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Summer Magic

Play trailer Poster for Summer Magic G Released Jul 7, 1963 1h 40m Kids & Family Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When widowed Margaret Carey (Dorothy McGuire) gets into money trouble, her teenage daughter, Nancy (Hayley Mills), devises a plan to cut costs. She writes to Osh (Burl Ives), the caretaker of an estate in Maine, and gets permission for the family to rent it for a song, with one catch -- the vacationing owner, Tom Hamilton, must be none the wiser. Though the Carey clan spends a carefree summer fixing up the big yellow house, Nancy fears that Hamilton will arrive and spoil the fun.
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Summer Magic

Critics Reviews

View All (4) Critics Reviews
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine ...presumably intended for kiddies, but I didn't hear much laughter from any age group the day I forced myself to sit through it. Oct 7, 2019 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Corny but heartwarming Disney charmer for kids of all ages. Rated: 4/5 Feb 10, 2006 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Aug 10, 2005 Full Review Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press A pleasant, unpretentious picture overlaid with sentiment and nostalgia an inch thick. Nov 20, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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steve d Not one of Mills's best but it still works. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review r 9 Another one to put in the 'meh' category of live-action Disney. 'Summer Magic' isn't entertaining. You have Hayley Mills (Nancy), Burl Ives (Osh) and Dorothy McGuire (Margaret) all giving alright performances but most others things in this film are very plain. The musical numbers are forgettable, as is the overall premise and supporting cast under Mills, Ives and McGuire. I have most definitely seen worse from the studio, this is still at least watchable. Going back to the plot, it just feels a bit slapped together without much thought or solid connection. The film ends quite abruptly, too. 1963, it's safe to say, wasn't Disney's strongest year for live-action. This adds to the disappointments of 'Son of Flubber', 'Miracle of the White Stallions' and 'Savage Sam'. Here's hoping 'The Incredible Journey' will conclude their releases from these twelve months on a high. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I watched the hell out of this movie as a kid. A fun movie to relax with, but with little conflict to really compel the viewer to get invested in what little story there is. I do love the "Pink of Perfection" song. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A sweet inoffensive story, which filled a couple of hours, but didn't hold my attention much as I'd hoped. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member It was not magical, but it does have the Disney cheese to warm your belly. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review s r Uplifting quality entertainment. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Summer Magic

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Movie Info

Synopsis When widowed Margaret Carey (Dorothy McGuire) gets into money trouble, her teenage daughter, Nancy (Hayley Mills), devises a plan to cut costs. She writes to Osh (Burl Ives), the caretaker of an estate in Maine, and gets permission for the family to rent it for a song, with one catch -- the vacationing owner, Tom Hamilton, must be none the wiser. Though the Carey clan spends a carefree summer fixing up the big yellow house, Nancy fears that Hamilton will arrive and spoil the fun.
Director
James Neilson
Producer
Walt Disney, Ron Miller
Screenwriter
Sally Benson
Distributor
Buena Vista Distribution Co. Inc.
Production Co
Walt Disney Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Musical, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 7, 1963, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Runtime
1h 40m
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