Additional Details
A Summer Story
Technical specifications for
A Summer Story
Printed film format 35 mm
Company credits for
A Summer Story
Production Companies
- Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
Distributors
- Atlantic Releasing Corp
- Warner Bros - (1988) (UK) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (U.K.) Limited - (1989) (UK) (VHS)
Other Companies
- ARRI Lighting Rental Limited - light equipment
Comments for
A Summer Story
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I watch this gem
about twice a
year, when I
feel like having
a good cry. This
film truly
transports me to
another time and
place. There are timeless morality issues dealt with in the story, and the unforgettable ending gives a person goose bumps. Seeing the film inspired me to read the story it's adapted from (The Apple Tree.) There are some differences between the story and the film, of course, and the endings are somewhat different, although the overall idea is on the same wavelength. I feel the ending of the film is very, very strong and extremely suited to the film genre as compared to the written page. The music is exquisite. Not only does it cast a beautiful spell from the very first note, but it remains in your mind long after the film is over. A precious, precious film. |
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I remember
watching this
film way back
when I was in
high school as a
TV special
(since it was
never released
in movie
theatres in my
country). My sister and I, as young as we were then and perhaps still idealistic and what have you, were moved to tears watching this great film. I can still remember my sister and I trying to find out the name of the actress when the credit was being shown because we were so touched by the truthfulness of her performance. For one strange reason or another Imogen Stubbs' name really got stuck in my mind from then on, although I have never ever seen any other movie of hers after that. This movie made an impression on my young mind and has stayed with me ever since. For a couple of years now, I have been desperately trying to find a VCD or DVD copy of this movie so that I could watch it again and experience the same emotions I had back then when I was watching it with innocent eyes. But alas, I still have not found any copy. I really would love to watch this movie again... something to help me revisit the child in me. |
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Talk about
getting thrown
for a loop! I
watched this
movie with no
expectations and
became
mesmerized by
its tale! It is
so true and
powerful that it
stays with you
forever. Love,
after all, is
all about
decisions and
compromises.
Everyone chooses
to give up
something
(someone) when
they choose to
love someone
(something) for
life. The emotional power of what might have been is breath-taking and impacts every one of us no matter how happy we are or how good life turned out. We know it would have been vastly different had we chosen a different path. Anyway, I am buying this one on DVD. (on eBay right now). |
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| If you are thinking of watching this movie, make sure you have a box of tissues ready - because unless you are emotionally constipated this film will make you cry. I watched it on my return from the hospital after giving birth to my daughter and I wept buckets. It is beautifully acted, particularly by Imogen Stubbs. I can't understand why we do not see more of this talented actress. The music by George Delerue matches and enhances the heart rending story, and sounds pretty darn good without the film, too. The story is about an upper class young man (James Wilby) who, whilst on a walking holiday, falls in love with a beautiful young farm girl. I really don't want to give any more of the plot away. I loved it. If you never enjoy romance, or poignant tales of lost chances and heartbreak, then you probably won't love it! | |
| This is another excellent love movie that most people miss out on. I remember watching this way back when it was shown on the local public television channel and was so mesmerized by the whole movie. When I first saw it, I was much younger. I enjoyed it so much I wanted to watch it again however it was hard to find a copy and it wasn't played anymore on TV. Many years later I was able to find it at a local movie rental store. Thinking that it probably won't hit the spot like it did the first time, I was wrong. I enjoyed it just as much like the first time. It's hard to find a good love movie involving a romance so full of many emotions. I go back and rent this video every now and then to watch. This movie and "The Notebook" touched my heart in almost the same way. If you enjoyed watching "The Notebook" or haven't seen both and simply enjoy watching heart touching romantic movies then you must watch both! Innocent love lost and betrayed, it's so sad. | |
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The first time I
saw this movie
was in 1989, and
could not find a
copy until very
recently. This
movie provides
you an
opportunity to
experience joy,
innocence,
beauty and heart
wrenching loss
all within a
couple of hours.
I must agree with all the other reviews in terms of the movie's impact, and will add that this movie is very hard to locate, so if you have a chance, get it and you will not be disappointed. While it seems slow for a time, the final 15-20 minutes will leave your emotions in tatters...being one of the most effective movie endings I have ever seen. A must see.
