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The Long, Hot Summer (1958)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
6/20
6/20:
The Long, Hot Summer can be safely retitled as Take a Long, Good Look because Paul Newman is absolutely gorgeous.
The movie starts off badly because the dialogue is full of fluff. Then, it gets better as the
lines become more polished and therefore poetic. At the end, I have to say I'm impressed with the strength of the
screenplay because the movie has been driven by it.
At first, I thought Orson Welles, who looks fat, was too talky, but he finally got it going to become a
memorable, larger-than-life character. Hence, what a shame he didn't pick up an Oscar nomination. Orson Welles
is the reason why I prefer this over Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; both are similar in character motivation except
the former doesn't deal with homosexuality.
The Long, Hot Summer is a notable film for a reason. It's when the romance between Paul Newman and
Joanne Woodward started to gain steam although they knew each other four years prior but he was married at that time.
After his divorce, they went on to have the longest marriage for a Hollywood power couple which lasted for fifty
years, appearing in eleven films together.
As for the performances by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, they're good and sexy, being served well by
the lines they're supplied with. Of course, he makes a big impression, and it's hard for her to deny
him. If she does, then well...she's the biggest fool in the world. Both could've scored Oscar nominations, but
it's fair enough that Paul Newman received a consolation prize by winning Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival.
All in all, you'll need the air conditioner on while watching Paul Newman in The Long, Hot Summer.