A Summer Place [VHS]

As a social barometer of the times it may be reading a bit too much into "A Summer Place" to proclaim it as an early ripple in the social tempests still to come in the 1960's. Still those of us alive at that time know that in 1959 it WAS controversial to sympathetically portray adultery and teen sexuality as depicted in "A Summer Place". I remember my high school years (early '70's) and how girls who "got into trouble" would simply disappear and you'd never know what became of them until a classmate told you years later of their waywardness (this was still a VERY rare occurrence here in "flyover country" even then; unfortunately this is not nearly so uncommon now). And of course while adultery and divorce were likewise not quite so prevalent "back in the day," they certainly happened but not without considerable burden of stigma for the convention-defying lovers who tossed everything over for their passion.So yeah, I do think the sociology of "A Summer Place" is significant but that's really the least reason to see it. Mostly it's just maximum guilty-pleasure FUN and a HUGE blast of '50's nostalgia and "attitude" that still has great charm and luster for receptive movie fans.Rule number 1 is that you must have full tolerance for what we could now call cheesy acting and intensely overripe melodrama. AND ALSO you must be prepared for the nearly day-glo full-frontal gumball-vivid Technicolor cinematography of the time. Too many viewers can't see beyond the stylistic conventions of the time a movie was made to appreciate the human story being told; what a pity! Think of everyone you know who just won't watch a movie because it's in black & white, or because it's obviously an old, overcooked Hollywood potboiler. You know what? Many of those are GREAT works of art however (like most art) they require that you make the effort to meet them halfway. Think of them not only as theatrical productions but also as time capsules of the era they were created--because that's exactly what they are. And how fortunate we are now to have such easy access on DVD for our enjoyment now!But enough of the film theory stuff. "A Summer Place" appeals on many levels; the gorgeous cinematography, the convention-challenging story & script, the VERY effective and well-remembered orchestral score, and let's not overlook the cast. Sandra Dee & Troy Donahue do indeed project a kind of youthful innocence that truly is a thing of the past now, but was common in their time. Dorothy McGuire & Richard Egan give it their all as the reunited Pine Island lovers who cannot resign themselves to half-lives of marital indifference or cruelty. And how about those jilted spouses? You gotta love Constance Ford as the scheming, affronted and passive-aggressive wife interested mostly in keeping her husband & daughter under her thumb. Look-the DVD transfer shows how she has make-up "frown lines" painted at the corners of her mouth just in case we don't get the point that she's a sullen, PO'd, bitter woman. A Snidely Whiplash mustache wouldn't have been gender-appropriate, would it?!? Arthur Kennedy also gives a GREAT performance as Dorothy's bibulous husband who despite his degraded state still musters considerable self-awareness & ultimately inspires our sympathy.I described "A Summer Place" earlier as a guilty pleasure, but now I want to back off a little bit in closing. This is not really drama that will shake you fiercely like, say "21 Grams" or "Dead Man Walking," however I confess I AM touched by the underlying sincerity of "A Summer Place" and its intent to provoke--gently--some questioning of the Eisenhower era values that seemed set in stone and indeed WERE a cage of oppression for many. Perhaps your appreciation of "A Summer Place" will be proportional to your level of receptivity to such a re-evaluation. All I know for sure is that you enjoy it half as much as I do, you will like it a very great deal indeed!ADDENDUM 4/11/12: "Summer Place" remains a huge favorite, and I've gone on to enjoy Delmer Daves' other Troy Donahue movies (nicely bundled in the  Warner Bros. Romance Classics Collection (Palm Springs Weekend / Parrish / Rome Adventure / Susan Slade) ), but "Summer Place" is still INDISPUTABLY the best. Blu ray would certainly be the next frontier for "SP", and I admit I'm hoping they take some time to add some meaningful extras--and a good modern COMMENTARY track would likewise greatly add some perspective and "back-story" to the experience. (The DVD is sure way better than nothing--still highly recommended--but it has NO extras at all.)I still think "Summer Place" is an important pop culture expression of the changing social attitudes and mores of the late '50's-early '60's, reflecting how all generations were questioning what life "expected" of them versus the gravity of their own yearnings. And as such it's definitely worthy of a little "deluxe edition" re-issue love! Come on WB--Make me buy "Summer Place" again!UPDATE 1/22/15: Still waiting for that blu-ray! Since writing this review I read the original Sloan Wilson novel; an ESSENTIAL read for fans of the movie. As is true of EVERY film adaptation, an enormous amount of material had to be cut, compressed or composited to squeeze it into a two hour movie. The novel is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and available on Kindle,  A Summer Place

We were talking about this whole movie, and I looked on Amazon and they had it. I ordered it and I love the movie!

I've seen this about 4 times just a favorite oldie

Thank u for helping me complete my collection of this series of Troy Donahue movies

Sandra Dee was always one of my favorite actresses while I was growing up. Who didn't love Gidget? From there, her sunny disposition and beautiful looks were great characteristics to watch. A Summer Place took place during my "growing" years. It certainly seems foreign to have had life so strictly adhered to: No boys without chaperons, and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES overnights without a parent present. Oh yes, and those tests to assure mom that she was still pure. Troy Donahue was no slouch either. Who could resist him? He tried to keep those morales of the day, but, after meeting Sandra's character, he was a goner and all the established manners were gone. Love had arrived. Love the past guide to true love as A Summer Place will show you.

Movies like *Peyton Place*, *Imitation of Life*, and *Written On The Wind*, define the term "potboiler." This one, right up there with them, is oozing with angst over both young love and adultery, and features incredibly racy dialogue and plot contrivances for its time - as they all did. It has to do with a family - Helen and Ken Jorgenson, played by Constance Ford and Richard Egan, and their bubbly yet repressed daughter Molly, played by the maniacally cute Sandra Dee - who pay an unexpected call to the Maine resort at which the now-affluent Ken used to be a lifeguard. Ken's wife, Helen, is mysteriously anxious to appear oh-so-proper, and we quickly learn that Helen is a scheming, frigid, malignant wife given to phobias and obsessions. Constance Ford is marvelously chilling as the demented Helen - a character that should be voted into the Camp Hall of Fame. Richard Egan is the kind of actor they don't make much anymore - he plays Ken as the craggy, understanding, Uncle Bill-ish kind of father, who can be sensitive and still remain butch. The family that owns the resort whom they impose them selves upon, consists of Sylvia and Bart Hunter, played by Dorothy McGuire and Arthur Kennedy, and their wooden twit of a son, Johnny, played by Troy Donahue. Donahue, known in the business as "the *other* white meat", is hopelessly inept, and recalls the rueful words from *A Chorus Line*, which lament "If Troy Donahue can be a movie star, then I can be a movie star." McGuire plays her usual sort of character - cool exterior with passions that run deep, while Arthur Kennedy is virtually unrecognizable as Bart, the drunken dilettante whose family now lives in reduced circumstances and must now take in boarders. Young Johnny and Molly fall in love the first time their binoculars meet, and we become aware very quickly that Ken and Sylvia, both married to other people, have been around the block together before. Ken and Sylvia rekindle their love affair, making love in the boathouse, while Johnny woos Molly with such tripe as "We're all alone on this earth." Bart goes on drinking and Helen goes berserk. When Johnny and Molly survive the sinking of their boat, and spend the night on a deserted beach, Helen orders Molly to undergo an examination to see if she was still a virgin. Things go from bad to worse, and recriminations and name-calling abound. Helen brings the whole soupy mess to a boil by shrilly referring to Sylvia as Johnny's "harlot of a mother," while Bart calls Sylvia "common slut," and divorce decrees are served all around. Johnny and Molly are sent off to faraway schools, as the ugly divorces mysteriously dominate the headlines all over the Northeast. The children arrange a tryst over Christmas break, after which Helen and Molly get into it, and Helen slaps Molly into the Christmas tree, doubtlessly inspiring John Waters' (*Female Trouble*). After a suitable amount of time, Ken and Sylvia get married and acquire a swank new *moderne deluxe* split-level ranch home, but they miss the love of their Molly and Johnny, who, though separated, blame Ken and Sylvia for the unhappiness. Distressed at the estrangement, Ken refers to "the loneliness, hunger, impatience and waste" of unrequited young lust - just like he himself had - and tells Sylvia, "I want them to come to us when they need us." Molly and Johnny agree to meet up at the newlyweds' home, where, predictably, Molly gets "in trouble." There's lots of talk about "being good" and "being bad," and the plot is riddled with scenes of inclement weather that brings about lurid situations - like when they go to his drunken dad for help, who tells them "Sinners pay, one way or another" and "They need to be put in juvenile hall to cool off." Fortunately, the troubled teens fine love and acceptance at the home of the Original Sinners themselves, Ken and Sylvia, and, of course, everything works out wonderfully in the end. It is turgid and tawdry, and enhanced by Max Steiner's famous score - you know: deet deet deet deet deet deet... - but campy and hysterical. If you liked this title, we recommend an ice pick and a shot of whiskey to dull the pain.

