36 Comments
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Lady Metroland's avatar

Hurt is one of my favourite actors. I love his Rochester - superb English accent and understated while so attractive and wounded. You have bewitched my horse!

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laura thompson's avatar

I haven't seen that. Sounds marvellous. Intriguing part for him to play.

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Tom's avatar

I recall seeing "Body Heat" at my local cinema when it was first released. I love the scene where Matty says to Ned, "You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man."

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laura thompson's avatar

The script is great. Ned and his work colleagues - so good!

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Victoria Jones's avatar

A wonderful piece of writing. Gorgeous photos of your beautiful dogs xxx❤️☀️

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laura thompson's avatar

Oh thank you Victoria!

Being put on Substack hasn’t improved their mood, sadly.

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Victoria Jones's avatar

Ha ha! My cats can sympathise xxx

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Harriet's avatar

I definitely need to watch this, having just finished Ice Cold in Alex which was another heatwave film suggestion from someone on here. Also, gorgeous dogs!

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laura thompson's avatar

That’s a great idea, I’ve never seen it…. Thank you re dogs! They were used for coursing and dumped - the worst start but a very happy ending.

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Harriet's avatar

That's awful - poor things but I expect they have a very happy home with you!

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laura thompson's avatar

Thank you, they’re a joy! It’s true what they say, greyhounds really are very very lazy and they do make great pets…

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Harriet's avatar

I would love a greyhound, maybe one day…

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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

A very atmospheric piece, Laura!

Here in Tokyo, if it stays in the low 30s, it's ok. But each year seems to bring more days in the mid-30s, which, with this humidity, is a little too much.

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laura thompson's avatar

Oh humidity is the worst… thank you Jeffrey, so glad you enjoyed!

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Mark Diacono's avatar

I think I said a while ago that you’ve made me want to see this again. Such a time and a place film, but I’ll wait for the heat to die off before inviting it into my home. Kathleen Turner was so great in that period

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laura thompson's avatar

Well seeing it in the heat is part of the fun… but it would be brilliant any time! I should have mentioned the score, amazing John Barry (plus dash of Bob Seger)

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Jon (Animated)'s avatar

Another high bar here. I really loved your elegant unpacking of the Lucan mystery. Great read. Pictures are ace too.

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Petra Khashoggi's avatar

Adorable pooches 🤍🤍 and loved rereading your hot film review!

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laura thompson's avatar

Thank you so much Petra! They are such drama queens.

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John the Lotus's avatar

Perceptive coment from you about how Hurt with his shirt off looks like a normal man, not some beefed-up gym block of the kind who are everywhere in films these days. Too many men looking like blown-up thugs.

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laura thompson's avatar

Thank you. It’s like when you see pics of the Oscars from that time - the people look beautiful but real - so much more attractive.

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Deborah Vass's avatar

I wish I loved the heat, but I am just a wilting beetroot! But I still loved this piece!

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laura thompson's avatar

Thank you! I think it's ebbing away a bit actually, judging by the greyhound-o-meter (ie they're not quite so depressed)

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Deborah Vass's avatar

I do hope they are right!

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Rob Devaney's avatar

The 80s were a great time for movies. Hurt is brilliant here, and you mention Broadcast News where he was pushed to great heights by an awesome Holly Hunter. But surely the greatest film about a long hot summer is the Go-Between

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laura thompson's avatar

A great film for sure.

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Dave pearen's avatar

William hurt is brilliant anybody who's seen the big chill body heat and especially kiss of the spider woman will attest. Kathleen turner was absolutely on fire 🔥 in the 80s with hurt and jack Nicholson.

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laura thompson's avatar

He is one of the greatest screen actors. The Janitor with Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful film, if I could ever find it again…

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David Gemeinhardt's avatar

I have no problem placing Body Heat on a pedestal among the great noir films made before Kathleen Turner was born. Both it and she are throwbacks in the best way.

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laura thompson's avatar

That’s such a fab comment - totally agree!

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William B's avatar

And there's also the school friend Kim Zimmer. Everyone in this film's a knockout.

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laura thompson's avatar

Yes - she's so right in that part.

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June Girvin's avatar

Full of languorous heat-laziness desire insight. It's a scorcher of a film!

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laura thompson's avatar

It so is, seriously… highly recommended!

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Gina Ferrari's avatar

An enjoyable read as I sit in my garden for my first weekend of open studios. I don’t mind the heat if I’m in the shade

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laura thompson's avatar

Thank you Gina!

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