Hot Summer Night (1959): cast, story & where to watch
1959 · Film
Released in 1959, Hot Summer Night is a drama and romance film directed by Ted Kotcheff, running about 82 minutes.
What it’s about. Jacko, a respected union man, is fighting for the promotion of a Jamaican colleague to chargehand, but when his daughter brings home her black boyfriend, he realises that racial prejudice is rife within his own home. This powerful drama exposes the deep-seated racial tensions hidden in British family life during the late 1950s. Written for the stage by Unity Theatre's Ted Willis, this television recording was filmed a few weeks after the play's successful West End run, and most of the stage cast repeat their roles here, including the terrific John Slater, Andree Melly and Lloyd Reckord. The drama's interracial kiss is probably the first to be shown on British TV.
Who’s in it. Hot Summer Night stars John Slater as Jack Palmer, Lloyd Reckord as Sonny Lincoln, Ruth Dunning as Nell Palmer and Scott Harrold as Old Man, among others.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from BFI Player. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Hot Summer Night page.
If you liked it. Fans of Hot Summer Night tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Hot Summer Night (1959)?
- In GB, Hot Summer Night is available to rent or buy from BFI Player. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Who stars in Hot Summer Night?
- Hot Summer Night stars John Slater, Lloyd Reckord, Ruth Dunning, Scott Harrold and Joyce Howard.
- When was Hot Summer Night released?
- Hot Summer Night was released in 1959, with a runtime of about 82 minutes.