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| I remember when I saw this movie in the theatre for the first time in 1988. The other reviews are absolutely correct. The film is simply incredible in every way. The cast was superb! And like the other reviewer, I was totally blown away by Megan (Imogen Stubbs) and fell in love at first sight with her. (Funny how many women I have dated that sort of look like her now that I think about it) Anyway... this is a movie not to miss. With a moral point, deep rich history, and incredible capture of turn of the century society, it is a movie that will make you think and in some cases, even haunt your heart for decades later. (Like me) Here is the other side of the story about this movie: As good as it is, for some reason it was only in the movie theatre for a very short period of time and then disappeared for several years from existence. I never knew why. Then in the 1990's, it reappeared in VHS format. But now it is extremely difficult to find or even buy. I have no idea why the American public did not give this movie the recognition it deserves like they did in Europe or why it had such a brief life in the American theatres. But whether you're a "tough guy" like me or a sentimental soul, YOU WILL be brought to tears in this movie. It is THAT good. "Kleenex city" as one reviewer put it... I only hope that some day they will make this movie in DVD format. | |
| Relatively few people know about this film but it is one of the most poignant and moving tragic love stories ever put on the big screen. I have seen many movies in my time and when this one ended I noticed it was the first time I ever had tears streaming down my face because of a film. I didn't feel at all foolish. I defy anyone to hold back their emotions when he's driving away at the end and he sees the young man and realizes that it's his son. It's impossible to put in words how emotionally powerful this film is. | |
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I rented this
film in 1990 and
was overcome by
the acting, the story line, and the plot twists. As a lover of tear-jerkers, I cried more than in most sad films. Although the story line is so engrossing, I can't spoil the film for you. If you knew the twists towards the end, it would ruin the experience for you. The suspense is half the fun. This film has excellent acting by both of the two leads. Imogen Stubbs plays an innocent farm girl who falls for an English gentleman one summer in the South of England. Beyond that I can't tell you what happens. I was immediately captivated by Ms. Stubbs from the start of the film. She is like that, if you're male. It also teaches a lesson and is somewhat of a morality play. The story line entrances one as an Alfred Hitchcock suspense. One cannot help but identify with the heroine, superbly acted by Ms. Stubbs. I was deeply moved with the love story, but the most amazing thing is the ending, which will do more to shake one up than any Alfred Hitchcock. I believe the story was taken from a story by Galworthy. Never has captivating innocence been so well portrayed by an actor or actress. --Enjoy! |
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I rented this
movie when I was
in high school.
After watching
it, I racked up
about $40 in
late fees at the
local video
store because I
pretended to
lose it so I
could keep it. I
am glad I did
because it's so
hard to find
now!! I watched it regularly through college, and into my 20's. I even watched it with hubby, and he was smitten and heartbroken right along with me. So who do we contact about getting this on DVD?? |
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| This movie is amazing and I cannot believe it isn't on DVD. my husband introduced me to it and I was so touched not only by the movie but his reaction to it. he cried like a baby when he watched it with me. I asked him how many times he had seen it and he said at least 20 times. for a movie to invoke this reaction after 20 times tells you how amazing it is. when you watch it, watch it with an open mind and take yourself to that era of time and let yourself delve into the emotions and if you have any heart you to will become intertwined into the magic. | |
| I agree enthusiastically with all the reviews here. First of all, why it isn't on DVD is beyond me as well. This movie as a drama has it all! It moved me so much the first time I saw it that I went back to the theatre four times that week. When the soundtrack came out I bought it and would give that five stars as well. Why I think this tugs at the heart strings of all who see it is that it works on numerous emotional levels. It has: 1. A moving story, (adapted from John Galsworthy's story "The Apple Tree"); 2. Is gorgeously filmed on location on the moors of southwest England; 3. Has a beautiful soundtrack by Georges Delerue that perfectly compliments the dramatic scenes as well as the landscape; 4. The acting is superb with excellent performances by Imogen Stubbs (whose eyes will haunt you long after the movie), James Wilby and Susanna York. This movie will move you to tears and won't let your heart go. It still hasn't let mine go and it has been over fifteen years. | |
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What a great
story. Excellent
acting. I watch
my old VHS copy
about once a
year. So very
sad, so
realistic, so
human. I
stumbled on this
one day while
watching a
partially
recorded copy of
the movie. The
tape ended about
20 minutes
before the end
of the movie. I
could not
believe it. I
closed my shop
and immediately
went to the
video store and
rented it to see
how it ended.
