Why David Lean considered this 1955 romantic drama his most personal cinematic achievement
In short: Summertime captures a lonely American secretary finding unexpected romance in Venice. Beyond the screen, the production was a logistical feat that nearly cost Katharine Hepburn her eyesight. David Lean, the director, grew so attached to the city during filming that he made it his second home for the rest of his life.
Based on Arthur Laurents' 1952 play The Time of the Cuckoo, the film follows Jane Hudson, a middle-aged secretary from Akron, Ohio, on a dream vacation. While in Venice, she encounters Renato de Rossi, an antiques dealer who challenges her to embrace happiness despite his own complicated marital status. The project underwent significant development hurdles, with various directors and stars considered before David Lean collaborated with H.E. Bates on the final screenplay.
Filming in 1954 was a pioneering effort in location shooting, though it faced resistance from local gondolieri who feared lost income. To secure permission, United Artists donated to the restoration of St Mark's Basilica, and Lean agreed to strict dress codes for the cast near holy sites. The production was not without physical toll; during a canal stunt, Katharine Hepburn was exposed to disinfectant-treated water, leading to a rare form of conjunctivitis that affected her for the remainder of her life.
The film faced scrutiny from the Production Code Administration over its depiction of adultery, resulting in the removal of 18 feet of footage. Despite a lukewarm domestic box office of $2 million by January 1956, the film found success internationally and remains a celebrated showcase for Hepburn's vulnerable performance. Lean, who often cited it as his favorite work, felt he had poured more of himself into this project than any other, capturing the city as a living, breathing character that drives the narrative's emotional arc.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Summertime (1955 film)
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