Red Heat on the Action Addicts Podcast

I was happy to join the Action Addicts Podcast to discuss the Walter Hill directed 1988 action movie, Red Heat, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Belushi, which worked out well since the film is just celebrating its 35th anniversary, and I love an anniversary! We talk about the history of the film, the production, some of its memorable moments and where it sits in the career arc of its star and filmmaker. 

In the story, Ivan Danko (Schwarzengger) is a Russian cop sent to Chicago to extradite a Russian drug-dealer named Viktor Rostavili (Ed O'Ross), wanted for murder back in the USSR. When Danko and his prisoner are ambushed by Viktor's gangland friends, the Russian escapes and a veteran police officer is killed. His partner, Ridzik (James Belushi), who like Danko now has a personal vendetta against Rostavili, joins forces with the soviet cop to hunt down the escapee and his gunmen. The film also stars veteran character actor Peter Boyle (note: I’m a big fan of The Friends of Eddie Coyle) and early appearances from Laurence Fishburne and Gina Gershon.

This was fun and thanks for having me. You can listen to the podcast here.

Also worth noting Red Heat recently got a very nice 4K restoration from StudioCanal, alongside other Arnold classics they’ve reissued. So these are worth checking out.