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This delicately handled love story was legendary director David Lean's first colour film and his own personal favourite. Katherine Hepburn shines in the leading role and both director and star were nominated for Oscars. American spinster Jane Hudson has finally saved enough to take the trip of a lifetime and she hopes Venice will bring a spark of magic into her life. Overwhelmed by the beauty of her surroundings her holiday becomes all the more special when she encounters a charming antiques dealer and is soon swept of her of her feet. Could this be the romance she has waited her whole life for?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
David Lean was one of the greatest film-makers of all time, and to say that this is one of his best is to say that it stands comparison with Brief Encounter, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, Ryan's Daughter...etc...
It's one of his more low-key, intimate films, but there is a kind of epic grandeur in the way it captures Venice's beauty, investing the city with more magic and romance than it has had in any other film.
Katharine Hepburn gives the best performance of her career. At worst she could be monotonous, strident, harsh - but this is her at her best, funny, shy, even heart-breaking at times. So many directors lacked the imagination to find anything in her but the caricture Hepburn, the wilful, caustic persona that became over-familiar and wearisome. Here she gives an unusually layered and sensitive performance - at once an old-fashioned spinster and an excitable young girl finding love for the first time.
Why this film has never been released on any home video format in this country before (in the US, it was one of Criterion's earliest releases), is utterly baffling. No film buff will be disappointed. Forget any preconceptions about this being a frothy, rainy afternoon, throwaway romance. It's a bona fide masterpiece.
It's one of his more low-key, intimate films, but there is a kind of epic grandeur in the way it captures Venice's beauty, investing the city with more magic and romance than it has had in any other film.
Katharine Hepburn gives the best performance of her career. At worst she could be monotonous, strident, harsh - but this is her at her best, funny, shy, even heart-breaking at times. So many directors lacked the imagination to find anything in her but the caricture Hepburn, the wilful, caustic persona that became over-familiar and wearisome. Here she gives an unusually layered and sensitive performance - at once an old-fashioned spinster and an excitable young girl finding love for the first time.
Why this film has never been released on any home video format in this country before (in the US, it was one of Criterion's earliest releases), is utterly baffling. No film buff will be disappointed. Forget any preconceptions about this being a frothy, rainy afternoon, throwaway romance. It's a bona fide masterpiece.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After doing "Pat and Mike" in 1952 with Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn left MGM when her contract ended and starred in the first major production of George Bernard Shaw's "The Millionairess" in London. It was not until 1955 that David Lean persuaded Hepburn to return to films, bringing her to Venice to star in this bitter-sweet love story about a lonely American school teacher and spinster, Jane Hudson, who takes a once in a lifetime vacation to Europe where she meets Renato Di Rossi (Rossano Brazzi), the charming owner of an antique shop. Based on the Arthur Laurents' play "The Time of the Cuckoo," this film creates not only the first but also certainly the most realistic of Hepburn's celebrated spinster roles. Unlike her Oscar nominated performances as spinsters who find love in "The African Queen" and "The Rainmaker," the story of Jane Hudson does not have as many comic moments, although her celebrated fall in the canals of Venice, which ruined her eyes for the rest of her life, is one of those standout moments in Hepburn's career. Because it is more realistic there is more of an element to tragedy to this story than any other of her similar roles. Although Jane falls in love for the first time in her life, there is no hope for a future with Rentao who is married and has a grown son. This is made all the more poignant by Jane's relationship with the cute street urchin Mario (Gaitano Audiero) who becomes her guide through Venice. Together, these symbolic husband and son figures help to bring Jane out of her shell and in the end we know she is a better person for the experience, as painful as it might be. True, this is an old story, but "Summertime" carries it off with a level of technical proficiency and artistic effort way above the norm.
At first consideration you would not think of "Summertime" as being a traditional sort of David Lean film since it is not the type of cinematic epic you associate with the director. But when you see the way the sights of Venice are photographed you know this is the same eye that captured the jungles of southeast Asia, the deserts of Arabia and the winter wonderland of Russia (although credit also has to be given to cinematographer Jack Hildyard). If you will never make it to Venice, this is the film that will bring it alive for you. For 1955 this is a remarkably adult film, which just reaffirms the importance of Broadway dramas in changing the nature of Hollywood. Just in terms of Hepburn's career you can readily see that most of her adult theme films were all originally presented on Broadway (e.g., "Suddenly Last Summer," "Long Day's Journey Into Night," "The Lion in Winter"). However, do not ask me to explain how the actress went from this film to making "The Iron Petticoat" with Bob Hope. But even that legendary debacle (the one Hepburn film I have never seen) did not detract from the importance of "Summertime" in reestablishing her film career as an independent actress. Beginning with this film, Hepburn had a streak of eight films in which she received six Oscar nominations and won her second and third awards. At MGM she had been a dramatic comedienne but during this independent stage of her career she did her far and way best work as a tragic actress.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have waited for this film to come out on DVD for many years. I had been looking for it periodically under the title given on TV (Summer Madness), so I only found it had finally come out on DVD recently.
It features Katharine Hepburn as an American spinster who goes to Venice and meets the utterly charming Rossano Brazzi.
I saw it on TV a long time ago (fortunately I taped it on VHS at the time) and have enjoyed watching it many times. It is a perfect film to watch on a Sunday afternoon; a timeless romance, beautifully directed by David Lean. If you enjoy romantic films, this one will not disappoint.
It features Katharine Hepburn as an American spinster who goes to Venice and meets the utterly charming Rossano Brazzi.
I saw it on TV a long time ago (fortunately I taped it on VHS at the time) and have enjoyed watching it many times. It is a perfect film to watch on a Sunday afternoon; a timeless romance, beautifully directed by David Lean. If you enjoy romantic films, this one will not disappoint.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A classic romantic movie
This is a much loved film classic which is set in the most romantic city in the world and tells the story of a middle aged American spinster who has saved up for her holiday of a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. M. Bridge
wow a classic old hollywood film
Fabulous old classic, my fave Katherine Hepburn film ever. She is a really fantastic actress and very convincing in the part of an american spinster looking for love on a holiday... Read more
Published 4 months ago by jules
Brief Encounter 2?
I don't think so people.
Loosely adapted from Arthur Laurent's play The Time Of The Cuckoo, Summertime, directed by David Lean, is a romantic tale set amongst the watery... Read more
Loosely adapted from Arthur Laurent's play The Time Of The Cuckoo, Summertime, directed by David Lean, is a romantic tale set amongst the watery... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Spike Owen
Beautiful views
I bought this dvd, as i think Venice is a wonderful city, and this film shows it to its best.
Published 17 months ago by Northrod
favourite film
Having taped this film Summertime, many years ago and not ever finding a DVD of it, I was delighted to find it on Amazon. Ordered and received within three days we were delighted. Read more
Published 19 months ago by jeanne
summertime with Katherine Hepburn
This film is fantastic, a true classic for any old black and white film lover of original old style hollywood greats. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ricci
Wonderful
A beautiful film. Scenic Venice. A film to watch over and over. Fabulous. Wonderfully dated.
A classic.
A classic.
Published 20 months ago by Sally
silver screen film
Yes this is a nice film as many would have seen on the tv, what makes it interesting to me is the views on the city in which the film is taken. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. Ray Worthington
Outstanding
What more could anyone want in a romantic movie this film has it all. A wonderful story of a woman going on vacation on her own hoping to find the love she's been waiting for her... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Luisa
Wanted for so long
Taped this on vcr years ago and longed to have it on dvd. Eventually found it was called something else in America; so now I have it! Yey.
Published 22 months ago by P. Pulsford
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