This film marked the close of a successful period for Tennessee Williams at the movie theaters, following six successes or near misses between 1951 and 1964. It’s not solely based on his writing, though, as Francis Ford Coppola and other writers developed his somber narrative by introducing new characters and a romantic subplot. The story unfolds during 1932-1933, and the Depression-era setting is well realized. The atmosphere feels thick with humidity, and the social interactions seem almost dreamlike, with appearances from Charles Bronson, Robert Blake, and Dabney Coleman in smaller roles. The framing device at the beginning doesn't quite work and reveals a key element of the tragic storyline. Still, I appreciate how the movie begins with Willie walking along train tracks – it’s striking. There are moments that feel somewhat familiar, too. For example, you can anticipate what will happen to carefree Owen (Redford) as he wanders about without concern. It shares some qualities with “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter,” which was released two years later and proved moderately successful. It also explores comparable themes to Brando’s “The Fugitive Kind,” although I find that one more appealing personally. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 50 minutes, and filming took place from October 1965 to January 1966 in Bay St. Louis on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Biloxi just to the east, and New Orleans, about an hour southwest. Some additional work was completed in Los Angeles. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB