The Summer House

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The Summer House

1993

1h 22m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Margaret (Lena Headey) has agreed to marry Syl (David Threlfall) ; the problem is, she accepted the proposal to please her aging mother, Monica (Julie Walters), and secretly has no interest in her listless fiancé. As the wedding date draws nearer, friends and family of the bride-to-be begin to arrive, including the free-spirited Lili (Jeanne Moreau), an old friend of Monica's. Luckily, Lili quickly realizes that Margaret and Syl don't gel, and comes up with a brilliant plan to stop the wedding.

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

Chain-smoking, guzzling booze and spouting worldly epigrams about love and life, Moreau fits into Croydon like a peacock in Antarctica, sashaying around and imposing her seductive will on everyone.

Aug 13, 2013

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Joan Plowright and Jeanne Moreau turn this slight BBC production into a jolly lesson about how two great old theatrical broads can liven up an arty domestic drama.

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Jeanne Moreau. Jeanne Moreau. Jeanne Moreau. She is the soul of this movie and its raison d'être.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 12, 2011

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Although this odd comedy-mystery is never entirely successful, the eternally glamorous, fearlessly ridiculous Moreau takes full advantage of her role to demonstrate that she remains one of the great stars of international cinema.

May 31, 2018

Full Review

TV Guide

The central comic performances by Moreau, Plowright, and Walters keep things lively, especially during the increasingly farcical second half of the film.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 13, 2013

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 2/5

Oct 21, 2005

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Audience Member

Drama ridden middle aged womens satire about marriage. Dull lifeless assault to the youthful vibrance of all woman kind.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

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Audience Member

One of the most eccentric movies I have ever seen. It had the most bizarre ending.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Waris Hussein

Director

Jeanne Moreau

Lili

Julie Walters

Actor

Lena Headey

Actor

Joan Plowright

Mrs. Monro

David Threlfall

Syl

The Everything Pot

88%

%

The Everything Pot

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Our Betters

%

36%

Our Betters

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Smashing Time

88%

50%

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Where the Heart Is

9%

57%

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Synopsis

Margaret (Lena Headey) has agreed to marry Syl (David Threlfall) ; the problem is, she accepted the proposal to please her aging mother, Monica (Julie Walters), and secretly has no interest in her listless fiancé. As the wedding date draws nearer, friends and family of the bride-to-be begin to arrive, including the free-spirited Lili (Jeanne Moreau), an old friend of Monica's. Luckily, Lili quickly realizes that Margaret and Syl don't gel, and comes up with a brilliant plan to stop the wedding.

Director: Waris Hussein
Screenwriter: Martin Sherman
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 22m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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