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A Summer Place

Play trailer Poster for A Summer Place Released Oct 22, 1959 2h 10m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The big-screen adaptation of Sloan Wilson's popular novel follows wealthy Ken Jorgenson (Richard Egan) as he brings his wife (Constance Ford) and teenage daughter, Molly (Sandra Dee), to the Maine vacation spot where he worked as a middle-class youth. When Ken reunites with his former flame, the now-married Sylvia (Dorothy McGuire), it sparks a passionate tryst. Meanwhile, Sylvia's son, Johnny (Troy Donahue), and Molly begin a romance of their own, unaware of their parents' affair.
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A Summer Place

Critics Reviews

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Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com The movie is so-so, BUT that great theme music! Rated: 3/5 Jun 7, 2007 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Overlong and overwrought... Rated: 1.5/4 Mar 19, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Reflecting the sexual angsts and domestic anxieties of the 1950s, Delmer Daves' schmaltzy melodrama is known today for catapulting Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee to stardom and for Max Steiner's melodic tune, which became that year's most popular song. Rated: B- Jul 4, 2005 Full Review James Sanford Kalamazoo Gazette Soap opera supreme, 1950s-style. "We've got to be good..." Rated: 4/5 Jan 23, 2004 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Rated: 3/5 Jan 12, 2004 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 3/5 Jul 26, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Noellie B. A Summer Place” was a well-crafted and thoughtfully directed film for its time. It offered a compelling blend of romantic drama and musical elements, with powerful emotional dynamics and character conflict at its core. The ensemble cast delivered notable performances that contributed to the film's enduring impact. In my view, it stands as a classic — a beautifully executed portrayal of passion, tension, and the social themes of its era. Noellie, Aspiring screenwriter Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/14/25 Full Review Joseph S Sandra Dee to Troy Donahue- " I washed my hair for you. Need I say more? Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Audience Member A decent theme song, but only the cover versions not the sound track one. As for the screenplay, acting, etc. they all sucked. Two words: dated and hokey! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/13/24 Full Review Veronique R It feels so outdated and awkward at many occassions. I watched it, holding my beath and feeling totally fascinated. I was born only a few years after this movie was made. Glad my mother didnt ask a doctor to check my vagina after a date with a boy. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/24 Full Review Lanfranco C A great soundtrack, but the movie comes from an other time. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review David K This is one from the sly wit category. It comes across as a soap opera but the lines are actually funny. Take for instance Sandra Dee looking deeply into Troy Donahue's eyes and saying something like "Have you been bad with any girls since I last saw you?" Let's give Delmer Daves some credit here. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Summer Place

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Cast & Crew

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Delmer Daves

Director

Richard Egan

Ken Jorgenson

Dorothy McGuire

Sylvia Hunter

Sandra Dee

Molly Jorgenson

Arthur Kennedy

Bart Hunter

Troy Donahue

Johnny Hunter

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A Summer Place

A Summer Place (1959) A Summer Place (1959) A Summer Place (1959) A Summer Place (1959) A Summer Place (1959) A Summer Place (1959) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The big-screen adaptation of Sloan Wilson's popular novel follows wealthy Ken Jorgenson (Richard Egan) as he brings his wife (Constance Ford) and teenage daughter, Molly (Sandra Dee), to the Maine vacation spot where he worked as a middle-class youth. When Ken reunites with his former flame, the now-married Sylvia (Dorothy McGuire), it sparks a passionate tryst. Meanwhile, Sylvia's son, Johnny (Troy Donahue), and Molly begin a romance of their own, unaware of their parents' affair.
Director
Delmer Daves
Producer
Delmer Daves
Screenwriter
Delmer Daves
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 22, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
2h 10m
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