Gable climbs onto the wing of a plane to get a good shot of a ship at sea that is on fire!
Other: Makeup, music, soundtrack, etc. all are solid, but these were not a big focus for films in the 30's, so there is nothing that stands out.
OVERALL: Check it out. I'm finding myself more and more of a Gable fan all the time, and this is the kind of movie that helps that image.
I first saw this movie when I was in my 20's, and thought it was incredibly funny, exciting, and totally out of the realm of believability. But in addition to all that, it was the magic between the characters that made it so much fun. Gable and Loy, A list stars who could carry any picture on their own, seemed to let their status go by the wayside as they just jelled on screen. Walter Pigeon was great as always, and every great character actor in the world was on board somewhere, it seemed, during it's 86 minutes or so... I loved it then, still do, and watch it once a year just because it makes me feel so good.
Did you know
- TriviaProduction was delayed in August, 1938, when three hundred African-American extras working on the film went on strike.
- GoofsWhen Chris is screening the raw footage of the plane crash, it is already completely edited with multiple camera angles and shot with various lenses, even though only one camera was supposedly used to film it, and the footage is supposed to be raw.
- Quotes
Christopher 'Chris' Hunter: I'm not distorting the truth. I'm heightening the composition.
- Crazy creditsWe wish to thank Her Majesty's Governor of Netherlands Guiana for permitting our expedition to enter the jungles of the Tottiekampu country. Our thanks also to Chief Moi of the Matawais tribe for allowing us to record for the first time the sights and sounds of the Djuka Fire Dance Ritual.
- Alternate versionsAlso available in a computer colorized version.
- ConnectionsEdited into Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939)
- SoundtracksSobre las Olas (Over the Waves)
(1887) (uncredited)
Written by Juventino Rosas
Background music on the test film shown to natives
- How long is Too Hot to Handle?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Too Hot to Handle
- Filming locations
- Tottiekampu country, Netherlands Guyana(second unit, river and jungle scenes)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,564,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 47 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Un envoyé très spécial... (1938) officially released in India in English?
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