Alma Duval, the woman at the center of this tale, has given her all to raising her family. She has been married more than twenty years to a man that really doesn't appreciate what he has at home. Her three grown children are facing problems of their own. Yet, for all what is bad around her, Alma is the eternal optimist.
When we first meet her, she is delivering gifts to her three children that are to be given to their father later on that evening because it's his birthday. Alma hasn't trusted her kids to buy presents for their father, and instead, she has taken the initiative. But instead of being a happy occasion, the birthday celebration turns out to be an unhappy non event because the older Duval has plans to spend the night with his latest girlfriend.
Alma is heartbroken. Not only her plans for a small party for her husband has gone awry, but when she tells him about going back to a small town they have left some years ago in order to come to New Orleans, it falls on deaf ears, for he has no intention of ever going back.
There are other problems as well. Buddy, the eldest son, wants to go into a new business that shows great potential. His father flatly refuses to go along without hearing about the benefits. The daughter, Virginia, is in love with a medical student that has no serious ideas about their romance. Finally, young Billy, is a complex young man who seems to be having an identity problem. Billy, a sensitive youth, seems to be repulsed by the way his father treats him and his mother. He might be gay, for all we know; he wants to leave this unhappy environment behind and have his own life.
"Hot Spell", which is based on a novel, feels like it could have been a stage play. Not ever having heard of it, but attracted by the work of its director, Daniel Mann, and the star of the film, Shirley Booth, we were happily surprised with this tight drama, that although a bit predictable, makes a satisfying movie. Mr. Mann and Ms. Booth had collaborated before with happy results in "Come Back Little Sheba", and they show to have a happy rapport with the material that is the basis of the picture.
Anthony Quinn plays the husband that has fallen out of love with his wife a long time ago and has a roving eye for pretty young women that could be his own daughters. Earl Holliman has limited opportunities, and the same goes for Shirley MacLaine. On the other hand, Clint Kimbrough, as Billy, shows he understood the young man he is portraying. Eileen Heckart was great fun to watch as Alma's kind friend and neighbor.
This is a film to watch the talented Shirley Booth, who runs away with the picture and makes it her own.
When we first meet her, she is delivering gifts to her three children that are to be given to their father later on that evening because it's his birthday. Alma hasn't trusted her kids to buy presents for their father, and instead, she has taken the initiative. But instead of being a happy occasion, the birthday celebration turns out to be an unhappy non event because the older Duval has plans to spend the night with his latest girlfriend.
Alma is heartbroken. Not only her plans for a small party for her husband has gone awry, but when she tells him about going back to a small town they have left some years ago in order to come to New Orleans, it falls on deaf ears, for he has no intention of ever going back.
There are other problems as well. Buddy, the eldest son, wants to go into a new business that shows great potential. His father flatly refuses to go along without hearing about the benefits. The daughter, Virginia, is in love with a medical student that has no serious ideas about their romance. Finally, young Billy, is a complex young man who seems to be having an identity problem. Billy, a sensitive youth, seems to be repulsed by the way his father treats him and his mother. He might be gay, for all we know; he wants to leave this unhappy environment behind and have his own life.
"Hot Spell", which is based on a novel, feels like it could have been a stage play. Not ever having heard of it, but attracted by the work of its director, Daniel Mann, and the star of the film, Shirley Booth, we were happily surprised with this tight drama, that although a bit predictable, makes a satisfying movie. Mr. Mann and Ms. Booth had collaborated before with happy results in "Come Back Little Sheba", and they show to have a happy rapport with the material that is the basis of the picture.
Anthony Quinn plays the husband that has fallen out of love with his wife a long time ago and has a roving eye for pretty young women that could be his own daughters. Earl Holliman has limited opportunities, and the same goes for Shirley MacLaine. On the other hand, Clint Kimbrough, as Billy, shows he understood the young man he is portraying. Eileen Heckart was great fun to watch as Alma's kind friend and neighbor.
This is a film to watch the talented Shirley Booth, who runs away with the picture and makes it her own.