I was much more impressed with "Summer Flight" than I expected. The reason I didn't expect much was that it was a remake--and I rarely ever like remakes. The other reason is that Susan Hayward emotes in her films...A LOT. To say that her performances often lack subtlety is a gross understatement--they're often very loud and occasionally wacky due to a tendency to overact in SOME films (such as in "I Want to Live"). I say some because she could also be very good and give nice performances like she did here in "Summer Flight". The film is a reworked version of Bette Davis' "Dark Victory". While I clearly prefer the original, this version is pretty decent.
The movie is set in England instead of the US. Hayward plays Laura, a woman who is rich and reasonably happy. However, she's also having some very troubling symptoms yet refuses to seek medical help. Double-vision, massive headaches and more have been occurring for some time yet she inexplicably refuses to tell anyone. Her boyfriend suspects something is wrong and asks a prominent doctor to come to one of Laura's parties and covertly examine her. Laura figures out what's happening and becomes angry...but when the doctor is able to size up her problems very quickly, she agrees to get some tests. Unfortunately, the tests show she has a brain tumor--and the doctor operates immediately. Is Laura out of the woods? Well, if you have seen "Dark Victory", then you know she is royally screwed. So what's next?
There are only two things I didn't like about "Summer Flight". One is also in "Dark Victory" and that is the oddly specific way the doctor tells Laura she will die. It's SO exact and specific that it sounds a bit ridiculous. The other problem is the STUPID notion of casting Diane Baker as Laura's sister. Ms. Baker is more than 20 years younger than Miss Hayward and she looks it. Either having her play Laura's DAUGHTER or having an older actress play the part would have made much more sense.
Despite these quibbles, I liked the film. The production was lovely--with nice direction, cinematography and music. I also thought Hayward was good in the role--particularly when she WAS being emotional (such as confronting the doctor when she learned he was lying about her prognosis)--it was restrained and realistic. My vote still is to see "Dark Victory" if you only want to see one of these films, but seeing both isn't a bad bet at all.
The movie is set in England instead of the US. Hayward plays Laura, a woman who is rich and reasonably happy. However, she's also having some very troubling symptoms yet refuses to seek medical help. Double-vision, massive headaches and more have been occurring for some time yet she inexplicably refuses to tell anyone. Her boyfriend suspects something is wrong and asks a prominent doctor to come to one of Laura's parties and covertly examine her. Laura figures out what's happening and becomes angry...but when the doctor is able to size up her problems very quickly, she agrees to get some tests. Unfortunately, the tests show she has a brain tumor--and the doctor operates immediately. Is Laura out of the woods? Well, if you have seen "Dark Victory", then you know she is royally screwed. So what's next?
There are only two things I didn't like about "Summer Flight". One is also in "Dark Victory" and that is the oddly specific way the doctor tells Laura she will die. It's SO exact and specific that it sounds a bit ridiculous. The other problem is the STUPID notion of casting Diane Baker as Laura's sister. Ms. Baker is more than 20 years younger than Miss Hayward and she looks it. Either having her play Laura's DAUGHTER or having an older actress play the part would have made much more sense.
Despite these quibbles, I liked the film. The production was lovely--with nice direction, cinematography and music. I also thought Hayward was good in the role--particularly when she WAS being emotional (such as confronting the doctor when she learned he was lying about her prognosis)--it was restrained and realistic. My vote still is to see "Dark Victory" if you only want to see one of these films, but seeing both isn't a bad bet at all.