The Long Hot Summer (1985 film)

The Long Hot Summer
Genre	Drama Romance
Written by	William Faulkner (stories) Rita Mae Brown Dennis Turner
Directed by	Stuart Cooper
Starring	Don Johnson Jason Robards Judith Ivey Cybill Shepherd William Russ Ava Gardner
Theme music composer	Charles Bernstein
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Leonard Hill John Thomas Lenox
Producer	Dori Weiss
Production locations	Marshall, Texas T.C. Lindsey & Co., Jonesville, Texas The Myrtles Plantation - 7747 US Highway 61, St. Francisville, Louisiana Ashland-Belle Helene Plantation - State Highway 75, Geismer, Louisiana Elysian Fields, Texas Oak Alley Plantation - 3645 Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana Thibodaux, Louisiana
Cinematography	Reed Smoot Steve Yaconelli
Editor	Daniel T. Cahn
Running time	200 min.
Production companies	Leonard Hill Films Long Hot Productions
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	October 6, 1985 (1985-10-6)

The Long Hot Summer (1985 film)

The Long Hot Summer is a 1985 American made-for-television drama film directed by Stuart Cooper. It is a remake of the 1958 film of the same name, which was based on works by William Faulkner, including the novel The Hamlet. The film stars Don Johnson, Cybill Shepherd, Ava Gardner, Jason Robards, and Judith Ivey. It was produced as a television miniseries and originally aired on NBC on October 6 and 7, 1985.

Plot

Set in a small Mississippi town in the 1940s, the story follows Ben Quick (Don Johnson), a charismatic drifter who arrives in town and quickly becomes entangled in the power struggles of the influential Varner family. The patriarch, Will Varner (Jason Robards), is a domineering and wealthy landowner who sees potential in Ben and seeks to groom him as his successor. However, this ambition is met with resistance from Will’s headstrong daughter, Noel (Cybill Shepherd), who is wary of Ben’s past and his motives. Meanwhile, Will’s fragile son, Jody (William Russ), struggles to live up to his father’s expectations, further complicating family tensions. As passions rise and conflicts unfold, Ben finds himself caught between love, ambition, and his troubled past.

Cast

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

Production

The film was produced by Edgar J. Scherick and directed by Stuart Cooper. It was filmed in Louisiana, capturing the Southern Gothic atmosphere essential to Faulkner’s storytelling. The screenplay was adapted by Rita Mae Brown, who preserved the essence of Faulkner’s characters while updating the dialogue for a 1980s television audience.

Reception

The Long Hot Summer received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the performances of Don Johnson and Jason Robards. Some critics noted that the film lacked the depth and intensity of the 1958 version but acknowledged its strong performances and lush cinematography. The film was a moderate success in the television ratings during its initial broadcast.

Legacy

Although it did not achieve the iconic status of the 1958 film, The Long Hot Summer (1985) remains a notable adaptation of Faulkner’s work and a compelling example of 1980s television drama. It provided Don Johnson with a significant role during the height of his Miami Vice fame and remains a curiosity for fans of Southern Gothic storytelling.

External links

• The Long Hot Summer at IMDb