Rating: 
Summary: SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME, SUM-, SUM-, SUMMERTIME!
Review: "WOW!" That's exactly what you'll exclaim when you see the gorgeous vibrant colors from this restored Technicolor print, courtesy of the Criterion Collection. Say goodbye to the washed out colors and muffled sound you remember when you last saw this at 2:00 AM on your local TV station...this movie looks so fresh and new, it's hard to believe it's almost 40 years old. Storywise, the movie breaks no new ground for modern viewers, but it must have been quite a shocker to 50's audiences to see Katharine Hepburn in the role of an adulteress. The acting is top-notch and it's nice to enjoy a story with no vulgarity, no violence, and no sex (despite the adultery theme!). The cinematography is exceptional and makes you long for a trip to Venice, if only it still looked like that. And the sight of Katharine Hepburn accidentally falling into a canal is priceless! Compared to other Criterion offerings, this one unfortunately comes up short: the only extra is an original movie trailer. Better than nothing, yes, but a commentary or an interview with someone associated with the film would have been nice. On a final note, I had none of the technical problems mentioned by another reviewer with my disc: the sound was perfectly in synch with the picture and there was no "freezing". A very enjoyable movie that you'll watch again many times. A definite keeper.
Rating:
Summary: The first and best of Katharine Hepburn's classic spinsters
Review: After doing "Pat and Mike" in 1952 with Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn left MGM when her contract ended and starred in the first major production of George Bernard Shaw's "The Millionairess" in London. It was not until 1955 that David Lean persuaded Hepburn to return to films, bringing her to Venice to star in this bitter-sweet love story about a lonely American school teacher and spinster, Jane Hudson, who takes a once in a lifetime vacation to Europe where she meets Renato Di Rossi (Rossano Brazzi), the charming owner of an antique shop. Based on the Arthur Laurents' play "The Time of the Cuckoo," this film creates not only the first but also certainly the most realistic of Hepburn's celebrated spinster roles. Unlike her Oscar nominated performances as spinsters who find love in "The African Queen" and "The Rainmaker," the story of Jane Hudson does not have as many comic moments, although her celebrated fall in the canals of Venice, which ruined her eyes for the rest of her life, is one of those standout moments in Hepburn's career. Because it is more realistic there is more of an element to tragedy to this story than any other of her similar roles. Although Jane falls in love for the first time in her life, there is no hope for a future with Rentao who is married and has a grown son. This is made all the more poignant by Jane's relationship with the cute street urchin Mario (Gaitano Audiero) who becomes her guide through Venice. Together, these symbolic husband and son figures help to bring Jane out of her shell and in the end we know she is a better person for the experience, as painful as it might be. True, this is an old story, but "Summertime" carries it off with a level of technical proficiency and artistic effort way above the norm. At first consideration you would not think of "Summertime" as being a traditional sort of David Lean film since it is not the type of cinematic epic you associate with the director. But when you see the way the sights of Venice are photographed you know this is the same eye that captured the jungles of southeast Asia, the deserts of Arabia and the winter wonderland of Russia (although credit also has to be given to cinematographer Jack Hildyard). If you will never make it to Venice, this is the film that will bring it alive for you. For 1955 this is a remarkably adult film, which just reaffirms the importance of Broadway dramas in changing the nature of Hollywood. Just in terms of Hepburn's career you can readily see that most of her adult theme films were all originally presented on Broadway (e.g., "Suddenly Last Summer," "Long Day's Journey Into Night," "The Lion in Winter"). However, do not ask me to explain how the actress went from this film to making "The Iron Petticoat" with Bob Hope. But even that legendary debacle (the one Hepburn film I have never seen) did not detract from the importance of "Summertime" in reestablishing her film career as an independent actress. Beginning with this film, Hepburn had a streak of eight films in which she received six Oscar nominations and won her second and third awards. At MGM she had been a dramatic comedienne but during this independent stage of her career she did her far and way best work as a tragic actress.
