Trente-sept degrés à l'ombre

I'm not sure who thought this should be labeled a comedy. In the 1970s, Peter Fonda made some quirky movies, many relegated to the drive-in theaters, which seemed fitting for his "outlaw" reputation following Easy Rider. 92 in the Shade apparently was the movie he enjoyed making the most. His best friend Warren Oates is the co-star. Key West is the setting. Lots of boats. And I'm sure there were some "herbs" in the air while shooting the film too.

This is a very loose, rambling film. Had Robert Altman directed a movie for the sole purpose of having it play at drive-ins, it would probably resemble this movie. Thomas McGuane wrote and directed it, a writer I'd never heard of before, but apparently he has a cult following.

Despite being pals in real life, Fonda and Oates are at odds throughout most of the movie. Fonda, who is referred to as "that skinny kid" by the characters played by Oates and Harry Dean Stanton, returns to the Keys from...well, it's never made clear. His father (played by William Hickey) is an eccentric millionaire who seems to be living off the wealth of his own father and Fonda's grandfather in the film, played by Burgess Meredith.

Fonda's Tom Skelton wants to get into the charter boat guide biz, much to the chagrin of the old salts whose living depends on chartered guide boats (Oates' Nicholas Dance and Stanton's Faron Carter). Skelton, despite being amiable, has a reckless rebellion streak (the outlaw strikes again...), and he he commits a needless act that sets the main conflict between he and Dance in motion.

Then there are the women...Carter's wife, played by Elizabeth Ashley, and Skelton's girlfriend (Margot Kidder). For no reason but to apparently spice up the action, the two ladies argue and then get into a cat fight during a picnic.

Little of this is funny. The film drips of atmosphere of the Florida Keys and despite the hostility their characters have toward each other, Fonda and Oates clearly are having a good time. This movie appeared on videotape in the mid '80s but was never released on DVD or BluRay. Nice to see Criterion Channel picking it up. Worth a watch if you like Fonda, Oates, or Stanton. Just don't expect a lost classic.

If you are into bell bottoms, hipsters, and quirky characters, this is your movie. Peter Fonda as usual, sleepwalks through the scenery. Warren Oates is his off kilter self, and Harry Dean Stanton is along for the ride. The supporting cast is uniformly eccentric. Unfortunately the story plays like an instructional fishing film. There are more than a few tedious moments. If you have the patience to listen carefully, some of the dialog is amusing, but not enough to sustain momentum. Ultimately, the film must be regarded as nothing more than a curiosity, with absolutely no surprises from the plot, and a very predictable ending - MERK

Don't miss this little treat of a film. If you liked The Hired Hand, this has the same laid back style that works great for a Southern story. But it's not so much the story. It's the ripe dialog and a cast of Great American Actors that make this one to catch. Warren Oates and Harry Dean Stanton make a great team of ornery fishing guides. Burgess Meredith has a great role and makes the best of it. Margot Kidder looks absolutely great here too. But Joe Spinell is worth the price of admission in a small role. The cinematography is experimental like The Hired Hand but is not as successful. Overall, this film is a gentle surprise and would be perfect for a warm evening. Recommended without hesitation.

I was a bit disappointed, because 92 in the Shade was my favorite book of that period. I even lifted it from the library in Arizona. I found it later under the seat of my pickup when I was living down on the Gulf of Mexico.

I would differ with the other reviewer, in that I don't find a comparison between this film and Fonda's other Florida picture, "Ulee's Gold." That movie was simply the best performance Peter Fonda ever gave. In "92 in the Shade," we still come away thinking Fonda's mind was elsewhere while he was acting - and 'elsewhere' was far more interesting to him.

'92 in the Shade' is only directorial effort for author and screenwriter Thomas McGuane, and that might not come as big surprise. McGuane is undoubtedly talented writer, but not much of movie director. Cinematography is beautiful and acting jobs are excellent in most part (perhaps not Peter Fonda, but he has put out much worse performances). Warren Oates is magnificent again as likable anti-hero. Two leads are supported by strong cast of character actors. Slow burning film where characters and dialogues between them are much more interesting than the overall story. This small film is definitely worth to look up.