The Long Hot Summer (1958)

[Lance Morrison]

So i've been going on a William Faulkner binge recently, and, after finishing "If I Forget Thee Jerusalem" (The Wild Palms), saw it referenced in Godard's Breathless (which i inexplicably hadn't seen yet)....a week or so later, while reading "The Hamlet", saw on the internet that, to my surprise, a loose film adaptation was made of it, starring Paul Newman and none other than Mr. Orson Welles.

I haven't been able to see the film yet, but am curious if you all find viewing it to be a worthwhile venture? Opinions as to the quality of it and the performance of Mr. Welles seen to vary wildly, although such internet samplings are not to be trusted.

Clearly the plot of this film is such a far cry from "The Hamlet", but Mr. Faulkner seems a difficult writer to adapt to film, although i dare say that our Welles could have "co-written" a screenplay quite well, as he did with Tarkington, Kafka, Shakespeare. The aesthetics of "Touch of Evil" share something with the pulp of "Sanctuary". Otherwise.....Faulkner would have needed to be adapted outside of Hollywood.

I admit I am quite inexperienced in regards to Welles purely as actor, and indeed i have not sought movies before on the basis of an actor, so i have no idea if it's a valid path for exploring film.

Lance

[atcolomb]

I viewed the dvd a couple of weeks ago and Orson gives a great performance and film itself with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is very entertaining. I would also view the extra on the dvd which talks about the making of the film and Orson's issues with the movie's director Martin Ritt and some scenes where Orson mumbles his dialogue so he had re-do his lines.