An accused barn burner and conman Ben Quick (Paul Newman) arrives in the small Mississippi town of Frenchman’s Bend, before quickly integrating himself with its richest family, the Varners, headed by Will Varner (Orson Welles), who owns just about everything worth owning in the town. Seeing potential in Ben’s ambition and ruthlessness, Will begins to consider him as a suitable match for his daughter, hoping to inject fresh blood into his family. What unfolds is a slow-burning character study of family, power and pride in the deep American south setting. A memorable release stemming back almost seventy years.

Director: Martin Ritt
Writers: William Faulkner, Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank Jr.
Starring: Paul Newman, Orson Welles, Joanne Woodward, Angela Lansbury

Directed by Martin Ritt, the story of The Long Hot Summer is actually based on three works by the author William Faulkner. The first being his 1931 novel Spotted Horses, the second being his 1939 short story Barn Burning, and finally his 1940 novel The Hamlet. It’s worth noting that the flick was nominated for a number of awards, including a win for Best Actor at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival.

One of the primary strengths of the picture must be the filmmakers’ strong commitment of showcasing the characters on display, supported by a noteworthy and well-written script. The dialogue is consistently sharp and at times, witty, while the story itself remains engaging with very few moments of boredom. There are no over-the-top action sequences or shocking twists and turns, while instead, this is a slow, measured drama that focuses on the characters and the dialogue on display.

Filming began in September of 1957, with much of the shooting taking place near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The choice of location was key to much of the flick, as the humid, sun-soaked American south landscapes added a great deal of atmosphere and character within the almost two-hour runtime. The setting is most certainly authentic and managed to enhance the story, while the costume and production design were equally as impressive and noteworthy too.

In terms of the cast, Paul Newman adopted the role of Ben Quick and commanded a large majority of screentime, with strong support reigning in from the likes of Orson Welles, Joanne Woodward and even Angela Lansbury, who starred as Will Varner, Clara Varner and Minnie Littlejohn, respectively.

Overall, The Long Hot Summer is a picture that some viewers may find a little slow and uneventful at times, particularly those viewers expecting something a little more conventional. However, if you’re sustainable to a more character and dialogue driven story that leans heavily on an impressively written script, then The Long Hot Summer is certainly one to watch.

“Mr. Quick, I am a human being. Do you know what that means? It means I set a price on myself – a high, high price.”

Clara Varner – The Long Hot Summer