The Long, Hot Summer (1958)

In Martin Ritt's searing drama "The Long, Hot Summer," the arrival of Ben Quick (Paul Newman) in the stifling Mississippi town of Frenchman's Bend sets the stage for a potent exploration of ambition, family secrets, and forbidden desire. Kicked out of his previous town under a cloud of suspicion, Ben finds himself at the mercy of the powerful patriarch, Will Varner (Orson Welles). Varner, a man who controls nearly everything in Frenchman's Bend, sees potential in the charismatic drifter, hiring him to work in his store. However, Varner's true motivations lie in his dissatisfaction with his own children: his lethargic son Jody and his unmarried daughter Clara. He believes Ben could be the catalyst to inject much-needed vitality into his stagnant family, envisioning him as a suitable husband for Clara, thereby securing new blood for his legacy. This film stands as a prime example of why Martin Ritt is celebrated as a master filmmaker. Ritt expertly navigates the complex emotional landscape of the Southern gothic setting, allowing the simmering resentments and unspoken desires to build with palpable tension. He extracts powerhouse performances from his cast, particularly Newman and Welles, who engage in a captivating power struggle that forms the backbone of the narrative. "The Long, Hot Summer" showcases Ritt's keen eye for character development and his ability to craft stories that are as much about the internal struggles of his protagonists as they are about the external pressures of their environment. The film's unflinching portrayal of social dynamics, class conflict, and the pursuit of happiness makes it a quintessential Ritt film, deeply rooted in his signature humanist approach.