The Summer of Ben Tyler

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.

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

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." 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."