'Summer Holiday' was yet another film that had a lot of potential and a fair share of reasons for me to want to see it. While the play it's based on ('Ah Wilderness') is not one of the great Eugene O'Neill's best, it is a good place to start getting to know his work as it is a charmer and one of his more accessible works. With a cast with this many great performers too, one could say this couldn't go wrong. Have also liked some of director Rouben Mamoulian's other films.
Unfortunately 'Summer Holiday' is one of my least favourites of his, in a filmography that includes brilliant films such as 'Queen Christina', 'The Mark of Zorro', 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' and 'Applause' (which revolutionised the development of early talkies). On the most part, the cast are good and the film looks great. A more suitable leading man and a more memorable song score would have helped making 'Summer Holiday' a better film though.
There are quite a number of things working in 'Summer Holiday's' favour. As said, it is a great looking film on the whole. The vibrant Technicolor especially is absolutely glorious and the scenery is also full of colour and beautifully designed. There are a few moments that do stick in the memory for a while afterwards, the highlight is the bar room sequence that has been mentioned in other reviews. Close behind is the catchy "The Stanley Steamer", the musical number that has the most spirit and it's the song in the film that stuck in my head the most.
Furthermore there are some amusing lines. The cast are fine on the whole, with truly lovely and spirited Marilyn Maxwell stealing the film. Gloria DeHaven also has the mouth-watering value. Walter Huston could always be counted upon to give a good performance and he charms the socks off. Frank Morgan is amusing.
Mickey Rooney didn't work for me though, and no it was nothing to do with his age. My problems with him were his tendency to try far too hard and he comes over as annoying and that it was difficult to root for his character. A big problem as he is the lead. Have always liked Agnes Moorhead very much, but by her standards while very professional this was pretty subdued and doesn't have her usual sparkle. There are moments of energy and entertainment value, but too much of the film dramatically is rather plodding and Mamoulian's unusually uninspired direction doesn't help.
Have seen very mixed reviews on the song score, both vehement defense but indifference. The songs to me were pleasant enough but only "The Stanley Steamer" is memorable and has much spark. They could have been better choreographed, the staging is never amateurish but nothing dazzles or has quite the right amount of energy. The editing also could have been a lot better, it's very sloppy in places and too many transitions came over as abrupt and unfinished.
In conclusion, definitely worth a one-time look but a bit lacking for me. 5/10
Unfortunately 'Summer Holiday' is one of my least favourites of his, in a filmography that includes brilliant films such as 'Queen Christina', 'The Mark of Zorro', 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' and 'Applause' (which revolutionised the development of early talkies). On the most part, the cast are good and the film looks great. A more suitable leading man and a more memorable song score would have helped making 'Summer Holiday' a better film though.
There are quite a number of things working in 'Summer Holiday's' favour. As said, it is a great looking film on the whole. The vibrant Technicolor especially is absolutely glorious and the scenery is also full of colour and beautifully designed. There are a few moments that do stick in the memory for a while afterwards, the highlight is the bar room sequence that has been mentioned in other reviews. Close behind is the catchy "The Stanley Steamer", the musical number that has the most spirit and it's the song in the film that stuck in my head the most.
Furthermore there are some amusing lines. The cast are fine on the whole, with truly lovely and spirited Marilyn Maxwell stealing the film. Gloria DeHaven also has the mouth-watering value. Walter Huston could always be counted upon to give a good performance and he charms the socks off. Frank Morgan is amusing.
Mickey Rooney didn't work for me though, and no it was nothing to do with his age. My problems with him were his tendency to try far too hard and he comes over as annoying and that it was difficult to root for his character. A big problem as he is the lead. Have always liked Agnes Moorhead very much, but by her standards while very professional this was pretty subdued and doesn't have her usual sparkle. There are moments of energy and entertainment value, but too much of the film dramatically is rather plodding and Mamoulian's unusually uninspired direction doesn't help.
Have seen very mixed reviews on the song score, both vehement defense but indifference. The songs to me were pleasant enough but only "The Stanley Steamer" is memorable and has much spark. They could have been better choreographed, the staging is never amateurish but nothing dazzles or has quite the right amount of energy. The editing also could have been a lot better, it's very sloppy in places and too many transitions came over as abrupt and unfinished.
In conclusion, definitely worth a one-time look but a bit lacking for me. 5/10