The Summer of Ben Tyler

The Summer of Ben Tyler

1996 · 110 min · ★ 6.8 · Drama

Set early during World War II, the film has a lot to say about love, honor, relationships, commitment and power. Keeping their promise to their dying black housekeeper, a white family takes in her teenage mentally-slow son. The movie details the joys and conflicts the family faces as a result of their decision.

Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman · Written by Robert Inman

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

fuboTVPhiloHallmark+ Amazon ChannelHallmark+ Apple TV channelHallmark TV Amazon Channel

Cast

Make it a double feature

3h 30m together

The Summer of Ben Tyler

The Runaway

Both from Arthur Allan Seidelman.

More from Arthur Allan SeidelmanSee all →

The Secrets of Lake SuccessThe Secrets of Lake Success · 1993
The Secrets of Lake Success
10.01993
SeriesDrama
Lake Success is an idyllic location on which a fabulously wealthy family lives. However, all is not well in the family, with illicit sexual affairs, power struggles, and a whole lot more going on behind the scenes.
False WitnessFalse Witness · 1989
False Witness
9.01989
MovieCrimeDrama
An assistant district attorney's (Phylicia Rashad) co-worker lover (Philip Michael Thomas) plans to prove her wrong about a case.
Hallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of Fame · 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.81951
SeriesDrama
Long-running anthology program sponsored by Hallmark Cards. Beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2019, the series received 80 Emmy Awards, 24 Christopher Awards, 11 Peabody Awards, 9 Golden Globes, and 4 Humanitas Prizes. Early seasons were a weekly live drama, eventually transitioning to videotaped and then filmed productions broadcast as occasional specials.
Hill Street BluesHill Street Blues · 1981
Hill Street Blues
7.61981
SeriesDramaCrime
A realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an urban police station.
The Paper ChaseThe Paper Chase · 1978
The Paper Chase
7.61978
SeriesDrama
Critically lauded drama about the life and pressures of a group of students at a prestigious Eastern law school, with a strict and domineering contract-law professor named Charles Kingsfield, who alternately inspires and terrifies the students.
Murder, She WroteMurder, She Wrote · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
7.51984
SeriesMysteryCrime
An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life homicide cases.
Bay City BluesBay City Blues · 1983
Bay City Blues
7.51983
SeriesDramaComedy
Bay City Blues is an American comedy-drama series that aired on NBC from October 1983 to November 1983. The series stars Michael Nouri, Dennis Franz, and Pat Corley, and was created and produced by Steven Bochco. Eight episodes were produced, but only four were aired prior to its cancellation.
Magnum, P.I.Magnum, P.I. · 1980
Magnum, P.I.
7.31980
SeriesCrimeDrama
A private investigator who works when he wants, lives in a beachfront estate in Hawaii, drives a posh Ferrari, runs up an unlimited tab at a swank bar, and charms attractive women in peril - that's the lifestyle of Thomas Magnum, aka Magnum, P.I.
The RunawayThe Runaway · 2000
The Runaway
7.22000
MovieTV Movie
At the birth of two boys, one white and one black, a mysterious and powerful Conjure Woman (Maya Angelou) prophesies that they will start the change. Growing up as best friends in rural Georgia in the 1940s, the boys make a discovery that leads the town's new sheriff, Frank Richards (Dean Cain), to reopen the investigation of the unsolved murders of three black men. While the town would prefer that the truth remain hidden, the sheriff pursues the case, determined to see justice prevail. The Runaway is a stirring story of how friendship, determination and conviction can generate racial change in one heart or an entire town.
A Year in the LifeA Year in the Life · 1987
A Year in the Life
7.21987
SeriesDrama
Following the success of the three-part miniseries of the same name, the drama series follows the daily lives of Seattle's Gardner family. Joe Gardner is the owner of a successful plastics business and the father of four adult children. The Gardner family includes twice-divorced daughter Anne, who returns home with her two teenaged children; daughter Lindley and husband Jim, parents of a newborn baby daughter; black sheep son Jack; and conservative youngest son Sam, newly married to free-spirited Kay.
L.A. LawL.A. Law · 1986
L.A. Law
7.11986
SeriesDramaWar & Politics
L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it contained many of Bochco's trademark features including a large number of parallel storylines, social drama and off-the-wall humor. It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s, and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights, homophobia, sexual harassment, AIDS, and domestic violence. The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff. The show was popular with audiences and critics, and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run, four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series.
Half NelsonHalf Nelson · 1985
Half Nelson
7.01985
SeriesComedyDrama
Rocky Nelson is a former New York City cop who moved to Beverly Hills, where he got a job at a private security service for the rich and famous, while attempting to make it as an actor.
Knots LandingKnots Landing · 1979
Knots Landing
7.01979
SeriesDramaSoap
The domestic adventures, misdeeds and everyday interactions of five families living on a cul-de-sac in a small California community.
Cover UpCover Up · 1984
Cover Up
6.91984
SeriesAction & AdventureDrama
Cover Up is an American action/adventure television series that aired for one season on CBS from September 22, 1984 to April 6, 1985. Created by Glen A. Larson, the series stars Jennifer O'Neill, Jon-Erik Hexum, Antony Hamilton, and Richard Anderson.
Poker AlicePoker Alice · 1987
Poker Alice
6.91987
MovieWesternRomance
She's a New Orleans gambler with a poker face no man can resist. And when she unwittingly wins a "house of ill repute" in a high-stakes card game, things start moving like a runaway train.
The Kid Who Loved ChristmasThe Kid Who Loved Christmas · 1990
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
6.61990
MovieDramaFamily
In this sentimental holiday tale, a young boy is taken away from his loving, adoptive household when his new mom is killed in an auto accident and his traveling musician dad is deemed unfit to care for him, being on the road too much. Now, the only thing that can help is if a cold, bureaucratic adoption agency caseworker sees the error of her ways and allows them to be together.

