The Rise and Fall of ‘City Heat’: A Buddy Film Gone Wrong

Kansas City, MO – In a disappointing chapter of film history, the 1984 buddy cop movie “City Heat” starring Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds fell flat at the box office despite its promising premise.

Set in the 1930s, Eastwood plays Lieutenant Speer, a Kansas City police officer whose life is disrupted by Mike Murphy, a former cop turned private eye portrayed by Reynolds. The duo, once friends, reunites over a murder case and a mysterious suitcase filled with sensitive documents. The film also features notable actors such as Richard Roundtree, Madeline Kahn, and Rip Torn.

Despite its star-studded cast and appealing storyline, “City Heat” struggled to find an audience, earning only $38.3 million against a $25 million budget. Critics were harsh in their reviews; Roger Ebert lamented the film’s failures, while Gene Siskel gave it a scathing zero stars.

Reynolds had deep regrets about his role in the film. In an interview, he shared that he felt the project hindered any future collaboration with Eastwood. “It’s regrettable the material wasn’t there, because Hollywood or maybe just Warner Bros. will never let Clint and I act together again,” he said. His disappointment stemmed from wanting their partnership to thrive, especially given their similarities as actors who gained fame through television westerns.

Things went awry early in production. Reynolds sensed he would be blamed for the film’s failures just ten days into shooting. He noted, “Clint was playing formula Clint that always worked for Clint. I was playing Jack Lemmon in this strange film where people were getting blown away.” He avoided reading reviews, fearing criticism.

The movie’s troubles can be traced back before filming began. Originally titled “Kansas City Jazz,” the screenplay written by Blake Edwards was intended to be directed by him. However, he was fired and replaced by Richard Benjamin, which Reynolds felt led to creative conflicts.

Reynolds later expressed concern about the film’s quality, stating that he could see the tension between Edwards and Eastwood. “Warner Bros. really wanted to make the film… Clint likes a director he gets along with,” Reynolds reflected.

Production challenges continued when Reynolds fractured his jaw during a stunt gone wrong. These troubles foreshadowed the film’s lack of success, leading to its critical reception that deemed it a dismal merger of buddy comedy and noir genres.

Ultimately, “City Heat” stands as an oddity in the filmography of both Eastwood and Reynolds, marking the only collaboration they ever had.