Summer Flight (1963)

Mike, a famed racing driver and an old flame of hers, is worried that Laura may be ill. Tricking her into a doctor's examination, she discovers she is; a brain operation to remove a tumor ... See full summary »

Director:

Daniel Petrie (as Daniel M. Petrie)

Writers:

George Emerson Brewer Jr. (play), Bertram Bloch (play)

Stars:

Susan Hayward, Michael Craig, Diane Baker

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Susan Hayward	...	Laura Pember
Michael Craig	...	Dr. John Carmody
Diane Baker	...	Ellen
Edward Judd	...	Mike Bannerman
Paul Rogers	...	Dr. Eric McKenzie
Robert Bacon	...	Peter
Paul Stassino	...	Dalporto
Jerry Desmonde	...	Colonel
Ellen McIntosh	...	Miss Kendall
Gwen Nelson	...	Hospital Sister
Peter Madden	...	Reynolds
Joan Young
Joan Newell	...	Mrs. Hewitt
Chet Baker	...	Himself

Storyline

Mike, a famed racing driver and an old flame of hers, is worried that Laura may be ill. Tricking her into a doctor's examination, she discovers she is; a brain operation to remove a tumor is performed and her symptoms disappear. All isn't well, however, but she is unaware of it, and she and her doctor fall in love. Finding out she is not actually cured, Laura renounces her new love and goes back to her old "jet-set" ways wasting the time she has left until a racing accident shows her how important the hours she has left are.

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Plot Keywords:

automobile racing | terminal illness | melodrama | brain tumor | based on play | 

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Taglines:

Do you know what they say about Laura Pember...? They say she uses men like pep-up pills!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Summer Flight

Filming Locations:

Fowey, Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Barbican Films, The Mirisch Corporation

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

10 years after this film, Susan Hayward was diagnosed with brain cancer and later died at her home in Beverly Hills on March 14, 1975.

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Goofs

In the garden scene with Laura, her sister Ellen, Mike & John, Ellen and Mike have a scene where they are looking at Laura and they move closely together, almost touching. The camera immediately changes to a distance shot with all four people in it, and now Ellen and Mark area almost 2 feet apart.

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Connections

Version of Dark Victory (1939)

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Soundtracks

Stolen Hours
Music by Mort Lindsey
Lyrics by Marilyn Bergman (as Marilyn Keith) and Alan Bergman

User Reviews

Not as tearful as 'Dark Victory'

Stolen Hours is the remake of 1939's Dark Victory starring Bette Davis. Parts of the movie are very good, because I love Susan Hayward, and her acting always improves a script. The opening setup of the plot is also very clever, but the very famous ending from the original is completely changed-and not for the better.

At the start, Susan Hayward is seen hosting a party; she's dressed to the nines and all her guests are having a marvelous time. Her sister Diane Baker arrives from the airport and joins in the fun, but the fun isn't all it appears to be. Michael Craig is a guest, but he's actually a doctor, brought by a well-meaning friend to secretly evaluate Susan Hayward's headaches and failing health. While that scene is pretty clever, it sure paints Michael out to be unlikable and deceitful. It's very hard to root for him, even when he falls in love with and marries Susan.

I recommend watching the original first, because the story is laid out a little better. If you're a Susan Hayward fan, you'll probably want to watch this one, even though it's a little sad. You probably won't go through as many Kleenexes as the original, though. The ending is pretty lousy.