Summer and Smoke (1961)

Plain, repressed spinster falls for a dashing young medical student, but he prefers the wilder life, until it's too late.

Director:

Peter Glenville

Writers:

Tennessee Williams (play), James Poe (screenplay),

Stars:

Laurence Harvey, Geraldine Page, Rita Moreno

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Laurence Harvey	...	John Buchanan, Jr
Geraldine Page	...	Alma Winemiller
Rita Moreno	...	Rosa Zacharias
Una Merkel	...	Mrs. Winemiller
John McIntire	...	Dr. Buchanan
Thomas Gomez	...	Papa Zacharias
Pamela Tiffin	...	Nellie Ewell
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Rev. Winemiller
Lee Patrick	...	Mrs. Ewell
Max Showalter	...	Roger Doremus (as Casey Adams)
Earl Holliman	...	Archie Kramer

Storyline

Since childhood, spinster Alma Winemiller has loved handsome young Dr. John Buchanan, Jr.. But John has fallen hard for Rosa Zacharias, the town's sultry vamp, and descends into a seamy nightlife while ignoring Alma's dreams of romance and possible marriage.

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Plot Keywords:

spinster | death | inhibition | seduction | love triangle | 

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Taglines:

In the heat of summer... the smoke of desire...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1962 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Sommer und Rauch

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Wallis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway play "Summer and Smoke" by Tennessee Williams opened Oct. 6, 1948 at the Music Box Theatre and ran for 102 performances. Ray Walston was in the cast in a supporting role.

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Connections

Version of Great Performances: Eccentricities of a Nightingale (1976)

User Reviews

Geraldine Page - Greatest American Actress of 20th Century

In my opinion, Geraldine Page was the greatest American Actress in the 20th Century. I believe that had she not spent much of her time on the New York Stage, she would have won several more Oscars, but was considered somewhat a Hollywood outsider.

She should have won for Summer and Smoke, and Sweet Bird of Youth. She carried these movies by her great acting skills and hard work.

All of her movies need to be on DVD. It is particularly surprising to me that Summer and Smoke has not been converted to DVD.

Does anyone know if any of her Stage Plays have been captured on video, and if so, where such videos could be obtained?