Yesterday, I turned on Turner Classic Movies and landed in the middle of A Summer Place. Familiar with the theme song but having never seen the film, I gave it a couple of minutes. In the past, I looked at this title as being a corny movie; however, I began to see otherwise. Not wanting to ruin it, I turned off the film and decided to check the movie out for tomorrow evening to catch it in its entirety. Something to look forward to.
- JKHolman
So... what did you think?
shareBest adolescent scenes to this day (boy & girl). Even better than James Dean and Natalie Wood in Rebel without a cause. Troy Donahue was quite gallant and Sandra Dee was appealingly sweet.
The mother was a cruel woman. 'knew a girl in high school whose mother told her she was putting the daughter on the pill. Dawn begged her mother not to; that she was a good girl and wanted to stay such. Her mother insisted and would not hear otherwise. Poor Dawn. She ended up becoming the high school slut.
A film I will watch again over the years.
- JKHolman
Glad you liked it.
Since I hadn't really seen it in years, I bought the dvd and watched it again. I thought I really knew this film, but I was pleasantly surprised watching it through 'adult' eyes.
This film is widely considered to be a dated, glossy, sudser. And I get that. But this film had quality writing and timeless themes/conflicts that raise it above that level.
The film has many surprises and is way more subtle, and substantial, than many people give it credit for.
For example, re-visit the scene where Dorothy Maguire talks of wanting to grow their own food, weave their own clothes and run naked on the beach. She's talking about being a hippie!
This film only seems dated.
I love this movie, but for true young love, I love Splendor in the Grass. I can hardly watch it sometimes as it is such a heartbreaker.
shareI just saw it for the first time. I think I'm going to watch it with my fourteen year old daughter... I can talk to her - but it embarrasses her terribly. I think seeing two kids who want to do the right thing, to be good but who let things get out of control will lead to an easier conversation.
shareI taped it thinking do I or don't I because I have seen it soooo many times
but am so glad I did
yes it is corny and I found myself laughing out loud through some of the drama lol
the newspapers about the affair
but I just love Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee was just so adorable
if you are interested here is a interview with Sandra Dee on the Sally Jessy Raphael show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCBKv1wLe4c
when I was a teenager I thought being Sandra Dee must have been the ultimate but everyone has problems
thanks for the link...i'll watch it tonight.
Yeah, some of the stuff on Summer Place was dated, like the fact that someone's divorce/affair would be in the newspaper. But, I kind of dig the olden days/retro thing and I'm able to get past it a lot more now than when I was younger.
It is weird that many, including myself, think that movie stars and other celebs like the royals lead charmed lives even when we KNOW that the opposite is usually the case. But yeah, it is still hard to think that Sandra Dee spent her whole life as an alcoholic and died at such a young age.
But another in a long line of icons who met with tragedy.
Well, yeah, but aren't people's divorces and affairs in the newspaper? Not on the front page, unless they are Royals or in the government, but Egan's character was a millionaire.
Sad for Sandra Dee. Still, I was irritated that when Bobby Darin died, all the press did was go gooey over her visiting him on his deathbed, while ignoring his second wife, Andrea, who was also there.
Was it mentioned that Egan's character was a millionaire? Obviously he was wealthy, but wasn't he like a chemical engineer or something? So, a good living...but a millionaire?
Research chemist. Post WW2, the sky was the limit for all kinds of chemical research, and if he played his cards right, he could've done very well. Even better if he'd gotten his name on a few key patents - sure, millionaire would be possible.
sharethanks for your reply. Dang, I wish I would have been born with an aptitude for chemistry! I didn't even think of inventions and patents.
Interestingly, another fun film from the 60's, "With Six You Get Eggroll" (I love Doris Day), her lover/husband was played by Brian Keith who was also a chemical engineer.
Seems like there was even another film where it mentioned the male lead was in that same profession. Obviously the hot career, then and now.
Wow I didn't know that. That was wrong to ignore his current wife at the time.
shareStill, I was irritated that when Bobby Darin died, all the press did was go gooey over her visiting him on his deathbed, while ignoring his second wife, Andrea, who was also there.
Sandra did not visit Bobby before he died as was depicted in the film "Beyond The Sea".
Bobby also had filed for divorce from his second wife. At the end he started shutting people out.
He did call his son to wish him a happy birthday, and died a mere four days later.