Summer of '42 (1971)

During his summer vacation on Nantucket Island in 1942, a youth eagerly awaiting his first sexual encounter finds himself developing an innocent love for a young woman awaiting news on her soldier husband's fate in WWII.

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writer:

Herman Raucher

Stars:

Jennifer O'Neill, Gary Grimes, Jerry Houser

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jennifer O'Neill	...	Dorothy
Gary Grimes	...	Hermie
Jerry Houser	...	Oscy
Oliver Conant	...	Benjie
Katherine Allentuck	...	Aggie
Christopher Norris	...	Miriam
Lou Frizzell	...	Druggist

Storyline

Silent as a painting, the movie shows us day-dreamer Hermie and his friends Oscy and Benjie spending the summer of '42 on an US island with their parents - rather unaffected by WWII. While Oscy's main worries are the when and how of getting laid, Hermie honestly falls in love with the older Dorothy, who's married to an army pilot. When her husband returns to the front, Hermie shyly approaches her.

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Plot Keywords:

island | summer vacation | americana | sex with minor | tadpoling | 

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Taglines:

In everyone's life there's a "Summer of '42"

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 April 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Verano del 42

Filming Locations:

Fort Bragg, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In this film, there is no name for the druggist played by Lou Frizzell. But in the book "Summer of '42", it is revealed that the name of the druggist is Mr. Sanders.

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Goofs

When Dorothy drops her grocery bags in front of the store, we see a 1970s blue Rice Krispies box among the items that fall out. In 1942 Rice Krispies were housed in a white box.

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Quotes

Dorothy: [in a letter] Dear Hermie: I must go home now. I'm sure you'll understand. There's much I have to do. I won't try and explain what happened last night because I know that, in time, you'll find a proper way in which to remember it. What I will do is remember you. And I pray that you be spared all senseless tragedies. I wish you good things, Hermie. Only good things. Always, Dorothy.

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Connections

Referenced in Murphy Brown: The Summer of '77 (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Hold Tight, Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood, Mama)"
(1938) (uncredited)
Written by Jerry Brandow, Buddy G. DeSylva, Edward Robinson, Willie Spottswood and Leonard Ware
Sung by The Andrews Sisters(uncredited)
Played on radio at the beach

User Reviews

A heartwarming coming of age film that is timeless.

No boy who suffers the pangs of adolescence should go unarmed into young manhood without the comfort and the solace that this film provides. If for no other reason, see the film only to establish every mixed up emotion and confusion was for all accounts, normal. This film will also hold a special place in my heart. I saw if first at 17. Then again at 35, and once more at 45. I daresay I shall watch it again at 55, 65 and 80 as long as my eyes hold out and can shed a romantic tear for the love of Hermie and Dorothy.