History Trivia / Heat

* TheDanza: Creator/DannyTrejo as... Trejo. He has no first name, but we are pretty sure we know what it is.

* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/MichaelMann always had Creator/RobertDeNiro and Creator/AlPacino in mind for the lead roles. Mann had wanted to work with De Niro ever since he saw ''Film/MeanStreets''.

* DoingItForTheArt: Rather than dubbing in the gunshots during the bank robbery shootout, Creator/MichaelMann had microphones carefully placed around the set so that the audio could be captured live. This added to the impact of the scene because it sounded like no other gunfight shown on screen.

* EnforcedMethodActing: Hanna's line "She's got a... GREAT ASS! And you got your head ''all the way up it!''" was improvised--the surprise on Creator/HankAzaria's face was genuine.

* AllStarCast: Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/AlPacino, Creator/ValKilmer, Creator/TomSizemore, Creator/DannyTrejo, Creator/JonVoight, Creator/AshleyJudd, Creator/TedLevine, Creator/WesStudi, Music/HenryRollins, Creator/WilliamFichtner, Creator/HankAzaria, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/MykeltiWilliamson and Creator/ToneLoc. The ensemble cast is filled with stars and very recognizable character actors.

** In an early draft of the script, Vincent Hanna had a cocaine habit, which, according to Pacino, explains his bombastic outbursts.

* DeletedScene: These scenes, cut for time constraints but featured on the DVD release:
** "Season's Starting Early": Cheritto is seen purchasing hockey masks that the crew uses for the armored car robbery. He also buys a dollhouse for his family. The clerk tells him it's a little early to be playing hockey, but Cheritto says "season's starting early this year." The scene would have fallen after the scenes of Neil stealing the ambulance and Shiherlis buying explosives.

** "Shakedown": Hanna and Sgt. Drucker try to rattle the cages by pressing a shady TV repairman named Cuzomano. Hanna even makes an ''Film/AngelsWithDirtyFaces'' shoutout by quoting Creator/JamesCagney's line "Whaddya hear, whaddya say." His name, Cuzomano, is implied from looking at early versions of the script. In the final film, Cuzomano is only mentioned in passing at the armored car robbery crime scene when Hanna says he's one of the usual fences they will check.
** "Murder in C Block": Expanded version of Hanna's conversation with Richard Torena, with Richard providing an illustrative example of how Cheritto's ruthlessness extends behind prison bars.
** "Let's Dance": Extended version of the scene where Hanna and his wife Justine are dancing.
** "Late Arrival": This scene, cut from the final film, starts with Neil, Shiherlis and Trejo talking. Cheritto arrives late, says he's found the police surveillance bugs installed on his car, and makes a few guesses as to how the cops found them.
** "Where's Ana?" Probably the most telling of the deleted scenes. [[spoiler:The scene starts with Donald Breedan dropping Neil, Shiherlis, and Cheritto off in front of the bank. Breedan asks Neil if the doors should be opened or closed, and Neil assures him that with no police response time, the getaway will be a simple cruise up the street. Meanwhile, Trejo arrives at his hillside house. He walks in, and finds several of Van Zant's thugs, including Hugh Benny and Waingro, waiting for him. This confirms to us that he has been blackmailed into betraying Neil. Trejo confirms that the robbery is going down, though he also makes clear that he knows how Neil will react if he finds out he's been double-crossed. Hugh Benny then calls the police with the tip that will cause the big climactic shootout. Throughout, Trejo constantly asks for his wife's whereabouts, which Waingro shakily denies. It then dawns on Trejo, and he runs into the next room, followed by Waingro, wielding a baseball bat. Based on the way the scene ends, it's likely that this last shot would have immediately been followed by the shots of Neil and his crew entering the bank]].
** "Double the Worst Trouble": Expands the scene between Neil and Dr. Bob right before the "Take off your shirt" line. Dr. Bob informs Neil that he'll need a double fee for Shiherlis' treatment because they are wanted criminals, which Neil does not approve of.

** Schwatz was originally the cop killed during the robbery instead of Bosko.

** Earlier versions of the script show things were changed significantly. Trejo's name was originally Towner. Nate getting caught by Hanna and facing accessory charges for the armoured car robbery and the bank robbery. The armored car robbery has a different street location and the escape is a lot tighter as the crew actually rams several police cars escaping after shooting the three guards. Originally, instead of Bosko dying during the shootout, Schwartz was to die, who instead was shot in the shoulder by Cheritto. The shooting at the drive-in movie theater has Neil spot the assassin creeping up to the shotgun side window and react in the nick of time. Shiherlis was not stationed on the roof of the projection building but is instead with Cheritto by the exit gate to shoot the driver. Also, much like Trejo, Neil would have done a MercyKill on the assassin.
** In the original script, the burglary-cop Harry Dieter, was questioned and threatened by Vincent Hanna, because he was given a tip by C.I. Hugh Benny. After Hanna and Bosko leave, Dieter is left with a Booking Officer. This would have taken place just before Hanna and Bosko (now Hanna and Casals) breaching Hugh Benny's flat. But this scene is absent in the final movie.

