The Long, Hot Summer

I just saw The Long, Hot Summer and really enjoyed it! The film came out in 1958 and was based on The Hamlet by William Faulkner. The film follows Ben Quick. He is a con man and has been accused of barn burning. This is considered a very serious offense. Ben is soon hired by Will Varner. Will wants Ben to take the place of his son, Jody who lacks ambition and has been unable to get his wife pregnant. Will also wants Ben to marry his daughter, Clara.

The dialogue and the casting decisions for this film were brilliant. This was one of the very few situations in which a real-life couple actually managed to have chemistry on-screen. Joanne Woodward did a pretty good job in the role of Clara Varner. Paul Newman and Orson Welles were magnificent in the roles of Ben Quick and Will Varner.

I really enjoyed this film. I would definitely recommend it. It is definitely a must-see!