This week’s mystery movie was the 1940 Warner Bros. picture Torrid Zone, with James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Pat O’Brien, Andy Devine, Helen Vinson, Jerome Cowan and George Tobias.
Screenplay by Richard Macaulay and Jerry Wald.
Photographed by James Wong Howe.
Edited by Jack Killifer.
Sound by Oliver S. Garretson.
Technical advisor John Mari.
Art direction by Ted Smith.
Gowns by Howard Shoup.
Special effects by Byron Haskin and H.F. Koenekamp.
Makeup by Perc Westmore.
Music by Adolph Deutsch.
Mi Caballero by M.K. Jerome and Jack Scholl.
Musical direction by Leo F. Forbstein.
Executive producer Hal B. Wallis.
Associate producer Mark Hellinger.
Directed by William Keighley.
Further information on Torrid Zone is available from the AFI Catalog.
Torrid Zone is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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Now that the Internet Archive is back online, I was able to go through the trades and pick Torrid Zone, an entertaining picture (yes, cultural stereotypes abound) with a familiar cast and photography by James Wong Howe.
I’m going to guess the Bosley Crowther did not approve of such goings-on.
Aha. Fobbed off on one of the “alphabet critics,” the as-yet unidentified T.S. (The New York Times, May 18, 1940):
While carloads of bananas grow soft on the sidings the Warner Brothers have taken time out to film a crackling conversation piece on life as it is lived, presumably, on the Honduras plantations where tarantulas are plentiful, revolutions are seasonal and white men go native. In Torrid Zone, at the Strand, James Cagney again has a role suited to his combustible temperament and Ann Sheridan steps up a notch or two in our estimation as the femme fatale of the piece. There is a punch line a minute, some of them so close to the borderline that they must have necessitated use of the Hays office censorial slide rule.
For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Don Orlando.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Helen Vinson.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Jerome Cowan.
And this man of mystery.
Update: This is Andy Devine.
And, finally, this mysterious man with Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Grady Sutton and Pat O’Brien as Back of the Head Guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman), Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks, (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman) and Bob Hansen (Tuesday’s mystery woman).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have these mysterious fellows.
Update: This is George Reeves, left, and Victor Kilian.
And this mystery gent.
Update: This is George Tobias.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Matt Berger (Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 1), Benito (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests) B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests) and Megan and Thom (Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy).
For Friday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Pat O’Brien.
Also this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is James Cagney.
And this mysterious lady.
Update: This is Ann Sheridan.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s Back of the Head Guy and Thursday’s mysterious fellows), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery gents), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery gents and Friday’s mystery leads), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mysterious gents) and Dan Nather (mystery movie, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests and Friday’s mysterious leads).
Note to B.J. Merholz: It certainly is. A great cast!
ladailymirror.com 
This image makes me think of John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl,” but I don’t think that’s right.
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YOU CAN’T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN and Blacaman.
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An interesting guess! But W.C. Fields isn’t in this week’s mysterious film.
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On Monday, Don Orlando, and on Tuesday, Helen Vinson in “Torrid Zone.”
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Helen Vinson in Torrid Zone.
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Helen Vinson for Tuesday!
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Helen Vinson in TORRID ZONE.
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Is Tuesday’s woman Helen Vinson? I don’t know the movie.
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Tuesday: Irene Dunne?
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TORRID ZONE. Helen Volinson Tuesday. Today, Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine, Grady Sutton with James Cagney BOTH.
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Rafael Alcayde.
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Andy Devine, Grady Sutton, Helen Vinson, and Jerome Cowan in “Torrid Zone”.
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On Wednesday, Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine and Grady Sutton.
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Is Wednesday Jerome Cowan?
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Andy Devine, Grady Sutton and Jerome Cowan today. Looks like TORRID ZONE 1940
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It’s really heating up for Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine and Grady Sutton.
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Torrid Zone (1940) w/James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Helen Vinson, Andy Devine, Grady Sutton, Jerome Cowan, Pat O’Brien, Frank Puglia, George Reeves…
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Jerome Cowan, Grady Sutton and Andy Devine.
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“Torrid Zone” 1940
Mon – not sure
Tues – Helen Vinson
Wed – Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine and Grady Sutton w/BOTHG James Cagney
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Jerome Cowan; Andy Devine; Grady Sutton, Pat O’Brien.
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Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine, and Grady Sutton in Torrid Zone (1940)
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Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine, Grady Sutton in ‘Torrid Zone’?
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Our movie is Torrid Zone with Helen Vinson yesterday, and Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine, Grady Sutton, and Pat O’Brien (Back of the Head Guy) for today.
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What terrible mustaches. Frank Yaconelli Monday, Pat O’Brien BOTH Tuesday, George Reeves and Victor Kilian and George Tobias today.
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On Thursday, George Reeves, Victor Kilian and George Tobias.
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Thu – George Reeves and Victor Killian
George Tobias
Friday will bring Pat O’Brien, Ann Sheridan and James Cagney
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Great cast! A pleasure to see these faces. Thank you.
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George Reeves, Victor Kilian and George Tobias.
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Wednesday looks like Mel Blanc and Stanley Adams
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Oh shoot, I’ve been working too hard this week and just saw this for the first time today. Well, better late than never —
First off, the picture is TORRID ZONE (1940).
Monday — this guy’s got me stumped (Frank Yaconelli?)
Tuesday — Helen Vinson
Wednesday — Jerome Cowan, Andy Devine, and Grady Sutton
Today — George Reeves, Victor Kilian, and George Tobias
And we’ll probably see James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, and Pat O’Brien tomorrow.
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Pat O’Brien, Jimmy Cagney, and Ann Sheridan.
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Pat O’Brien, James Cagney and Ann Sheridan.
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Our stars, Pat O’Brien, James Cagney and Ann Sheridan.
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