** Creator/DennisFarina, a former Chicago police officer, was a consultant on the film since the story was based on a Chicago police officer and criminal. Farina had previously played a Chicago cop in Creator/MichaelMann's television series ''Series/CrimeStory'', and Jack Crawford (an FBI man) in ''Film/Manhunter''.

** Creator/DennisFarina, a former Chicago police officer, was a consultant on the film since the story was based on a Chicago police officer and criminal. Farina had previously played a Chicago cop in Creator/MichaelMann's television series ''Series/CrimeStory''.

** "Where's Ana?" Probably the most telling of the deleted scenes. [[spoiler:The scene starts with Donald Breedan dropping Neil, Shiherlis and Cheritto off in front of the bank. Breedan asks Neil if the doors should be opened or closed, and Neil assures him that with no police response time, the getaway will be a simple cruise up the street. Meanwhile, Trejo arrives at his hillside house. He walks in, and finds several of Van Zant's thugs, including Hugh Benny and Waingro, waiting for him. This confirms to us that he has been blackmailed into betraying Neil. Trejo confirms that the robbery is going down, though he also makes clear that he knows how Neil will react if he finds out he's been double-crossed. Hugh Benny then calls the police with the tip that will cause the big climactic shootout. Throughout, Trejo constantly asks for his wife's whereabouts, which Waingro shakily denies. It then dawns on Trejo, and he runs into the next room, followed by Waingro, wielding a baseball bat. Based on the way the scene ends, it's likely that this last shot would have immediately been followed by the shots of Neil and his crew entering the bank]].

* SimilarlyNamedWorks: The 80s film with Creator/BurtReynolds and Peter [=MacNicol=] is probably best remembered for having the same name as this film.

** The movie languished in DevelopmentHell for years, Mann made a TV series pilot called ''LA: Takedown'' that is basically the same script condensed to 90 minutes rather than just short of 3 hours, but on an 80's crime show budget. It followed the same beats almost exactly, down to Vincent holding a mother back from seeing her dead daughter and Patrick (the name of Neil's character) trying to kill Waingro outside the diner and him slipping away when a police cruiser passes by. Most notably, the tv show kept the focus more exclusively on Vincent and Patrick, instead of expanding upon the lives of near everyone on both sides.
** Earlier versions of the script show things were changed significantly. Trejo's name was originally Towner. Nate getting caught by Hanna and facing accessory charges for the armoured car robbery and the bank robbery. The armored car robbery has a different street location and the escape is a lot tighter as the crew actually rams several police cars escaping after shooting the three guards. Originally, instead of Bosko dying during the shootout, Schwartz was to die, who instead was shot in the shoulder by Cheritto. The shooting at the drive-in movie theater has Neil spot the assassin creeping up to the shotgun side window and react in the nick of time. Shiherlis was not stationed on the roof of the projection building, but is instead with Cheritto by the exit gate to shoot the driver. Also, much like Trejo, Neil would have done a MercyKill on the assassin.

** Creator/MichaelMadsen was originally cast as Michael Cheritto, but was ultimately replaced (for unknown reasons) by Tom Sizemore. Creator/DonJohnson, Creator/WilliamPetersen and Creator/JeanClaudeVanDamme were also considered.
** Creator/NickNolte and Creator/JeffBridges were discussed as a possible alternative for the two leading roles. Creator/HarrisonFord and Creator/MelGibson were also considered.

* AllStarCast: Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/AlPacino, Creator/ValKilmer, Creator/TomSizemore, Creator/DannyTrejo, Creator/JonVoight, Creator/AshleyJudd, Creator/TedLevine, Creator/WesStudi, Music/HenryRollins, Creator/WilliamFichtner, Creator/HankAzaria, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/MykeltiWilliamson and Tone-Loc. The ensemble cast is filled with stars and very recognizable character actors.

** An ending discussed featured [[MutualKill Neil and Vincent shooting and killing each other]] instead of Vincent shooting Neil. Mann didn't like the idea and therefore it was not shot.

* CaliforniaDoubling: Averted. Every thing outdoors was filmed on location, and nothing is doubling for another location. The armored car robbery, for instance, is on Venice Boulevard beneath the I-10 and I-110 interchange, with the Convention Center visible in the background of several shots.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/MichaelMann disowned the TV version aired by Creator/{{NBC}}. Mann offered to restore seventeen of the cut minutes, NBC decided to instead cut 40 minutes of the film out in order to fit a 3-hour TV time-slot - Mann said, "You can call it a Michael Smithee or an Alan Mann movie."

