Red Heat Information

Red Heat is a 1988 buddy cop film directed by Walter Hill. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Moscow narc Ivan Danko, and James Belushi, as Chicago detective Art Ridzik. Finding themselves on the same case, Danko and Ridzik work as partners to catch a cunning and deadly Soviet Georgian drug kingpin, Viktor Rostavili (Ed O'Ross), who also happens to be the killer of Danko's previous partner back in Soviet Russia.

The film was released with the tagline "Moscow's toughest detective. Chicago's craziest cop. There's only one thing more dangerous than making them mad: making them partners." It was the first American film given permission to shoot in Moscow's Red Square - however, most of the scenes set in the USSR (with the exceptions of the establishing shots under the main titles and the final lengthy shot in Red Square behind the end credits) were actually shot in Hungary. Schwarzenegger was paid a salary of $8 million for his role in the film. It has found a cult audience amongst fluent Russian speakers because of the movie's weak portrayal of the Russian language and stereotypes.

Synopsis

Captain Ivan Danko of the Moscow Militia sets a trap for Viktor Rostavili, a Georgian drug kingpin and crime lord. The ambush severely backfires; Viktor flees the Soviet Union and comes to the USA, after gunning down several other Moscow cops, including Danko's partner.

Loudmouthed Chicago Police Department Detective-Sergeant Art Ridzik, investigates several local murders committed by Viktor's cartel. When Viktor is arrested in Chicago, Danko is despatched to escort him back to Moscow to face justice in the Soviet Union. Unexpectedly, Danko and Ridzik find themselves partnered together when Viktor escapes custody, gunning down Ridzik's partner in the process. Danko is frustrated when his lack of a diplomatic license prohibits him from carrying a weapon. He shares his candid observations with Ridzik: "This Chicago is very strange city. Your crime is organized, but your police is not."

Danko and Ridzik pursue Viktor and his henchmen around Chicago. Finally, Danko and Viktor commandeer a couple of Greyhound buses, then engage in a high-speed chase, smashing up half of Chicago in the process, with no sign of the cops...until Viktor is side-slammed by a train. He takes on Danko in a running, Texas-style shootout (Danko uses a Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum given to him by Ridzik); Viktor is gunned down. Danko returns to Moscow after exchanging wristwatches with Ridzik as an act of goodwill.

Cast

• Arnold Schwarzenegger as Capt. Ivan Danko
• James Belushi as Det. Sgt. Art Ridzik
• Ed O'Ross as Viktor Rostavili
• Peter Boyle as Cmdr. Lou Donnelly
• Gina Gershon as Catherine "Cat" Manzetti
• Laurence Fishburne (credited as Larry Fishburne) as Lt. Charlie Stobbs
• Richard Bright as Det. Sgt. Gallagher
• J. W. Smith as Salim
• Brent Jennings as Abdul Elijah
• Sven-Ole Thorsen as Nikolai, the Russian Danko fights in the snow

Reception

The movie had a mixed response from critics.

Box office

The movie was a box office success, but was far outpaced by Schwarzenegger's other comedy film in 1988, Twins.

Home media

The film was a success on home rentals.

Media Type	Release date	Country	Publisher	Format	Region Code	Ratio	Resolution	Audio	Subtitles	Notes	REF
VHS	1 January 1990	United Kingdom	Cinema Club	PAL	N/A	Unknown	480i Analog	Stereo	No	Part of Double Pack Conan the Destroyer/Red Heat.
VHS	9 June 1998	United Kingdom	Cinema Club	PAL	N/A	Unknown	480i Analog	Stereo	No	Part of Triple Pack Gunmen / Wanted Dead Or Alive / Red Heat .
VHS	1 October 1999	United Kingdom	Cinema Club	PAL	N/A	Unknown	480i Analog	Stereo	No	N/A
DVD	20 May 2002	United Kingdom	Momentum	PAL	2	16:9	480p Digital	English: Dolby Digital 5.1	English	Additional Audio Options German:Surround Sound and Spanish:Mono
DVD	10 October 2005	United Kingdom	Momentum	PAL	2	16:9	480p Digital	English: Dolby Digital 5.1	English	Part of Quadruple Pack Total Recall, Red Heat, Raw Deal and Red Sonja.
DVD	4 August 2008	United Kingdom	Optimum Home Releasing	PAL	2	16:9	480p Digital	English: Dolby Digital 5.1	English	N/A
Blu-ray	28 June 2010	United Kingdom	Optimum Home Releasing	PAL	A/B/C	16:9	1080p Digital	English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1	English	N/A
Blu-ray	25 October 2010	United Kingdom	Optimum Home Releasing	PAL	A/B/C	16:9	1080p Digital	English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1	English	Part of Quadruple Pack Total Recall, Red Heat, Raw Deal and Red Sonja.