Three Kinds of Heat

A gunfight erupts inside New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport between two factions of an Asian crime syndicate, the Black Lion. Airport cop Terry O'Shea intervenes, but she butts heads with Major Shan, a Hong Kong police officer who was tailing the gangsters, over matters of jurisdiction. Shan is after Harry Pimm, a top Black Lion member, who has managed to flee the terminal. The latter holds information about the group's drug trafficking activities, which are conducted under the guise of a fireworks import business.

U.S. State Department agent Elliott Cromwell, who witnessed the shooting, asks for reinforcements from Interpol. When the agency finds itself short on personnel, he requires permission to enlist both policewomen in his task force to dismantle the Black Lion. The three contrasting personalities must set aside their differences to track down the mysterious Pimm. A hint of romance develops between Cromwell and O'Shea as their investigation leads them to London, England, and back for a last-reel twist and an explosive conclusion.^[4]

The project marked the return of filmmaker Leslie Stevens to the big screen after working in television for the better part of two decades.^[6] During pre-production, the film was known as Fireworks or Operation Fireworks.^[7][8][9] Although director Leslie Stevens was the sole credited writer in the finished picture, some pre-production items named British playwright Tudor Gates as co-author.^[10] The film was intended as a vehicle for the two leading ladies, Shakti Chen and Victoria Barrett, who respectively were Stevens' wife and producer Menahem Golan's mistress.^[11] It was made by Golan's Cannon Films via its British subsidiary London–Cannon Films.^[3]

Principal photography began on July 21, 1986.^[7][10] The schedule called for three weeks of location work in London, England, visiting such landmarks as the Smithfield Meat Market. Another three week of interiors were booked at Elstree Studios, in nearby Borehamwood.^[2] It was the first movie made there after their acquisition by The Cannon Group.^[8] Internally, it was viewed as a trial run to familiarize Cannon's staff with the facility before tackling Superman IV, on which rested many of the company's hopes.^[12][13] Trade sources mentioned that an additional week of filming was due to take place on location in Harlem, New York City, where part of the story is set.^[2][10] However, several reviewers have noted that New York scenes present in the finished picture appear to have been shot in the U.K.^[9][14]

Three Kinds of Heat was screened for industry professionals at the Cannes Film Market on May 17, 1987.^[7] One publication mentions that May 8, 1987, was originally envisioned as the film's U.S. opening date.^[15]

The film opened in Florida on June 5, 1987, via the producer's distribution arm, Cannon Releasing Corporation.^[1][4][16] It expanded to other domestic markets throughout the summer and fall.^{[2][14][17][18]}

In the U.S., the film arrived on video on December 16, 1987, through Warner Home Video, delayed from December 9.^[19][20] In the U.K., the film was released direct-to-tape on August 8, 1988, also by Warner Home Video, on VHS and Betamax.^[21][22]