The Long, Hot Summer (1958)

In the sultry heart of Frenchman's Bend, Mississippi, the powerful and ailing titan, Will Varner (Orson Welles), reigns supreme as the owner of vast businesses and a sprawling plantation. Yet, his heart is laden with disappointment for his progeny who fail to uphold the illustrious Varner name. His son, Jody (Anthony Francoisa), is a man of no ambition, lost in the intoxicating allure of his seductive wife, Eula (Lee Remick). His clever, contemplative daughter, Clara (Joanne Woodward), remains unmarried, caught in a six-year courtship with the genteel but unassertive Alan Stewart (Richard Anderson). In this simmering pot of familial discontent, enters the enigmatic Ben Quick (Paul Newman), a man of dubious reputation, expelled from his previous town for an alleged act of fiery revenge. Hired by Jody during Will's hospitalization, Ben is first seen as a mere sharecropper for the vacant Varner lands. However, as Will learns of Ben's spirited character, he sees the son he yearned for - one cut from the same fiery mold. Will, seeing an opportunity to inject vigor into his legacy, orchestrates a plan to intertwine Ben's destiny with the Varners. He envisions Ben as the perfect match for Clara, hoping to invigorate the family bloodline. As this plan unfurls, each character is thrust into a tumultuous journey of self-discovery: Clara must decipher her true desires, Jody battles to maintain his status, and Ben finds himself at the heart of a complex family dynamic he never bargained for. "The Long, Hot Summer" is a scorching tale of ambition, love, and the relentless pursuit of legacy, where every character is on the brink of transformation. This story is as much about the individuals as it is the collective, unraveling under the sweltering Mississippi sun.

The Long, Hot Summer is a drama movie featuring Paul Newman.

The Long, Hot Summer is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Roku Channel and Xumo Play and it's also available on FlixFling.

It is also possible to buy The Long, Hot Summer on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, FlixFling, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.