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The Summer of Ben Tyler

A man who acts upon his conscience opens a Pandora's box of racism and intolerance. Temple Rayburn (James Woods) is an attorney who lives and works in a small Southern community in the 1940s. When Rayburn and his wife Celia (Elizabeth McGovern) encounter a young man named Ben Tyler (Charles Mattocks)--a mentally-challenged African-American youth with nowhere to go--they take pity on him and let him stay in their home. However, in a time and place when black and white citizens were not allowed to use the same drinking fountain, Temple's decision raises more than a few eyebrows, and the Rayburn household soon becomes the center of a local political firestorm.

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Cast & Crew See All

James Woods
Temple Rayburn
Elizabeth McGovern
Celia Rayburn
Len Cariou
Spencer Maitland

Featured Video

Summer Of Ben Tyler
Summer Of Ben Tyler
1:35

1:35 Summer Of Ben Tyler

Awards

  • 1997 - Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - nominated
  • 1997 - Excellence in Production Design Award - Television Series - nominated
  • 1997 - Humanitas Prize - 90 Minute Category - nominated
  • 1997 - Young Artist Award - Best Family TV Movie or Mini-Series - Network - nominated

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