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#1 2008-03-17 19:49:26
- Coolidge
- Member
- Posts: 1192
'A Summer Place' 1959
The novel is a B, B- novel. Well written and funny in spots, a bit dated in others, but it is Sloan Wilson.
The movie is absolutely terrible. C- at best. All the interactions that made the novel make sense are taken out.
One redeeming quality, however, are the clothes. If you can't take the terrible acting and dialogue, watch it on mute. Wonderful sack suits on Mr. Jorgenson with narrow lapels. 3-2 jackets and ascots on Mr. Hunter. Odd jackets and v-necks with oxford button downs on Troy Donahue. Repp ties. Foulards. White bucks. Loafers. Canvas deck shoes and navy sweaters over khakis while sailing. The difference between the sailing look and the "Commodore Phony" look revealed in dialog and pictures.
It sure seems representative of the American and to a large extent Ivy look of 1959.
A lot of pleats on the pants.
PS Mrs. Jorgenson's character is the most "trad" in the AAAT sense of them all. Listening to her dialog is like watching that place come to life.
EDIT: Also noted--a GREAT tennis cardigan on Troy Donahue, a smattering of Lacoste polos on Mr. Jorgenson.
Last edited by Coolidge (2008-03-17 20:00:43)
#2 2008-03-17 21:19:31
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 6433
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
Never seen the film. Tried to read the novel but didn't make it very far. Thanks for the heads up.
""This is probably the last Deb season...because of the stock market, the economy, Everything..." - W. Stillman.
#3 2008-03-17 21:51:01
- Coolidge
- Member
- Posts: 1192
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
Well, Wilson was always that third tier of that particular genre...Fitz, Wharton taking top billing, Marquand and Cheever in the second ranks, Auchincloss, O'Hara, and Wilson bringing up the rear.
They had an enjoyable article on Auchincloss in the New Yorker a few weeks back.
#4 2008-03-17 22:00:11
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 6433
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
""This is probably the last Deb season...because of the stock market, the economy, Everything..." - W. Stillman.
#7 2008-03-18 04:27:57
- Taylor McIntyre
- Son of Ivy...
- Posts: 342
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
Clever!
I have no idea about any of this but I'll enquire - Thanks.
#8 2008-03-18 16:53:43
- tom22
- Member
- Posts: 295
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
The movie was bad in a legendary sense. I had no idea it was based on a book. The movie did have two redeeming qualities: The legendary Henry Mancini song and the etherial quality of Sandra Dee. Hardly remembered now, the girl, the song everyone knows. the girl was special.
#9 2008-03-18 19:16:35
- Coolidge
- Member
- Posts: 1192
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
She was a knockout for sure.
The book is a Sloan Wilson novel from, I think, the year before. The parents in the movie have a history, but it is only alluded to in the movie. The book has the whole flashback scene Marquand-style to Mssrs. Hunter and Jorgenson growing up on the island where it all takes place, and how they went their separate ways. It makes significantly more sense than the cautiously presented swinger-fest the movie makes it out to be. But the movie is missing that flashback scene so everything seems to happen too suddenly and with no precedent.
Also, Sloan Wilson had some very witty characters, including Mrs. Jorgeson's parents, that never make it into the movie. They basically sucked the whole plot and all the color out of the novel.
#10 2008-03-18 19:41:41
- tom22
- Member
- Posts: 295
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
I remember it was all about a Maine Island and going back when you had a job for one of the families and having made some money after the very democratizing event of WWII. The song will live on. Henry Mancini was one of the last great composers of the American Song book
. They had a cabaret show a year or so in New Haven ago celebrating the lyrics of Johnny Mercer. Moon River, Right around the Bend, My Huckleberry Friend, Moon River and Me. The words were Mark Twain and Johnny Mercer. I think the music was Henry Mancini. The last of the Greats. Indeed. The Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River, A Summer Place. the words of a generation just before I came of age. Great lyrics.
(OK, my lyrics were from British Invasion Rock and Roll: "Fairy Cross the Mersey" is just as good as music gets). Jerry and the Pace Makers. and several of those British guys could write a lyric way back when.
Last edited by tom22 (2008-03-18 19:49:57)
#11 2008-03-18 23:40:14
- Admiral Cod
- Member
- Posts: 412
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
"You will find that men of style and their adherents are considered either political enemies of the people or reckless, gluttoness consumers while most live in squalor" - FNB
#14 2008-03-20 21:39:51
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 6433
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
Wasn't the film shown in the theater/box of popcorn scene in Diner?
""This is probably the last Deb season...because of the stock market, the economy, Everything..." - W. Stillman.
#15 2008-03-21 08:17:20
- tom22
- Member
- Posts: 295
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
Really? Max Steiner. Who'd have thunk it? How could I have been so wrong. I could have sworn for the last 40 years when I hear that song the announcer would then say Henry Mancini. oh well. still a great song.
#20 2008-03-21 21:24:43
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 6433
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
""This is probably the last Deb season...because of the stock market, the economy, Everything..." - W. Stillman.
#21 2008-03-21 22:15:08
- Voltaire's Bastard
- Member
- Posts: 967
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
“You know that saying, 'Caesar's wife is above suspicion'? Well I put an end to all that rubbish!"..”
#23 2008-03-22 19:23:09
- tom22
- Member
- Posts: 295
Re: 'A Summer Place' 1959
I rea the article , thought it was interesting. In no way as jaw dropping as the article on Bishop Paul Moore by his daughter. yikes.