Search - The Long, Hot Summer on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1958 DVD Release: 05/20/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Studio: 20th Century Fox Members Wishing: 10 Genres: Drama, Family Drama

While often regarded as one of America's greatest novelists, William Faulkner produced work that did not always translate well to the screen; it's ironically appropriate that this movie, based on several of Faulkner's short stories, is often regarded as one of the best films based on his work, though not especially accurate to the original source material. Ben Quick (Paul Newman), a sullen but self-confident drifter, arrives in a small Mississippi town where his father had a bad reputation as a firebug. Will Varner (Orson Welles), the town's patriarch, still holds a grudge against Quick's dad, and when the young man decides to stay in town and sharecrop on Varner's land, Will goes out of his way to make his life difficult. However, Will develops a grudging respect for Quick's guts and determination, and he wishes that his weak-willed son Jody (Anthony Franciosa) could be more like him; Jody's wife Eula (Lee Remick) happens to agree. In time, Will gets the idea that Quick might be a good match for his daughter Clara (Joanne Woodward) and a better choice to take over his business dealings than Jody. However, neither Clara nor Quick care to be told what to do, and besides, Clara already has a beau -- though Alan Stewart (Richard Anderson) is even more of a milquetoast than Jody and is led by the nose by his mother (Mabel Albertson). However, sparks begin to fly between Clara and Quick, and when Jody fears he may lose his place as heir of Will's estate, he takes drastic action, trapping his father in a barn, setting it on fire, and planting evidence that would suggest that the blaze was Quick's doing. The Long, Hot Summer was the first film that Newman and Woodward made together, and they got married the same year. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Paul Newman - Ben Quick
Joanne Woodward - Clara Varner
Anthony Franciosa - Jody Varner
Orson Welles - Will Varner
Lee Remick - Eula Varner

Martin Ritt's The Long, Hot Summer (1958) comes to DVD in a sparkling transfer that not only captures the luster and depth of the original theatrical release, but also includes a handy supplement, courtesy of American Movie Classics. The source for the DVD, which is mastered in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio to capture the original anamorphic Cinemascope aspect ratio, is nearly flawless, with nary a mark on it. Indeed, the source looks far better and is more carefully timed than some theatrical prints. The photography of the opening credit sequence alone, as Paul Newman's character makes his way along the river to Frenchman's Bend, is worth the price of the disc by itself. The main bonus feature is the AMC Backstory installment on the making of the movie, which goes into the tumultuous production of the film (which set co-star Orson Welles at the throat of director Ritt). The highlight is the on-camera interview with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward; one only wishes that Martin Ritt were still around to speak for himself, but the documentary does a good job of presenting his side. Short of a commentary track, the AMC special is as good as this kind of supplement can get. The best part of this cornucopia of riches is Angela Lansbury's contribution; the appearance of Richard Anderson is also a welcome surprise, recalling the difficulties between Welles and Ritt. The other supplements include a one-minute Fox Movietone News segment about the movie's opening in Louisiana in 1958, and the original trailer (in extraordinarily good condition), which runs nearly three minutes and is pretty entertaining and amazingly frank in its own right. The 115-minute movie has been given a very generous 32 chapters, and the audio has been mastered in beautiful fidelity. Alex North's score flows out of the speakers like liquid gold, and every detail of the dialogue (even Welles' partly remixed line readings) comes out nicely audible. In addition to a stereo English-language track, the disc also includes mono French and Spanish dubbed tracks and Spanish subtitles. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide