A Summer Place (1959)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Delmer Daves

Writers:

Sloan Wilson (novel)
Delmer Daves (writer)

Release Date:

18 November 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A self-made businessman rekindles a romance with a former flame while their two teenage children begin a romance of their own with drastic consequences for both couples.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Adultery | Summer | Marriage | Remarriage

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Richard Egan	...	Ken Jorgenson
Dorothy McGuire	...	Sylvia Hunter
Sandra Dee	...	Molly Jorgenson
Arthur Kennedy	...	Bart Hunter
Troy Donahue	...	Johnny Hunter
Constance Ford	...	Helen Jorgenson
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Emily Hamilton Hamble
Jack Richardson	...	Claude Andrews
Martin Eric	...	Todd Harper, Handyman at Pine Island Inn

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:A (cut) | West Germany:12 (f) (cut version) | West Germany:18 (f) (original version) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #19324)

Filming Locations:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Max Steiner's main theme for this film is probably his best-known after his "Tara Theme" for "Gone With the Wind." As with "Tara's Theme," it has remained a favorite ever since, with several charting recordings. Percy Faith's version (American Columbia: 1960) went to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1960, remaining in that position for 9 weeks, becoming both the Number One Instrumental Hit of the Rock Era and the first instrumental to win the Grammy for Record of the Year. Other charting versions were by Billy Vaughn (Dot: 1960, peaking at #2), the Lettermen (Capitol: 1965, using Mack Discant's lyrics and peaking at #16), and the Ventures (Liberty: 1969, at #83). Faith himself re-recorded it, shortly before his death in 1976, in a disco arrangement entitled "Summer Place '76."

Goofs:

Continuity: Johnny (Troy Donahue) kisses Molly (Sandra Dee) in the garden with his arms wrapped around hers and hers encircling his lower chest. A close-up shows her arms wrapped around his neck.

Quotes:

Molly Jorgenson: [watching Ken and Sylvia, her father and his mother, go to their bedroom] Oh, Johnny... Do you suppose they make love?
Johnny Hunter: Why shouldn't they do? They're married.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993)

Soundtrack:

Bridal March

A Summer Place, A Summer Place...

Oh my God!!! This movie is soooooo romantic! It is one of my favorites! The plot is about some guests at Pine Island. Like Ken and Helen are married and Sylvia and Bart are married. Ken and Helen are Molly's parents and Sylvia and Bart are Johnny's parents. But, Ken really loves Sylvia and Sylvia loves Ken. And later Molly and Johnny fall in love. At first, my dad thought Johnny might really be Ken's son!!! I love how this movie is all over - not just at Pine Island, but also and the boarding schools, Ken and Sylvia's house (Oh my gosh I want that house!!!), etc. Even though it was made in the 50's its still pretty spicy, even by today's standards. And as a plus, its not too dated! Some of my favorites parts are when the aunt overhears Sylvia and Ken in the attic, when Johnny threatens to kill Helen, when Helen tells everyone Ken and Sylvia are having an affair, and when Helen slaps Molly and she breaks the Christmas tree. This movie is just a classic! And the soundtrack makes you wish you could vacation at Pine Island.....