The Summer of Ben Tyler

{{Short description|1996 television film by Arthur Allan Seidelman}}

{{Infobox television

| image = The Summer of Ben Tyler.jpg

| caption = Promotional poster

| writer = Robert Inman

| director = Arthur Allan Seidelman

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| composer = Van Dyke Parks

| country = United States

| language = English

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Richard Welsh
Ronnie D. Clemmer
Bill Pace
Richard P. Kughn
Sharon Cicero

}}

| producer = Dan Witt

| cinematography = Neil Roach

| editor = Toni Morgan

| runtime = 134 minutes

| company = Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

| network = CBS

| released = {{Start date|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/summer-ben-tyler|title=The Summer of Ben Tyler|website=Golden Globes|access-date=December 25, 2022}}

Cast

James Woods as Temple Rayburn
Elizabeth McGovern as Celia Rayburn
Len Cariou as Spencer Maitland
Julia McIlvaine as Nell Rayburn
Charles Mattocks as Ben Tyler
Kevin Isola as Junius Maitland
Clifton James as Sam Thompkins
Anita Gillette as Suellen
Millie Perkins as Doris
Jack Gilpin as Carter Glenn
Novella Nelson as Rosetta Tyler
Ed Grady as Dr. Ringgold
Ronn Carroll as Judge Kragen
Gregory Perrelli as Scooter Maitland
Judith Ivey as Narrator

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."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1996/tv/reviews/the-summer-of-ben-tyler-1200448120/amp/|title=The Summer of Ben Tyler|last=Richmond|first=Ray|date=December 10, 1996|website=Variety|access-date=December 25, 2022}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/13/arts/black-youth-s-summer-to-remember.html|title=Black Youth's Summer to Remember|last=O'Connor|first=John J.|date=December 13, 1996|website=The New York Times|access-date=December 25, 2022}}

=Awards and nominations=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Recipient(s) ! Result
rowspan="6"\| 1997 \| rowspan="2"\| 1st Golden Satellite Awards \| Best Miniseries or TV Film \| The Summer of Ben Tyler \| {{nom}}
Best Actor – Miniseries or TV Film \| rowspan="2"\| James Woods \| {{nom}}
54th Golden Globe Awards \| Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film \| {{nom}}
1st Art Directors Guild Awards \| Excellence in Production Design Award – Television \| Jan Scott Tim Eckel \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2"\| 18th Youth in Film Awards \| Best Performance in a TV Movie or Mini Series: Young Actress \| Julia McIlvaine \| {{nom}}
Best Family TV Movie or Mini Series: Network \| rowspan="2"\| The Summer of Ben Tyler \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2"\| 1998 \| 23rd Humanitas Awards \| 90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television \| {{nom}}
50th Writers Guild of America Awards \| Best Long Form – Original \| Robert Inman \| {{won}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Recipient(s)

! Result

rowspan="6"| 1997

| rowspan="2"| 1st Golden Satellite Awards

| Best Miniseries or TV Film

| The Summer of Ben Tyler

| {{nom}}

Best Actor – Miniseries or TV Film