More Like This

Driving Miss DaisyDriving Miss Daisy · 1989
Driving Miss Daisy
7.21989
MovieDrama
The story of an old Jewish widow named Daisy Werthan and her relationship with her black chauffeur, Hoke. From an initial mere work relationship grew in 25 years a strong friendship between the two very different characters, in a time when those types of relationships were shunned.
La HaineLa Haine · 1995
La Haine
8.11995
MovieDrama
After a chaotic night of rioting in a marginal suburb of Paris, three young friends, Vinz, Hubert and Saïd, wander around unoccupied waiting for news about the state of health of a mutual friend who has been seriously injured when confronting the police.
The CelebrationThe Celebration · 1998
The Celebration
7.71998
MovieDrama
The family of a wealthy businessman gather to celebrate his 60th birthday. During the course of the party, his eldest son presents a speech that reveals a devastating secret that turns the night into a battle of truth and denial.
Do the Right ThingDo the Right Thing · 1989
Do the Right Thing
7.81989
MovieDrama
Sal is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local, Buggin' Out, becomes upset when he sees that the pizzeria's Wall of Fame exhibits only Italian actors. Buggin' Out believes a pizzeria in a black neighborhood should showcase black actors, but Sal disagrees. The wall becomes a symbol of racism and hate to Buggin' Out and to other people in the neighborhood, and tensions rise.
SommersbySommersby · 1993
Sommersby
6.41993
MovieDramaThriller
Set in the South just after the US Civil War, Laurel Sommersby is just managing to work the farm without her husband, believed killed in battle. By all accounts, Jack Sommersby was not a pleasant man, thus when he suddenly returns, Laurel has mixed emotions. It appears that Jack has changed a great deal, leading some people to believe that this is not actually Jack but an imposter. Laurel herself is unsure, but willing to take the man into her home, and perhaps later into her heart.
PrincessesPrincesses · 2005
Princesses
6.82005
MovieDrama
Caye is a young prostitute whose family is unaware of her profession. She meets her striking Dominican neighbour Zulema, an illegal immigrant, after she finds her in the bathroom, badly beaten up. They strike up a close friendship unbeknownst to Caye's xenophobic co-workers.
Places in the HeartPlaces in the Heart · 1984
Places in the Heart
7.21984
MovieDrama
In 1935 rural Texas, recently widowed Edna Spaulding struggles to survive with two small children, a farm to run, and very little money in the bank - not to mention a deadly tornado and the unwelcome presence of the Ku Klux Klan. Edna is aided by her beautician sister, Margaret; a blind boarder, Mr. Will; and a would-be thief, Moze, who decides to teach Edna how to plant and harvest cotton.
White Men Can't JumpWhite Men Can't Jump · 1992
White Men Can't Jump
6.71992
MovieComedyDrama
Two street basketball hustlers try to con each other, then team up for a bigger score.
The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice · 2004
The Merchant of Venice
6.82004
MovieDramaRomance
Venice, 1596. Bassanio begs his friend Antonio, a prosperous merchant, to lend him a large sum of money so that he can woo Portia, a very wealthy heiress; but Antonio has invested his fortune abroad, so they turn to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and ask him for a loan.
The UnforgivenThe Unforgiven · 1960
The Unforgiven
6.21960
MovieWesternDrama
The neighbors of a frontier family turn on them when it is suspected that their beloved adopted daughter was stolen from the Kiowa tribe.
Running ScaredRunning Scared · 2006
Running Scared
7.02006
MovieActionCrime
A low-ranking thug is entrusted by his boss to dispose of a gun that killed corrupt cops, but things spiral out of control when the gun ends up in wrong hands.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter