Movie Reviews for The Long, Hot Summer

The Long, Hot Summer

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Movie Reviews of The Long, Hot Summer

Movie Review: Newman's strong performance makes this Southern story work
Summary: 3 Stars

William Faulkner's Southern stories come to the screen in this film directed by Martin Ritt and starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in their first film together as a married couple. Newman stars as Ben Quick, a drifter who infiltrates the family of Mississippi patriarch Will Varner (Orson Welles, quite corpulent, and looking similar to his character in Touch of Evil), his son Jody and wife Eula (Anthony Franciosa and a smoldering Lee Remick) and umarried daughter (Woodward). The story unfolds well, and it is Newman gives a solid performance as a cocky young man who wants to feel a part of society.

Movie Review: Newman & Woodward's first pairing is wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars

Pay no attention to the reviewer from New York that disliked this film. It was shot and came out before Cat on a Hot Tin Roof did, so it was not trying to capitalize on Cat's much deserved success.

Newman also won best actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his riveting, sexy portrayal of Ben Quick in Summer, even though the American Film Academy would soon snub him the first of seven out of eight times for his role of Brick in Cat.

Ben Quick is an early Newman con man characterization, long before his well-loved role of Henry Gondorf in The Sting came along to enchant the world some 25 years later.

As for the pairing of Paul & Joanne...she was excellently cast in the role of a smart, young southern lady struggling to break free from her dominant father and stifling family history. Orson Welles is excellent as the domineering old brute of a dad. Anthony Franciosa, Lee Remick & Angela Lansbury all turn in wonderful performances as southern folk fighting the stifling heat and Welles' blustery personality at the same time.

Paul & Joanne are lovely together...knowing that they married a few months after making the film adds to it's allure. The last big scene between the two of them on the front porch is glorious chemistry to behold, not to mention her evening visit to the family store that Newman is "tending", in order to work his way into getting a share Welles' wealth.

This is a subtle, intelligent romance and I agree with the reviewer who particularly appreciated the snappy dialogue. It holds up, even if the times have changed.

Enjoy!

Movie Review: Tennessee Williams Wannabe
Summary: 2 Stars

This film seemed to be an attempt to give an encore to Newman's searing performance in Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," complete with big Southern daddy character and twangy speech, but the missing elements were: 1) Williams' gift for dialogue, 2) a truly compelling plot, and 3) a worthy counterpart to the female leading role of Maggie the Cat. Woodward is a talented character actress in her own right (see "The Three Faces of Eve," for sure), but she is missing a character to play here. Plus, let's face it, Liz Taylor she is NOT, and she does not cut it as sultry bait for Newman's lusty drifter. I'm sorry, but the attraction between her and Newman has been and always will be a mystery to me. If you want show-stopping performances, wallop-packing dialogue, and enough heat to singe your eyebrows over an authentic Southern flame, buy "Cat..." instead.

Movie Review: Newman & Woodward make you tingle!
Summary: 5 Stars

I saw this movie for the first time in college in the '80s when it was 20 years old. I watched it two more times that day when the station repeated it. Paul Newman is soooooo sexy in this movie...and I mean really! He makes all others pale. The acting by Franciosa and Remick and, of course Welles reminds one of what real acting, real stories and real movies used to be. Long Hot Summer tells such a good story!