Muy buena película con la que te sentirás identificado si eres de esas personas que solía veranear en el pueblo de tus padres y tuviste algún amor de verano, pero la película va más allá de eso…Yo diría que es una “oda al amor”, al amor auténtico que te tocó la patata en el pasado. No quiero hacer spoilers así que simplemente la recomiendo, los actores y actrices muy buenos (para aquellos tiempos claro ya que la película es del 59), además una guapísima Sandra Dee y Troy Donahue que emocionan tanto como el amor auténtico que hay entre su padre y su madre.La Banda Sonora Original es muy buena (aunque es mejor la versión remasterizada que hizo después Percy Faith - A Summer Place), de hecho fue esa canción que Shazamee de algún sitio que no recuerdo la que me hizo ver esta película, ya que es de esas canciones que transmiten emociones…Mira que no suelen gustarme películas tan antiguas, normalmente suelo ver desde los 70’s en adelante, pero está siendo del 59 es de las pocas que me ha gustado, le daré más oportunidades ya que seguro que hay muchas joyas más por ahí ocultas que puedan gustarme.Esta Edición del DVD “En Una Isla Tranquila Al Sur” trae el idioma original y el idioma Español de España con subtítulos en castellano (para aclarar el comentario que dice uno que es Español latino, decir que no, que es Castellano de España, por lo menos en esta versión).El único “pero” que podría ponerle a esta versión es que la portada principal de la carátula no me gusta tanto como la otra donde se ve la imagen real de la joven pareja, ya que como podéis ver en las fotos en esta versión sale dibujada. Es una tontería, pero yo que suelo coleccionar DVD y Bluray en estanterías tipo videoclub/tienda con la portada principal en lugar de costado, le suelo dar importancia siempre a la hora de elegir la mejor versión posible, pero la otra versión estaba complicada de encontrar nueva a estrenar y era una lotería al no saber si traería el idioma Español o el Latino a raíz de esa otra reseña que lo comentaba…

BRILLIANT - PLOT, ACTING - THEME SONG - WONDERFUL

I have to admit that the sountrack is the best thing in the movie : the melodrama has never been my favorite genre; however Daves was a good director and in this one he had a few good actors, Arthur Kennedy especially; better forger Troy and Sandra.

Dad loved it

Ich möchte hier nur noch einmal die Aussage in der vorigen Rezension von Isabella bestätigen, dass diese DVD trotz Regionalcode 1 auf all meinen DVD-Playern problemlos läuft mit einer sehr guten Bildqualität, aber natürlich ohne deutsche Sprachfassung.