March 13 1987 

Heat, a Las Vegas-set crime thriller, opens in a number of small markets. Written by the estimable William Goldman, from his same-titled 1985 novel, the film stars Burt Reynolds as a resourceful bodyguard-for-hire who gets caught up in some dangerous shenanigans with a hooker and the local criminal underworld. Five directors toil on the film during its troubled 36 day shoot; among them Robert Altman, who walks after just one day; Dick Richards, who lasts two weeks before a fist fight with Reynolds sends him packing; and Jerry Jameson, who manages to complete the picture. Both Richards and Jameson share final directing credit. In 2015, Simon West directs a serviceable remake, retitled Wild Card, with Jason Statham in the lead.

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