The Summer of Ben Tyler
Promotional poster
Written byRobert Inman
Directed byArthur Allan Seidelman
Starring
ComposerVan Dyke Parks
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Richard Welsh
  • Ronnie D. Clemmer
  • Bill Pace
  • Richard P. Kughn
  • Sharon Cicero
ProducerDan Witt
CinematographyNeil Roach
EditorToni Morgan
Running time134 minutes
Production companyHallmark Hall of Fame Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
Release
  • December 15, 1996 (1996-12-15)

The Summer of Ben Tyler is an American drama television film that premiered on CBS on December 15, 1996, as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series. The film is directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman and written by Robert Inman. It stars James Woods as an up-and-coming lawyer, alongside Elizabeth McGovern, Len Cariou, Julia McIlvaine, Charles Mattocks, Kevin Isola, Clifton James, and Anita Gillette. Woods received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance.[1]

Cast

Reception

Critical response

Ray Richmond of Variety gave the film a positive review, writing that "a sumptuously produced gem of a film with a refreshing message of moral heroism, The Summer of Ben Tyler is as poignant, heartwarming and superbly acted as any of the 189 previous Hallmark Hall of Fame productions."[2] John J. O'Connor of The New York Times concluded his review by stating that the film "gets the familiar treatment: a fine cast and top-notch direction. If only the underlying story weren't so insufferably patronizing."[3]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
1997 1st Golden Satellite Awards Best Miniseries or TV Film The Summer of Ben Tyler Nominated
Best Actor – Miniseries or TV Film James Woods Nominated
54th Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
1st Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Jan Scott
Tim Eckel 		Nominated
18th Youth in Film Awards Best Performance in a TV Movie or Mini Series: Young Actress Julia McIlvaine Nominated
Best Family TV Movie or Mini Series: Network The Summer of Ben Tyler Nominated
1998 23rd Humanitas Awards 90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television Nominated
50th Writers Guild of America Awards Best Long Form – Original Robert Inman Won

References

  1. ^ "The Summer of Ben Tyler". Golden Globes. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Richmond, Ray (December 10, 1996). "The Summer of Ben Tyler". Variety. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  3. ^ O'Connor, John J. (December 13, 1996). "Black Youth's Summer to Remember". The New York Times. Retrieved December 25, 2022.

External links

Films directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman
Categories