Last Summer

Summary

In 1969, Frank Perry – with the help of his wife and collaborator Eleanor Perry- adapted the novel Last Summer by Evan Hunter. Evan Hunter was one of the most prolific novelists of the twentieth century, although he is probably best known for his expansive crime series The 87th Precinct which he wrote under the pseudonym of Ed McBain. Interestingly, even the name Evan Hunter was another pseudonym for the writer who was born Salvatore Albert Lombino. He legally adopted the name Evan Hunter after using it as his pen name for his more serious works of fiction. Frank and Eleanor Perry approached the material in Last Summer with an excellent eye for detail, capturing the very particular mood of the novel. I read the novel when I saw that Warner Archive was releasing the film on Blu-ray and that acclaimed screenwriter Larry Karaszewski was championing the picture. The film and the novel were both great discoveries for me.

Teenage boys Peter (Richard Thomas) and David (Bruce Davison) see each other each summer when their families vacation on Fire Island. Peter lives in New Jersey, whereas David lives in the city, so they only see each other over the summers. They have been friends since childhood. One day on the beach they meet the beautiful Sandy (Barbara Hershey) who is mending an injured seagull. The boys help her remove a fishing hook from its throat and they begin to domesticate the bird. The trio become fast friends, and occasionally pilfer some beer that hey dub “truth serum.” Sandy occasionally removes her bikini top which drives the boys wild, and they both take their opportunity to feel her up at a movie theater. There is a casual cruelty in Sandy which shows itself when (Spoiler alert) Sandy smashes the bird with a rock one day after it bites her. Another day on the beach they meet the shy Rhoda. Rhoda is not as sure of herself as Sandy, and she is not as sexually experimental. Rhoda has lived through the tragic death of her mother who died while swimming intoxicated, so she is also terrified of water. The newly formed quartet have an unsteady friendship, and it is obvious that Sandy does not enjoy losing some of the attention of the boys to Rhoda. Peter begins to help Rhoda learn how to swim and their friendship begins to blossom, but Sandy’s casual cruelty will eventually lead to a truly destructive act.

Last Summer is an excellent adaptation of a very well written novel. The novel is a poignant coming-of-age story. I felt like the book takes aim at the reader and makes one remember any of the cruelty they doled out or endured as a teenager. Everyone in their teenage years is guilty of some form of cruelty, and Evan Hunter clearly knew that. The novel completely nails the feeling of sexual curiosity and awkward physical and verbal foreplay of those middle teenage years. It simultaneously critiques the parents of that time (after the baby boom) that seemed to fall into a bottle and abandon the oversight of their children. While this critique may have been aimed specifically at the baby boom generation, it has remained a lasting universal theme. I thought the novel was exceptional, and I would definitely recommend it if those themes are of interest to you. 

The adaptation of the novel by screenwriter Eleanor Perry is extremely well done. The key moments of the novel are presented as they were written and all the emotional nuance of the text is intact. One of the most memorable scenes in the picture involves the trio smoking a joint and shampooing one another’s hair. This sequence is not in the novel, but it is completely in the spirit of the writing. For adaptations to really work, a screenwriter must understand the writers intent and then by hook, crook, or crane bring it to the screen. I imagine that Evan Hunter must have been elated with how his work was treated. Nearly everything is preserved, aside from one line of dialogue at the end of the novel which was discarded. I only noted that, because the line spoke to me when I read the book and it seemed a strange omission from what is otherwise a perfect adaptation. That is a truly minor quibble given the amazing job they did of preserving every other aspect of the book.

The direction by Frank Perry is succinct and exceptional in every way. Working with cinematographers Enrique Bravo and Gerald Hirschfield, Frank Perry brings the hazy hot summer days to vivid life. He draws truly excellent performances out of his young cast. Catherine Burns has rightfully been praised for her performance as the vulnerable and shy Rhoda. She is going to break your damn heart. That said, I think the performances of Barbara Hershey, Richard Thomas, and Bruce Davison are all incredible in their own ways. Barbara Hershey has always been extremely attractive, but she is also a very capable actress. The way she wields power over the boys due to her allure is utterly believable, but also her ability to slide into cruelty took real bravery as an actress, since that is such an unlikable trait. She is wonderful. Richard Thomas is best known for his role in the long running show The Waltons, but this movie shows he was capable of a lot more than serialized television. He is great as the less aggressive of the two boys. Bruce Davison has been consistently busy since this film, but I mostly associated him with roles in films later in his career such as in X-Men. It was interesting to see him in his youth. He is fantastic as David, the harsher of the two boys. There is not a bad performance in the picture.

Last Summer was a great discovery for me this year. It is a very well made film that does not shy away from some pretty tough subject matter. For those with thick enough skin to handle a realistic drama that builds to an unforgettable finale, Last Summer comes very highly recommended.

Video

Presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio in 1080p with an MPEG-4 AVC encode, Warner Archive has given Last Summer an absolutely gorgeous new transfer from a 4K scan. The restoration efforts are very impressive, especially considering the different sources used in order to piece together the original X-Rated cut of the film. Prior to this release, only the R-Rated cut of the picture was available. Fine detail is top notch and color timing is completely true to the source. The film was shot by cinematographers Enrique Bravo and Gerald Hirschfield, and they employed softer focus at times to highlight the hazy nature of bright summer days on the beach. The movie is beautifully shot. Grain can sometimes be a bit thick, but it never looked chunky. This presentation is a great way to experience this film. For fans of the film that have waited for this to be given an update since the VHS days, it is going to be a revelation. Many thanks can go to Larry Karaszewski for his crusade to restore this film properly.

Audio

Similar to the video transfer, the audio has been meticulously restored and cleaned up. Dialogue is clear and the music in the picture fits the film. I enjoyed how the score is used sparingly, along with musical moments that occur naturally as they would in real life. Nothing gets in the way of the film’s goal of realism.

Supplements:

• Audio Commentary – this brand new track features Larry Karaszewski with film historian/author Justin Bozung. These gentlemen know everything there is to know about the film, so it is a great discussion of the picture.
• Deleted Scene
• Q&A #1  – Recorded live at the American Cinematheque in Santa Monica after the premiere of Last Summer’s new restoration, Larry Karaszewski interviews actors Barbara Hershey and Bruce Davison. The actors seem ecstatic to be rewatching the film in the new restoration and they have nothing but good memories of working on the project.
• Q&A #2 – Recorded live at New York’s Paris Theater, Larry Karaszewski interviews actor Richard Thomas, who looks back on the film and its impact on his career.
• Allied Artists Promo Reel
• Trailers From Hell – with Larry Karaszewski
• Theatrical Trailer

Overall Scores:

Video – 5/5

Audio – 4/5

Supplements – 4/5

Overall – 4.5/5

Last Summer is at once a fully realized coming-of-age story that perfectly captures those summers of our awkward teenage years while also showcasing the hidden cruelty that teens can possess in those years. The cruelty reaches its apex in the finale of the film, which is unforgettable. I found it impressive in both the novel and the film that there is this overwhelming feeling that something terrible is going to happen, despite the teens for the most part acting like teens. There are indicators that something bad will happen, such as the bird’s death, but the underlying tension is really well thought out. Eleanor Perry’s adaptation hits all the beats of the novel and perfectly captures the essence of what Evan Hunter wanted to accomplish with his text. Frank Perry’s direction is exceptional and so are the performances of the talented young actors. I am thankful that Warner Archive, with the assistance of Larry Karaszewski, has given us a beautiful version of the film (fully restored to its original X-Rated state) to watch at home. Highly recommended!

The film can be purchased at www.moviezyng.com.