Probably not to
extreme except
for the fact
that I'm an "action","
sci-fi",
"fantasy" kind
of movie
lover.............I
can't recommend
it highly
enough, and easy
10+. I don't think you will be disappointed. |
A Summer Story (1988), based on the book "The Apple Tree" by John Galsworthy
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THE APPLE TREE In their silver-wedding day Ashurst and his wife were motoring along the outskirts of the moor, intending to crown the festival by stopping the night at Torquay, where they had first met. This was the idea of Stella Ashurst, whose character contained a streak of sentiment. If she had long lost the blue-eyed, flower-like charm, the cool slim purity of face and form, the apple-blossom colouring, which had so swiftly and so oddly affected Ashurst twenty-six years ago, she was still at forty-three a comely and faithful companion, whose cheeks were faintly mottled, and whose grey-blue eyes had acquired a certain fullness. It was she who had stopped the car where the common rose steeply to the left, and a narrow strip of larch and beech, with here and there a pine, stretched out towards the valley between the road and the first long high hill of the full moor. She was looking for a place where they might lunch, for Ashurst never looked for anything; and this, between the golden furze and the feathery green larches smelling of lemons in the last sun of April—this, with a view into the deep valley and up to the long moor heights, seemed fitting to the decisive nature of one who sketched in water-colours, and loved romantic spots. Grasping her paint box, she got out. "Won't this do, Frank?" Ashurst, rather like a bearded Schiller, grey in the wings, tall, long-legged, with large remote grey eyes which sometimes filled with meaning and became almost beautiful, with nose a little to one side, and bearded lips just open—Ashurst, forty-eight, and silent, grasped the luncheon basket, and got out too. "Oh! Look, Frank! A grave!" By the side of the road, where the track from the top of the common crossed it at right angles and ran through a gate past the narrow wood, was a thin mound of turf, six feet by one, with a moorstone to the west, and on it someone had thrown a blackthorn spray and a handful of bluebells. Ashurst looked, and the poet in him moved. At cross-roads—a suicide's grave! Poor mortals with their superstitions! Whoever lay there, though, had the best of it, no clammy sepulchre among other hideous graves carved with futilities—just a rough stone, the wide sky, and wayside blessings! And, without comment, for he had learned not to be a philosopher in the bosom of his family, he strode away up on to the common, dropped the luncheon basket under a wall, spread a rug for his wife to sit on—she would turn up from her sketching when she was hungry—and took from his pocket Murray's translation of the "Hippolytus." He had soon finished reading of "The Cyprian" and her revenge, and looked at the sky instead. And watching the white clouds so bright against the intense blue, Ashurst, on his silver-wedding day, longed for—he knew not what. Maladjusted to life—man's organism! One's mode of life might be high and scrupulous, but there was always an undercurrent of greediness, a hankering, and sense of waste. Did women have it too? Who could tell? And yet, men who gave vent to their appetites for novelty, their riotous longings for new adventures, new risks, new pleasures, these suffered, no doubt, from the reverse side of starvation, from surfeit. No getting out of it—a maladjusted animal, civilised man! There could be no garden of his choosing, of "the Apple-tree, the singing, and the gold," in the words of that lovely Greek chorus, no achievable elysium in life, or lasting haven of happiness for any man with a sense of beauty—nothing which could compare with the captured loveliness in a work of art, set down for ever, so that to look on it or read was always to have the same precious sense of exaltation and restful inebriety. Life no doubt had moments with that quality of beauty, of unbidden flying rapture, but the trouble was, they lasted no longer than the span of a cloud's flight over the sun; impossible to keep them with you, as Art caught beauty and held it fast. They were fleeting as one of the glimmering or golden visions one had of the soul in nature, glimpses of its remote and brooding spirit. Here, with the sun hot on his face, a cuckoo calling from a thorn tree, and in the air the honey savour of gorse—here among the little fronds of the young fern, the starry blackthorn, while the bright clouds drifted by high above the hills and dreamy valleys here and now was such a glimpse. But in a moment it would pass—as the face of Pan, which looks round the corner of a rock, vanishes at your stare. And suddenly he sat up. Surely there was something familiar about this view, this bit of common, that ribbon of road, the old wall behind him. While they were driving he had not been taking notice—never did; thinking of far things or of nothing—but now he saw! Twenty-six years ago, just at |