Newman’s personal politics may have played a part in his decision to appear in formerly-blacklisted director Martin Ritt’s literary film, an amalgamation of William Faulkner’s settings and Tennessee Williams’s tone. More likely is that his interest came from the opportunity to work for the first time on film with Joanne Woodward, whom he was able to marry in 1958 following his divorce from Jackie Witte. For whatever reason, his choice was rewarded with the Best Actor award at 1958’s Cannes Film Festival. He plays Ben Quick, a drifter and suspected barn-burner who, after arriving in a small Southern town, quickly ingratiates himself with Will Varner (Orson Welles), the town’s real authority, bringing disruption to the lives of the younger family members.

Screening as part of the Paul Newman: American Icon season.