A Summer Story (1988)

England, 1904. A young lawyer from London, Mr. Ashton and his best friend are hiking across Dartmoor. As he twisted his ankle, Ashton is forced to seek help at a nearby farmhouse and stay ... See full summary »

Director:

Piers Haggard

Writers:

John Galsworthy (story "The Apple Tree"), Penelope Mortimer

Stars:

Imogen Stubbs, James Wilby, Susannah York

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Wilby	...	Frank Ashton
Imogen Stubbs	...	Megan David
Susannah York	...	Mrs. Narracombe
Kenneth Colley	...	Jim (as Ken Colley)
Jerome Flynn	...	Joe Narracombe
Lee Billett	...	Nick
Oliver Perry	...	Rick
Harry Burton	...	Garton
Sophie Ward	...	Stella Halliday
John Elmes	...	Phil Halliday
Camilla Power	...	Sabina Halliday
Juliette Fleming	...	Freda Halliday
Sukie Smith	...	Betsy
John Savident	...	Bank Clerk
Rachel Joyce	...	Post Office Girl

Storyline

England, 1904. A young lawyer from London, Mr. Ashton and his best friend are hiking across Dartmoor. As he twisted his ankle, Ashton is forced to seek help at a nearby farmhouse and stay there for a few days. Innocent beauty Megan David catches the attention of Ashton. He decides to stay longer, and he and Megan fall in love, much to the displeasure of Megan's aunt and her loutish son. Before Ashton leaves the farm, he vows to return and take Megan away with him.

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Plot Keywords:

young couple | past | farm | love | england | 

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Taglines:

For every man and every woman there is that one great love. A love that touches the heart fires the soul and lingers in the memory forever.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 July 1988 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Aquel inolvidable verano

Filming Locations:

Devon, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$462,813

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the extras and minor characters in A Summer Story (such as Cyril Chudley, who played Betsy's father, seen in the sheep pen shaking hands with Mr Ashton) were actually real farmers. They were invited to take part in the film because they were accomplished country dancers. That years harvest had to be worked around the filming schedule.

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Connections

Version of Actor's Studio: The Apple Tree (1950)

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Soundtracks

Durham Reel
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

a classic...spoiler alert

I am happy to know that I am not the only person this movie had a profound effect on. How can it be so good and yet so many people have no clue about it.

I saw it around the year it came out. I was living in Toronto and I can't remember whether or not it came to the theatres but late one night I looked at it on the movie Channel. I was bored and had nothing else to do. Fantastic movie, the ending was so sad.

For years I would recommend this film to friends and nobody would really know what I was talking about. For months after I had seen the film I would think about it and the way it ended.

I have never forgotten the name Imogen Stubbs. I looked out for her for years. I saw her in one film with Robert Duvall but nothing after that. I was always on the look out for her in the nineties. A few years ago I looked her up on the net and found out she had more or less married and settled down.

This movie and Imogen Stubbs had a profound effect on me. A great romantic tragedy that far too few people know about.

Veersen