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 canals of Venice. Katharine Hepburn plays Jane Hudson, a spinster like secretary from Ohio who has saved all her cents especially for this trip to the romantic city. Traveling alone, she meets on her first evening a cheeky child called Gaitano Audiero, who charms her into letting him be her guide thru this charming place. The following day she happens across antique store owner Renato Di Rossi {Rossano Brazzi}, whom had already been turned by Jane's nicely tuned ankle earlier in the proceedings. They promptly start to fall in love, but a revelation down the way will alter the course of both Jane and Renato's lives.
Summertime is at times a touching film, even lurching towards humorous on occasions, and it's gorgeously photographed by Jack Hildyard {Venice really is the star of the show here}. Yet it doesn't quite come together as a major cinematic treat. The first third is painfully slow, even at times during the travelogue sections bordering on boring, and Brazzi's one note performance makes the teeth itch. Even Hepburn, who was academy award nominated, comes dangerously close to over acting in almost every scene she shares with Brazzi. But with its warm sentimental middle aged theme coursing thru its veins, Summertime, backed up by its Lean and Hildyard venetian essence, steers the gondola just about safely into port. Where we then get an ending to touch the spirit as Katharine finally earns her pay cheque with some emotional worth. 6/10
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 canals of Venice. Katharine Hepburn plays Jane Hudson, a spinster like secretary from Ohio who has saved all her cents especially for this trip to the romantic city. Traveling alone, she meets on her first evening a cheeky child called Gaitano Audiero, who charms her into letting him be her guide thru this charming place. The following day she happens across antique store owner Renato Di Rossi {Rossano Brazzi}, whom had already been turned by Jane's nicely tuned ankle earlier in the proceedings. They promptly start to fall in love, but a revelation down the way will alter the course of both Jane and Renato's lives.
Summertime is at times a touching film, even lurching towards humorous on occasions, and it's gorgeously photographed by Jack Hildyard {Venice really is the star of the show here}. Yet it doesn't quite come together as a major cinematic treat. The first third is painfully slow, even at times during the travelogue sections bordering on boring, and Brazzi's one note performance makes the teeth itch. Even Hepburn, who was academy award nominated, comes dangerously close to over acting in almost every scene she shares with Brazzi. But with its warm sentimental middle aged theme coursing thru its veins, Summertime, backed up by its Lean and Hildyard venetian essence, steers the gondola just about safely into port. Where we then get an ending to touch the spirit as Katharine finally earns her pay cheque with some emotional worth. 6/10