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Based on three William Faulkner stories, The Long Hot Summer packs the stellar cast of Paul Newman, Orson Welles and Joanne Woodward. Alex Davidson heads down south for a great melodrama.

Why is The Long Hot Summer not better known? Its star pedigree alone should have guaranteed its immortality with Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Orson Welles, Angela Lansbury and Lee Remick in the cast. Newman won the Best Actor award at Cannes, and it was the first time he and future wife Woodward acted together.

Star power aside, it is also a terrific film. It follows Ben Quick (Newman), a barnstorming drifter, who enters the life of a Mississippi family, where he rapidly becomes favoured by the patriarch (Welles), much to the chagrin of his black sheep son, who soon has murder on the mind.

At times the film resembles a less demented Tennessee Williams melodrama; although subtle in style, the passion bubbling beneath the surface is palpable in scenes between the wild Quick and the prim spinster, played beautifully by Woodward.

Filled with juicy dialogue (‘Miss Clara, you slam the door in a man’s face before he even knocks on it’) and packed with memorable set pieces, this will delight anyone who enjoys great Southern melodramas.

 

Alex Davidson on 14th December 2010
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