I don’t know about where you’re at, but here, it’s hot. We’d been enjoying a nice spring and suddenly this week, summer arrived with heat and humidity leading the way. In honor of the shift in season, this week’s fine romance is Summertime, an underrated 1955 romanced directed by David Lean starring Katharine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi.
It’s the story of an American secretary who has been saving her entire life for a big European tour. She stops in Venice for a few weeks, meets a silver fox Italian and, well, sparks fly.
I’m making it sound cliched, however, and Summertime is anything but. While the step up is predictable enough, nothing about the movie is quite what you expect. The cinematography is gorgeous — Lean was clearly getting ready for Lawrence of Arabia; the acting terrific; and the score haunting. And seriously, Brazzi can brood like no one’s business. While summer is still a novelty, slurp this one down with a bellini tonight.
Emma Barry 