The Long, Hot Summer

Ben Quick, a charming conman, arrives in a small Mississippi town and quickly ingratiates himself with the Varner family, particularly the domineering patriarch Will Varner, played by Orson Welles, who sees Ben as a better choice to inherit his position than his troubled son Jody. Clara Varner, Will's 23-year-old daughter, played by Joanne Woodward, is initially resistant to Ben's charms but eventually falls for him. As tensions rise, Ben's true nature is revealed, and Will's scheme to push Clara and Ben together backfires, leading to a tragic confrontation.