The Long, Hot Summer
7.385%82%7.0
Accused barn burner and conman Ben Quick arrives in a small Mississippi town and quickly ingratiates himself with its richest family, the Varners.
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- Magnus PardeAugust 8, 2025The Long, Hot Summer is a slow-burning, subversive take on Southern society, filled with heat, tension, and unspoken power dynamics. While its pacing may be deliberate, it suits the film’s simmering tone, allowing the viewer to sink into the oppressive atmosphere of a Southern town where ambition, pride, and control quietly battle under genteel surfaces. Orson Welles delivers a magnetic performance as the domineering patriarch Will Varner. His presence is commanding, even if at times theatrical. Still, it begs the question—why not Burl Ives for the role? Given his perfect fit in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Ives might have brought a more authentic Southern gravitas to the character. The casting of a British actor (Welles) with dyed hair as a deep South landowner feels oddly out of place, despite his undeniable screen power. Lee Remick is another standout, bringing both charm and depth to her role. She lights up the screen with a vibrant, youthful energy that contrasts nicely with the more stoic tones of the rest of the cast. The remaining ensemble performs solidly—nothing revolutionary, but they all play their parts convincingly and contribute to the textured world the film creates. Overall, I enjoyed The Long, Hot Summer very much. It’s a rich, realistic depiction of Southern life in that era, capturing its social codes, power struggles, and smoldering tensions with an artist’s eye. It might not be fast or flashy, but it’s a film that stays with you—warm, provocative, and quietly intense.
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The Long, Hot Summer was released on May 20, 1958.
The Long, Hot Summer was directed by Martin Ritt.
The Long, Hot Summer has a runtime of 1h 55m.
The Long, Hot Summer was produced by Jerry Wald.
Accused barn burner and conman Ben Quick arrives in a small Mississippi town and quickly ingratiates himself with its richest family, the Varners.
The key characters in The Long, Hot Summer are Ben Quick (Paul Newman), Clara Varner (Joanne Woodward), Jody Varner (Anthony Franciosa).
The Long, Hot Summer is rated Not Rated.
The Long, Hot Summer is a Drama film.
The Long, Hot Summer has an audience rating of 8.2 out of 10.
The Long, Hot Summer had a budget of $1.5M.