An absolute, timeless classic. It's of course not just about the end of summer, but most of the characters have just graduated high school and are about to make something of themselves. And for a third layer, it's the end of an era and the 1960s are just about to truly kick in. At the time of it is set, The Beatles had recorded but not released "Love Me Do".
I saw this as an 11-year old one bitterly cold night in late 1974 and it was as I recall it the first time I was allowed to go into town without my parents (but with a bunch of friends) to watch a movie in the evening. What amazed me most at the time was how the characters stayed up all night, way into the morning. Could you REALLY do that? I'm still willing to watch this whenever there's an opportunity.
Btw, the soundtrack (I still have the double LP) is totally ace.
We stayed up all night on prom night, for instance. And once when we had only a lit cigarette and no lighter, a girlfriend and I took turns smoking the cigarette down and lighting the next one. We watched the sun come up and went to sleep. She is now dead sadly. Here's to you, Merrie Hatzai. I was around 26 when I saw it, with two young kids. It was almost from my era and Richard Dreyfus looks so young. Within a few years, he looked 20 years older.
I love this movie and have watched it again and again. In 1963 I was a little younger than the characters in this movie, but I had an older brother and sister and tagged along with them a lot so almost everything looked pretty familiar to me. What a cast! What music! If it resonates with you, and it obviously does with me, it's almost a perfect film.
Anders, I agree with you on the soundtrack. We bought the double CD to replace the record a few years ago. It's one of the few places you'll find the original version of "See You in September" which I always found superior to the hyped-up Happenings remake.
We first saw it in a small theater in Paris in 1974. Once you got used to the French subtitles it was fine.
One thing about it I remember is how the era depicted seemed so ancient - and it was only 12 years back. Sure, I was only 11 at the time, but still - if there would be a movie today set in 2001 I wouldn't even notice.
Btw, The Crests' "Sixteen Candles" is probably THE perfect pop song.
Patricia Abbott is the author of more than 125 stories that have appeared online, in print journals and in various anthologies. She is the author of two print novels CONCRETE ANGEL (2015) and SHOT IN DETROIT (2016)(Polis Books). CONCRETE ANGEL was nominated for an Anthony and Macavity Award in 2016. SHOT IN DETROIT was nominated for an Edgar Award and an Anthony Award in 2017. A collection of her stories I BRING SORROW AND OTHER STORIES OF TRANSGRESSION will appear in 2018.
She also authored two ebooks, MONKEY JUSTICE and HOME INVASION and co-edited DISCOUNT NOIR. She won a Derringer award for her story "My Hero." She lives outside Detroit.
Patricia (Patti) Abbott
SHOT IN DETROIT
Edgar Nominee 2017, Anthony nominee 2017
CONCRETE ANGEL
Polis Books, 2015-nominated for the Anthony and Macavity Awards
6 comments:
An absolute, timeless classic. It's of course not just about the end of summer, but most of the characters have just graduated high school and are about to make something of themselves. And for a third layer, it's the end of an era and the 1960s are just about to truly kick in. At the time of it is set, The Beatles had recorded but not released "Love Me Do".
I saw this as an 11-year old one bitterly cold night in late 1974 and it was as I recall it the first time I was allowed to go into town without my parents (but with a bunch of friends) to watch a movie in the evening. What amazed me most at the time was how the characters stayed up all night, way into the morning. Could you REALLY do that? I'm still willing to watch this whenever there's an opportunity.
Btw, the soundtrack (I still have the double LP) is totally ace.
We stayed up all night on prom night, for instance. And once when we had only a lit cigarette and no lighter, a girlfriend and I took turns smoking the cigarette down and lighting the next one. We watched the sun come up and went to sleep. She is now dead sadly. Here's to
you, Merrie Hatzai.
I was around 26 when I saw it, with two young kids. It was almost from my era and Richard Dreyfus looks so young. Within a few years, he looked 20 years older.
I love this movie and have watched it again and again. In 1963 I was a little younger than the characters in this movie, but I had an older brother and sister and tagged along with them a lot so almost everything looked pretty familiar to me. What a cast! What music! If it resonates with you, and it obviously does with me, it's almost a perfect film.
Patti - Oh, this is a superb film, on so many levels!
Anders, I agree with you on the soundtrack. We bought the double CD to replace the record a few years ago. It's one of the few places you'll find the original version of "See You in September" which I always found superior to the hyped-up Happenings remake.
We first saw it in a small theater in Paris in 1974. Once you got used to the French subtitles it was fine.
Jeff M.
One thing about it I remember is how the era depicted seemed so ancient - and it was only 12 years back. Sure, I was only 11 at the time, but still - if there would be a movie today set in 2001 I wouldn't even notice.
Btw, The Crests' "Sixteen Candles" is probably THE perfect pop song.
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