IMDb > Haunted Summer (1988)

Haunted Summer (1988) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
5.7/10   227 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Lewis John Carlino (writer)
Anne Edwards (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Haunted Summer on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Plot:
In 1815, authors Lord Byron, Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley get together for some philosophical discussions, but the situation soon deteriorates into mind games, drugs and sex. full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
User Comments:
Literate and absorbing more (9 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Philip Anglim ... Lord Byron
Alice Krige ... Mary Godwin

Eric Stoltz ... Percy Shelley

Alex Winter ... Dr. John William Polidori

Laura Dern ... Claire Clairmont
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Berling ... Maurice
Donald Hodson ... Rushton (as Don Hodson)
Giusto Lo Pipero ... Berger
Antoinette McLain ... Elise
Terry Richards ... Fletcher
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
106 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film was originally scheduled to be directed by John Huston before Ivan Passer was assigned the job. more
Quotes:
Dr. John William Polidori: I have written a play. I think it quite good.
Lord Byron: Do shut up, John.
more
Movie Connections:
Version of Gothic (1986) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
14 out of 15 people found the following comment useful.
Literate and absorbing, 4 March 2002
Author: JoeytheBrit from www.moviemoviesite.com

THE HAUNTED SUMMER is based on the novel of the same name by Anne Edwards, and recounts what it rather blithely refers to as 'the first summer of love'. This was the summer of 1816 which Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, Mary and Claire Godfrey and Dr John Polidori spent at Byron's home on Lake Geneva.

Filmed on location at Lake Geneva, the movie is visually appealing yet manages to avoid allowing the lush exteriors to distract from the intriguing interplay between the five characters. Quickly establishing the 'free-spirit' of the main characters - Shelley in bed with the sisters, and swigging laudanum at the dinner table, Claire Godfrey performing a saucy little dance for Byron as he puffs on an opium pipe, etc - the main thrust of the movie concentrates on the dynamics within the group. Shelley, Byron and Mary form the core of this gathering - Claire and Polidori (a surprisingly good Alex Winter) are largely peripheral figures - and the interaction between them is beautifully portrayed, capturing the real affection shared by Shelley and Byron, and the mutual fascination between Mary and Byron. The film also shows a number of scenes designed to show the inspiration for Shelley's classic novel, Frankenstein.

All the performers in this movie have been perfectly cast. Phillip Anglim - a name new to me, and an actor who, on this evidence, seems to have been woefully under-used on the screen - cuts a suitably dashing and decadent figure; Eric Stoltz, a surprising choice for the role of Shelley, gives a credible performance; Alice Krige is beautiful and serene as Mary Shelley, effortlessly imbuing her character with grace and intelligence.

This movie is vastly superior to Ken Russell's GOTHIC - it actually makes you want to learn more about the characters - so if you want to see a movie about this tale make sure you choose this movie.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (9 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Haunted Summer (1988)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Gothic the_Iced_Earth
DVD jeffkb4
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
La tregua The Basketball Diaries Dead Ringers River's Edge My Life So Far
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.