The Long Hot Summer (1985) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Stuart Cooper

Writers:

William Faulkner (stories) (novel "The Hamlet") and
Rita Mae Brown (writer)

Release Date:

6 October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Lynch Mob | Southern U.S. | Father Son Relationship | Mississippi | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Don Johnson	...	Ben Quick
Jason Robards	...	Will Varner
Judith Ivey	...	Noel Varner
Cybill Shepherd	...	Eula Varner
Ava Gardner	...	Minnie Littlejohn
William Russ	...	Jody Varner
Wings Hauser	...	Wilson Mahood
Alexandra Johnson	...	Agnes Stewart
Stephen Davies	...	Alan Stewart
Charlotte Stanton	...	Mrs. Stewart
Albert Hall	...	Armistead Howlett
William Forsythe	...	Isaac
James Gammon	...	Billy Quick
Rance Howard	...	Wilk
Bill Thurman	...	Houstin

Runtime:

200 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Ashland-Belle Helene Plantation - State Highway 75, Geismer, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Leonard Hill Films

Movie Connections:

Follows The Long, Hot Summer (1958)

Southern Life

I enjoyed this version as much as the 1958 version. I wish they would release the 1985 version on DVD. I though Don Johnson did a great job and I have always enjoyed Jason Robards acting. The realism of the film reminds me of the southern USA I grew up in. I remember the fears of farmers as related to barn burners and names associated with them. The director and cast did a wonderful job in my opinion with this version bringing out southern life as it really exists and family feuds. I could feel the hot, humid summer nights and almost smell the swamps and wetlands with their unique scent. Cybil Sheppard did a very nice job portraying a young southern woman questioning her marriage then realizing what she could lose.