Paul Newman has had a wonderful film career and boy was he handsome. He has played many roles including his most famous ones in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Verdict. But I'd like to talk today about two movies that Paul Newman made in 1958, a total of which he made four movies in that year alone. They are Rally Round the Flag Boys! and The Long, Hot Summer. These movies bring out the serious and funny in Paul Newman.
Rally Round the Flag Boys! is about a husband and wife duo played by real life couple Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bannerman. Newman's character Harry would do anything to be alone with his wife Grace if she wasn't always volunteering to be on committees all the time. This time, Grace has volunteered Harry to be a public relations liaison for their town of Putnam's Landing and the go between for the U.S. Army.
The following scene is Grace volunteering Harry and the rest of the night Harry has with neighbor Angela played by Joan Collins. After some heavy drinking Harry starts dancing and fooling around. It's hysterical what Harry and Angela do while drunk.
This also leads into part 6 that YouTube breaks down for movies. Watch the first three minutes.
This is a hysterical movie, and you really feel bad for Harry and what he goes through. I don't want to give it away. Please don't take my word for it, see it for yourselves. This clip is presented by Bob Hope who doesn't have anything to do with the picture and Leo McCarey, the director.
Link to trailer of Rally Round The Flag, Boys!
The last film I would like to talk about is The Long, Hot Summer. The Long, Hot Summer also stars Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward. This is a different role than Rally Round the Flag, Boys! The Long, Hot Summer is a drama based on the collected stories of one of my favorite novelists, William Faulkner.
Again, I love when novels can be turned into movies, providing that it is done well. This means excellent direction and talented actors staying true to the writings of William Faulkner. The Long, Hot Summer has vast talent besides Newman and Woodward. Orson Welles plays Will Varner and Angela Lansbury plays Minnie, Varner's girlfriend.
The film starts off with the burning of a barn. This is directly related to William Faulkner's short story "Barn Burning." And Newman's character Ben Quick is told to leave. So he does and lands in a small town where everything is owned by one man, Will Varner.
The Long, Hot Summer Opening Scene :
Quick asks a group of men where he could find work and one man replies, "If you was to follow that road over there, you'd come to a tenant farm. You could work if you have a mind to. Belongs to a fellow named Varner." And Quick answers, "What doesn't?"
Quick is known for having a bad reputation, but he is smart and makes some headway with Varner, unlike Jody, the son of Varner. Quick is a smart business man who knows how to move inventory; profit is the only thing that matters to Varner.
Besides a profit, the head of the Varner family worries about his namesake and a lasting presence in the community. Varner keeps encouraging his daughter Clara to get married and produce grandchildren. Either Allen or Ben Quick, Varner doesn't care.
Heart to heart between father and daughter:
This film is about "The Long, Hot summer," and how romance can bloom against all odds and no matter how the tough as nails Clara can be. Quick gets through to her and by the end of the film, they end up together. Besides young love this movie is also about redemption. The community learns not to hold things against people and Jody and his father repair their relationship.
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