** "Where's Ana?" Probably the most telling of the deleted scenes. [[spoiler:The scene starts with Donald Breedan dropping Neil, Shiherlis and Cheritto off in front of the bank. Breedan asks Neil if the doors should be opened or closed, and Neil assures him that with no police response time, the getaway will be a simple cruise up the street. Meanwhile, Trejo arrives at his hillside house. He walks in, and finds several of Van Zant's thugs, including Hugh Benny and Waingro, waiting for him. This confirms to us that he has been blackmailed into betraying Neil. Trejo confirms that the robbery is going down, though he also makes clear that he knows how Neil will react if he finds out he's been double-crossed. Hugh Benny then calls the police with the tip that will cause the big climatic shootout. Throughout, Trejo constantly asks for his wife's whereabouts, which Waingro shakily denies. It then dawns on Trejo, and he runs into the next room, followed by Waingro, wielding a baseball bat. Based on the way the scene ends, it's likely that this last shot would have immediately been followed by the shots of Neil and his crew entering the bank]].

* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/TedLevine as Hanna's close friend Det. Bosko, a decent, honorable cop. A little jarring, since at the time, his best known role was a SerialKiller in ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. He later played [[Series/{{Monk}} Captain Stottlemeyer]] on the small screen, another decent, honorable cop.

** Earlier versions of the script show things were changed significantly. Trejo's name was originally Towner. Nate getting caught by Hanna and facing accessory charges for the armoured car robbery and the bank robbery. The armored car robbery has a different street location and the escape is a lot tighter as the crew actually rams several police cars escaping after shooting the three guards. Originally, instead of Bosko dying during the shootout Schwartz was to die, who instead was shot in the shoulder by Cheritto. The shooting at the drive-in movie theater has Neil spot the assassin creeping up to the shotgun side window and react in the nick of time. Shiherlis was not stationed on the roof of the projection building, but is instead with Cheritto by the exit gate to shoot the driver. Also, much like Trejo, Neil would have done a MercyKill on the assassin.
** In the original script, the burglary-cop Harry Dieter, was questioned and threatened by Vincent Hanna, because he was given a tip by C.I. Hugh Benny. After Hanna and Bosko leave, Dieter is left with a Booking Officer. This would have taking place just before Hanna and Bosko (now Hanna and Casals) breaching Hugh Benny's flat. But this scene is absent in the final movie.

* BigNameFan: This is one of Creator/ChristopherNolan's favorite films. The film inspired his vision of Gotham City in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', with the clockwork bank robbery in the beginning of ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' being an outright homage, right down to a cameo by Creator/WilliamFichtner.

** Creator/MichaelMadsen was originally cast as Michael Cheritto, but was ultimately replaced (for unknown reasons) by Tom Sizemore. Creator/DonJohnson and Creator/JeanClaudeVanDamme were also considered.

* BigNameFan: This is one of Creator/ChristopherNolan's favorite films. The film inspired his vision of Gotham City in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', with the clockwork bank robbery in the beginning of ''The Dark Knight'' being an outright homage, right down to a cameo by William Fichtner.

** Dennis Farina, a former Chicago police officer, was a consultant on the film since the story was based on a Chicago police officer and criminal. Farina had previously played a Chicago cop in Creator/MichaelMann's television series ''Series/CrimeStory''.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/MichaelMann disowned the TV version aired by NBC. Mann offered to restore seventeen of the cut minutes, NBC decided to instead cut 40 minutes of the film out in order to fit a 3-hour TV time-slot - Mann said, "You can call it a Michael Smithee or an Alan Mann movie."

** "Double the Worst Trouble": Expands the scene between Neil and Dr. Bob right before the "Take off your shirt" line. Dr. Bob informs Neil that he'll need a double fee for Shiherlis's treatment because they are wanted criminals, which Neil does not approve of.

** An ending discussed featured Neil and Vincent shooting and killing each other instead of Vincent shooting Neil. Mann didn't like the idea and therefore it was not shot.

** Reportedly, Creator/AlPacino ad-libbed the "I hear she's got a GREAT ASS!" line when interrogating Marciano. The look of shock on Creator/HankAzaria's face is genuine.

* BigNameFan: This is one of Creator/ChristopherNolan's favorite films. The film inspired his vision of Gotham City in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''.

* AllStarCast: Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/AlPacino, Creator/ValKilmer, Creator/TomSizemore, Creator/DannyTrejo, Creator/JonVoight, Creator/AshleyJudd, Creator/TedLevine, Wes Studi, Music/HenryRollins, Creator/WilliamFichtner, Creator/HankAzaria, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/MykeltiWilliamson and Tone-Loc. The ensemble cast is filled with stars and very recognizable character actors.