The Hot Spot

Plot

When the drifter Harry Madox reaches a small town in Texas, he gets a job as used car salesman with the dealer George Harshaw and settles down in a hotel room…

Release Year: 1990

Rating: 6.3/10 (4,948 voted)

Critic's Score: 56/100

Director:
Dennis Hopper

Stars: Don Johnson, Virginia Madsen, Jennifer Connelly

Storyline
When the drifter Harry Madox reaches a small town in Texas, he gets a job as used car salesman with the dealer George Harshaw and settles down in a hotel room. During a fire, Harry observes that the local bank is left empty and open without any security. Sooner he plots a scheme to rob the bank, provoking a fire in his room to distract the employees. When Harry meets George's wife Dolly Harshaw, the easy woman teases him and they have sex. Harry becomes the prime suspect of the bank heist and is arrested, but Dolly provided the necessary alibi to release him and blackmails him to have a love affair with her. However, Harry falls in love for Gloria Harper, who works as accountant in the dealership. He discovers that Gloria is blackmailed by the despicable Frank Sutton and he decides to press Sutton. But in the end, Dolly gets what she wants.

Writers: Charles Williams, Nona Tyson

Cast:

Don Johnson
–

Harry Madox

Virginia Madsen
–

Dolly Harshaw

Jennifer Connelly
–

Gloria Harper

Charles Martin Smith
–

Lon Gulick

William Sadler
–

Frank Sutton

Jerry Hardin
–

George Harshaw

Barry Corbin
–

Sheriff

Leon Rippy
–

Deputy Tate

Jack Nance
–

Julian Ward

Virgil Frye
–

Deputy Buck

John Hawker
–

Uncle Mort

Margaret Bowman
–

Woman at Gas Station

Debra Cole
–

Irene Davey

Karen Culley
–

Cowgirl

Cody Haynes
–

Cowboy

Taglines:
There are only two things to do in this small town. One is watching TV . . .

Release Date: 26 October 1990

Filming Locations: Austin, Texas, USA

Opening Weekend: $112,188
(USA)
(12 October 1990)
(23 Screens)

Gross: $1,293,976
(USA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Dennis Hopper initially had in mind Theresa Russell for the role of Dolly Harshaw.

Goofs:

Continuity:
After Harry shoots Frank, the pistol's slider is seen stuck at the rear position indicating an empty magazine. Yet a second later when Harry gets off the floor, the slider is in the forward position and the hammer is cocked.

Quotes:

Frank Sutton:
So you're a tough guy, huh?

Harry Madox:
No, you're the tough guy. I'm worse.

User Review

A Steamy Masterpeice

Rating: 10/10

This movie has to rate as one of the most important American
films of the 90's. Dennis Hopper could be the next great
American director in the 21st Century. The film was sexy
without being crude. Don Johnson showed that his acting
can be powerful if the right roll comes his way.Virginia
Madsen steams up the show with her portral of the modern
vamp.Jennifer Connelly plays it perfect with the innocent
routine when she is the hottest girl in the movie. Anyone
would enjoy this film on a cold night in the dead of winter
with a lover on the couch next to them. A Great Watch!