The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days

Canadian International Pictures

The Heatwave Lasted Four Days

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$28.99
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Edition Type: Limited Edition Slipcover

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{ "42877680353322":1 }
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This Partner Label release is distributed through Vinegar Syndrome's sister company OCN Distribution. Vinegar Syndrome had no part in, nor are responsible for, the restoration, extras, quality control or any content(s) of this release. We hope you enjoy our growing roster of Partner Labels and the expertise and curation brought to each release by their dedicated staff!

Details

This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Tom Ralston) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!

50th anniversary special edition

While shooting a news report on a Montréal heatwave, TV cameraman Cliff Reynolds (The Rowdyman’s Gordon Pinsent) unintentionally films Jerry Cuozzo (Scanners co-star Lawrence Dane), a recently-escaped convict hiding from police and his former criminal associates on the heels of a rogue heroin deal. With the help of Barbara (Day for Night’s Alexandra Stewart) and Gabriella (Vampire Circus’ Domini Blythe), Jerry schemes to fake his own death, while offering large sums of money to Cliff to hand over his film and help deliver the drugs – with lethal consequences.

Created for the National Film Board of Canada’s Filmglish series – which produced serialized feature films to help teach English as a second language – The Heatwave Lasted Four Days went on to become a surprise hit on American TV as part of ABC’s Wide World of Mystery. Almost entirely unavailable in the decades since its original release, this lost neo-noir classic is offered here in three distinct versions, alongside additional films from director Douglas Jackson, including his award-winning The Sloane Affair.

directed by: Douglas Jackson
starring: Gordon Pinsent, Alexandra Stewart, Lawrence Dane, Domini Blythe, Al Waxman
1975 / 72 min / 1.37:1 / English DTS-HD MA 2.0

Additional info:

  • Region A Blu-ray
  • Scanned and restored in 2K from the 16mm interpositives by the National Film Board of Canada
  • Three separate versions of The Heatwave Lasted Four Days:
    • the original TV cut (66 min.)
    • the extended cut (72 min.)
    • the four-episode Filmglish version (80 min.)
  • New audio commentary featuring author/film historian Amanda Reyes
  • Four Days, Three Versions (2025, 10 min.) – An overview of the differences in the film’s three cuts
  • The Huntsman (1972, 16 min.) – Jackson’s first fiction film
  • The Sloane Affair (1972, 53 min.) – Jackson TV movie that received four Canadian Film Awards, including Best TV Drama
  • Uncle T. (1985, 24 min.) – Jackson short featuring Linda Griffiths (Lianna) and Heatwave’s Gordon Pinsent
  • Press gallery
  • Double-sided poster
  • Reversible cover artwork
  • English SDH subtitles

Overall rating: 4.5084743 / 5 from 59 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

This limited edition slipcover features a classic Canadian film, The Heatwave Lasted Four Days, available in three distinct versions. Customers praise the film's strong cast and solid pacing, making it a popular choice. The release includes additional films from director Douglas Jackson and special features like an audio commentary and featurettes.

Summary topics

  • Film Quality (22%): Many customers stated that the film is great, with a strong cast and solid pacing, which is important for a made-for-TV film.
  • Movie Popularity (22%): Many customers stated that the movie is great and worth watching, making it a popular choice.

Review topics: ["looks","style","sound","performances","work","movie","film","slipcover","release","flick","cip","picture","low-budget thriller","extras","treasure","restoration","characters","version","opportunists","obscurity","poster","artwork","buy","origins"].

Review highlights

  • "The short films in the bonus features are engaging, very interesting supplements." — Donald M.
  • "Awesome Canadian TV movie with the always amazing Lawrence Dane and Mr. Canada himself Gordon Pinset." — Bryan K.
  • "The box is very beautiful and the movie is worth watching." — David S.

Reviews

Neo-noir from the Great White North

"Obscure Canuxploitation has become the obsession I never knew I had thanks to Canadian International Pictures. Not so obscure an offering was The Heatwave Lasted Four Days, a surprisingly hard-hitting crime thriller that caught fire below the border on American television. Unavailable on home video for years, it’s been lovingly restored by CIP and comes with a generous trove of extras and liner notes that the partner label has become famous for. LE copies are still available but below 100 and going fast!"

— Shawn P. (5/5)

The Heat is On!

"An unassuming, but fascinating, release, which comes across like a tv-movie, but has a much more interesting back-story to it's production. Kudos to CiP for releasing this niche title, as well as providing some generous extras. Sound and vision are excellent. Nice slipcover, too! Recommended. 👍"

— Aneurin M. (5/5)

A Very Canadian Kind of Noir

"Low-key, sweaty, and refreshingly free of glamorous criminals, this forgotten Montréal thriller turns its modest television origins into an advantage. Gordon Pinsent and Lawrence Dane keep the intrigue moving nicely. The 16mm material looks excellent in 2K, and including all three versions is wonderfully excessive."

— Antonio A. (4/5)

Gordon Pinsent is a hero

"A fun yarn. Multiple cuts, great slipcover and some good extras"

— james s. (5/5)

Quiet, haunting character study

"A beautifully observed drama with understated performances and a lingering sense of melancholy. The film's subtle storytelling and naturalistic style are complemented by an excellent presentation."

— Thomas L. (4/5)

I Wish The Heatwave Lasted Longer

"The slipcover is awesome, as always with anything VS or their awesome partner Labels release! It is a cool movie that was a lot of fun to watch! I always love the unique VS service of allowing you to stack as many movies as you like in your cart during any release period and ship them for free! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"

— Paul K. (5/5)

A fun little 70s Canadian

"A fun little 70s Canadian TV movie that could've been a little meaner and dirtier. Still pretty good at tge end of the day."

— Joe B. (3/5)

"Awesome Canadian tv movie with an interesting plot and a really good filmmaking style. Got this one as a blind buy and was not disappointed. Pretty great flick!!"

— GILBERTO (4/5)

Canadian Heatwave

"Good crime film"

— Paul G. (5/5)

Great 70s fill making

"Excellent noir film with a distinct Canadian influence"

— Arthur C. (5/5)

Q&A

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