The Long, Hot Summer (1958)

After being kicked out of another town for allegedly burning a barn, Ben Quick arrives in Frenchman's Bend, Mississippi looking for work. He hitches a ride and meets Clara and Eula when they pick him up. Will Varner, who owns just about everything in Frenchman's Bend, hires Ben to work in his store. Although Will's own son manages the store, Will thinks he lacks ambition. Jody feels weak and insecure because of his father's disapproval. Jody's wife Eula is the fashionable sex kitten, who often gets hollered at by the young boys in the town, which makes Jody very upset. Will also has a daughter named Clara, an unmarried school teacher whom catches Ben's eye. She is saving herself for Alan Stewart, but is competing for his affection with his overbearing mother. Will wants Clara to marry so he can have a heir to inherit his fortune and carry on his name. But when the Varner's find out about Ben's bad reputation, things get upsetting and the townspeople think they should get rid if him before their town starts to burn. With a tremendous cast and steaming hot dialogue, this film is a great film that can't be missed. Starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Orson Welles, Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury, Richard Anderson 8/10