Souvenir (4 Oct. 2009)

Don and Betty renew their love affair while on a business trip to Rome, while Peter has a bout of infidelity with an au pair in his building while his wife is away.

Director:

Phil Abraham

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), Lisa Albert,

Stars:

Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Hamm	...	Don Draper
Elisabeth Moss	...	Peggy Olson (credit only)
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Pete Campbell
January Jones	...	Betty Draper
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Harris
Bryan Batt	...	Salvatore Romano (credit only)
Michael Gladis	...	Paul Kinsey
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling
Kiernan Shipka	...	Sally Draper
Alison Brie	...	Trudy Campbell
Chelcie Ross	...	Connie
Christopher Stanley	...	Henry Francis
Anne Dudek	...	Francine Hanson

Storyline

It's the dog days of August and Don is at home with a few days off between trips related to the Hilton Hotels account. Betty Draper continues her journey into political activism by attending a local council hearing on the water reservoir issue. With the help of Henry Francis, they have the project postponed. Thrilled at the successful outcome, Betty decides to join Don on a quick business trip to Rome. Staying at the Rome Hilton, they have a passionate few days. Peter Campbell is also on his own as his wife is away visiting her parents. He makes the acquaintance of Gudrun, a neighbor's au pair. He decides to help her out and tries to return an expensive dress she borrowed from her employer and then stained with red wine. Peter is surprised when he meets the manager of the boutique. His subsequent entanglement with Gudrun also has a profound impact on him.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

4 October 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles County Music Center - 135 N. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Movie Classics (AMC), Lionsgate Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Don Draper: What else?
Smitty Smith: There are sixteen graphically perfect reduced photographs of Hilton hotels all on a grid, simple headline.
Kurt Smith: Go, we'll meet you anywhere.
Don Draper: Now that I can finally understand you, I am less impressed with what you have to say.
Smitty Smith: [laughs]
Don Draper: That's your work too. Who's "we"?
Kurt Smith: "We" are Hilton.
Don Draper: And how do I know that? Take out a magnifying glass and look at one of those tiny hotels?
Kurt Smith: I write Hilton very big under this Greek.
Don Draper: There is no deadline. I want to see work as you think of it. Give me more ...

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Connections

Features Davey and Goliath (1960)

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Soundtracks

"A Beautiful Mine"
(uncredited)
Written by by Rjd2
Performed by Rjd2

User Reviews

There's a small hotel and my review

Did you listen to "There's a Small Hotel" at the end of the show and do you know who performed it?

I am curious because it sounds an awful lot like Vincent Kartheiser (character name Pete Campbell) was the male voice in the duet, and the two of them sounded beautifully, crystal clear. Magnificent.

Give it a listen and tell me if you happen to know who sings it.

Onto the show...

I really enjoy how Mad Men is not completely locked into what transpired in the previous episode; it alleviates the soap opera feeling. It is a continuation none-the-less, but it's much more interesting and streams down various tangents, many times not even coming full circle. It is rather fascinating, and strangely satisfying.

I love every episode and will most-likely rate it 10 out of 10 unless I am really disappointed in the way something plays out... if I think the writing is suspect.

Souvenir is not a suspenseful episode, and it's far from one of he best episodes, but it is strangely exhilarating.

I like the little vacation and the dialog. No spoiler, but you'll see if you haven't already.

I'm curious what others think. All in all, it is probably a forgettable episode that seemed to really just go through the motions, no? I don't recall anything taking place in the office, which is bizarre, and maybe that's part of the disappointment to me. I don't like Joan being where she is. You know what I mean.

Overall, I wasn't impressed, but I still love it. The characters are compelling; the show seems so authentic, and I really like the look. It does not knock my socks off, but it has me hooked. I find myself laughing at the smallest of things; I guess because I get it, or it just makes me happy, maybe both.