CBS SPECIAL PRESENTATION: HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: THE SUMMER OF BEN TYLER (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic specials presented by Hallmark. This drama, set in a small Southern town in 1942, features James Woods and Elizabeth McGovern as Temple and Celia Rayburn, a couple who follow their own moral compass in spite of the racial prejudices aroused in their neighbors when they take in a mentally handicapped young black man, and in spite of pressure from the powerful local patriarch who tries to buy Temple with a political career. The story is narrated by the Rayburns' daughter, Nell, who looks back as an adult upon this particular summer when she was eleven years old. As the drama begins, Temple Rayburn, a small town lawyer, receives a flattering offer from his wealthy mentor, Spencer Maitland, the owner of the local mill: Maitland says he'll support Temple in a campaign for the state senate. That evening Temple discusses the offer with Celia -- his headstrong and free-spirited wife -- who expresses suspicions about Maitland's motives. The same night, the couple learn their beloved housekeeper, Rosetta, has taken gravely ill. At Rosetta's deathbed, Celia promises to look after Ben, Rosetta's mildly retarded teenage son. After Rosetta's death, the Rayburns defy the conventions of their racially segregated town and invite Ben to live in their home. Temple decides to take Maitland's offer, and Temple's campaign gets off to a rousing starts thanks to Maitland's money and influence, but when Maitland learns that the locals are uncomfortable with the fact that Ben lives with the Rayburns, he insists Temple send Ben away, When Temple refuses, Maitland exerts his iron will by sending a construction crew to build a small guest house in the Rayburn's back yard for Ben, and this temporarily mollifies the locals. Meanwhile, a familial bond develops between the Rayburns and Ben -- a young man with a keen sense of humor; a dignified bearing; and a selfless, compassionate nature -- and one day, when Nell experiments with smoking in the backyard and accidentally starts a minor fire, Ben willingly takes the blame for the frightened girl. Neighbors, immediately outraged, call Ben an arsonist and a danger to the community. Maitland swiftly reacts to this political problem by having Ben drafted for army service. Knowing Ben is unfit for military the Rayburns are devastated -- and Nell is racked with guilt as Ben boards a bus for basic training. Meanwhile, Temple is retained by Maitland to defend his hapless son, Junius. Junius, a college boy who lives in fear of his father, killed an old woman in a drunken hit-and-run accident during a thunderstorm, but claims he had thought he hit a fallen tree limb. When a young woman who witnessed the accident sends Temple an anonymous note warning of Junius's guilt, Temple faces a moral dilemma: He must decide whether to do the right thing and incur the wrath of Spencer Maitland or withhold the evidence and protect his political aspirations. As Temple struggles with his conscience, he is surprised when Ben suddenly appears at his office. Later, Ben makes him realize what he must do. Includes commercials and promos. This program is closed-captioned.
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which, since 1952, has aired under the title "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Hallmark Cards, 1996.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: December 15, 1996 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:56:29
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:47088
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Mentally handicapped persons - Drama; Racism - Drama
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1996
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Hallmark Hall of Fame" video tapes
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark "It's Christmas!" CDs and cassettes
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark Christmas Keepsake ornaments
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark Christmas cards
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark Hanukkah cards
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark retirement cards
- TV - Promos - "Cosby"
- TV - Promos - "Cybill"
- TV - Promos - "Hallmark Hall of Fame: William Faulkner's 'Old Man'"
- TV - Promos - "Ink"
- TV - Promos - "Murphy Brown"
- TV - Promos - "The Christmas Box"
- TV - Promos - "Timepiece"
- TV - Promos - "Unlikely Angel"
CREDITS
- Richard Welsh … Executive Producer
- Ronnie D. Clemmer … Executive Producer
- Bill Pace … Executive Producer
- Richard P. Kughn … Executive Producer
- Sharon Cicero … Executive Producer
- Brent Shields … Co-Executive Producer
- Dan Witt … Producer
- Jeffrey R. Coates … Co-Producer
- Robert Inman … Co-Producer, Writer
- Timothy M. Bourne … Line Producer
- Arthur Allan Seidelman … Director
- Van Dyke Parks … Music by
- Judith Ivey … Narrator
- James Woods … Cast, Temple Rayburn
- Elizabeth McGovern … Cast, Celia Rayburn
- Len Cariou … Cast, Spencer Maitland
- Julia McIlvaine … Cast, Nell Rayburn
- Kevin Isola … Cast, Junius Maitland
- Clifton James … Cast, Chief Sam Thomkins
- Anita Gillette … Cast, Suellen Maples
- Charles Mattocks … Cast, Ben Tyler
- Millie Perkins … Cast, Doris Carpenter
- Jack Gilpin … Cast, Carter Glenn
- Novella Nelson … Cast, Rosetta Tyler
- Ed Grady … Cast, Dr. Ringgold
- Ronn Carroll … Cast, Judge Kragen
- Gregg Perrelli … Cast, Scooter Maitland
- Mary Lucy Bivins … Cast
- Sharlene Thomas … Cast