This is the third version of William Faulkner's novel about the Varner family and the drifter, Ben Quick, brought together through family betrayal and manipulation, mostly caused by patriarch Jason Robards who keeps daughter Judith Ivey and son James Gammon under his thumb, trying to get the unmarried Ivey to hook up with sexy drifter Ben (Don Johnson) whom he thinks would be a better heir than Gammon, who is married to the sexy Cybil Shepherd. Unlike sisters-in-law Maggie and Mae in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Ivey and Shepherd get along, although it's clear that Gammon is closer to the useless Goober of that Tennessee Williams classic than the troubled Brick. Johnson's drifter is as sexy as Brick, and in one scene, patriarch Robards questions him on his interest in women, just so comparisons won't be made to Brick who was written to be bisexual.
The fact that both movie versions of the Faulkner novel and the Williams play came out the same year and had similar seems makes their comparison inevitable, especially since Paul Newman was in both. The character of Ben (also played by Roy Thinnes in a non serialized primetime TV series) is obviously trouble, rumored to have started several barn fires, and obviously unlike what Robards thinks, someone who can't be controlled. When Robards tells him that he wants to make him his Heir under the condition he marries Ivey and shows him a dilapidated mansion which he intends to give to him upon his marriage, it's made clear to the viewer that there's no way Ben will allow himself to be controlled. There's also the presence of his father who appears in one scene to remind him of his past.
This lengthy two-part TV movie starts off very slowly, and it takes some patience to get into the first part to become aware of who is related to who and what their stories are. Robards' character is by far the most interesting, and I wish there was more footage in this heart with Ava Gardner playing the local bed and breakfast owner who is obviously his long-time mistress. She has a handyman who is mentally disabled oh, and it's anyone's guess if there is a deeper connection between Ham, Gardner and Robards.
When Ben is put in charge of the local store that Robards owns, it's very apparent that there will be a conflict growing between him and the Saint Roberts wants to demote in his will. This is where a little bit of detail comes in handy as Johnson creates an issue by refunding money to a black customer (Irma P. Hall) which sets off accusations of racism. Little details like this help in setting up the social background of this community, but unfortunately, part 1 moves rather slowly and thus doesn't have the flame it promises with the burning building seen in the opening credits. Slow details moving along like this are fine in a novel, but it could cause the view or to lose interest in a lengthy movie.
The fact that both movie versions of the Faulkner novel and the Williams play came out the same year and had similar seems makes their comparison inevitable, especially since Paul Newman was in both. The character of Ben (also played by Roy Thinnes in a non serialized primetime TV series) is obviously trouble, rumored to have started several barn fires, and obviously unlike what Robards thinks, someone who can't be controlled. When Robards tells him that he wants to make him his Heir under the condition he marries Ivey and shows him a dilapidated mansion which he intends to give to him upon his marriage, it's made clear to the viewer that there's no way Ben will allow himself to be controlled. There's also the presence of his father who appears in one scene to remind him of his past.
This lengthy two-part TV movie starts off very slowly, and it takes some patience to get into the first part to become aware of who is related to who and what their stories are. Robards' character is by far the most interesting, and I wish there was more footage in this heart with Ava Gardner playing the local bed and breakfast owner who is obviously his long-time mistress. She has a handyman who is mentally disabled oh, and it's anyone's guess if there is a deeper connection between Ham, Gardner and Robards.
When Ben is put in charge of the local store that Robards owns, it's very apparent that there will be a conflict growing between him and the Saint Roberts wants to demote in his will. This is where a little bit of detail comes in handy as Johnson creates an issue by refunding money to a black customer (Irma P. Hall) which sets off accusations of racism. Little details like this help in setting up the social background of this community, but unfortunately, part 1 moves rather slowly and thus doesn't have the flame it promises with the burning building seen in the opening credits. Slow details moving along like this are fine in a novel, but it could cause the view or to lose interest in a lengthy movie.