Rating:
Summary: The first and best of Katharine Hepburn's classic spinsters
Review: After doing "Pat and Mike" in 1952 with Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn left MGM when her contract ended and starred in the first major production of George Bernard Shaw's "The Millionairess" in London. It was not until 1955 that David Lean persuaded Hepburn to return to films, bringing her to Venice to star in this bitter-sweet love story about a lonely American school teacher and spinster, Jane Hudson, who takes a once in a lifetime vacation to Europe where she meets Renato Di Rossi (Rossano Brazzi), the charming owner of an antique shop. Based on the Arthur Laurents' play "The Time of the Cuckoo," this film creates not only the first but also certainly the most realistic of Hepburn's celebrated spinster roles. Unlike her Oscar nominated performances as spinsters who find love in "The African Queen" and "The Rainmaker," the story of Jane Hudson does not have as many comic moments, although her celebrated fall in the canals of Venice, which ruined her eyes for the rest of her life, is one of those standout moments in Hepburn's career. Because it is more realistic there is more of an element to tragedy to this story than any other of her similar roles. Although Jane falls in love for the first time in her life, there is no hope for a future with Rentao who is married and has a grown son. This is made all the more poignant by Jane's relationship with the cute street urchin Mario (Gaitano Audiero) who becomes her guide through Venice. Together, these symbolic husband and son figures help to bring Jane out of her shell and in the end we know she is a better person for the experience, as painful as it might be. True, this is an old story, but "Summertime" carries it off with a level of technical proficiency and artistic effort way above the norm. At first consideration you would not think of "Summertime" as being a traditional sort of David Lean film since it is not the type of cinematic epic you associate with the director. But when you see the way the sights of Venice are photographed you know this is the same eye that captured the jungles of southeast Asia, the deserts of Arabia and the winter wonderland of Russia (although credit also has to be given to cinematographer Jack Hildyard). If you will never make it to Venice, this is the film that will bring it alive for you. For 1955 this is a remarkably adult film, which just reaffirms the importance of Broadway dramas in changing the nature of Hollywood. Just in terms of Hepburn's career you can readily see that most of her adult theme films were all originally presented on Broadway (e.g., "Suddenly Last Summer," "Long Day's Journey Into Night," "The Lion in Winter"). However, do not ask me to explain how the actress went from this film to making "The Iron Petticoat" with Bob Hope. But even that legendary debacle (the one Hepburn film I have never seen) did not detract from the importance of "Summertime" in reestablishing her film career as an independent actress. Beginning with this film, Hepburn had a streak of eight films in which she received six Oscar nominations and won her second and third awards. At MGM she had been a dramatic comedienne but during this independent stage of her career she did her far and way best work as a tragic actress.
Rating: 
Summary: melodrama with a really bad metaphor
Review: After reading all the reviews, I was psyched: forbidden love, Venice in technicolor, major star-power. After seeing the film, the only thing I felt was annoyed that I had paid good dollars for the DVD. I'll grant that what others have said about this film is true. It is deeply enmeshed in a specific time & place, using symbolism to help to convey a freer vision of female sexuality than 1950s society condoned. There are indeed moments where we feel Hepburn's loneliness and appreciate her independence. But all of this merit was crushed, for me, by scads of overacting and large chunks of plain bad script. Hepburn was too often overcome by fits of melodrama, Brazzi was every imaginable stereotype of a cheesy Italian lover, and the little streetkid-as-scenery bit was trite and contrived. What ought to be subtle character development suffers instead from dropped details and lapses in logic: Brazzi's marital situation is never truly explained (to Hepburn or to us), supporting roles are caricatures at best, and we're left to wonder exactly why Hepburn agrees to open up to Brazzi or why she leaves in the end. To top it all off, in one of the worst extended metaphors ever written, Brazzi tries to win Hepburn's affections by comparing her libido to an appetite for food and himself to--I kid you not--ravioli. ("You are like a small child who is given ravioli, but you want beefsteak....Eat the ravioli!") I'm not a jaded moviegoer; just a few minutes of _Roman Holiday_ or_Affair to Remember_ or _Casablanca_ is enough to make me teary-eyed. But this one really didn't work. Save the money and take your own trip to Venice.
Rating: 
Summary: out of sync
Review: I agree with the praise for this film, but unfortunately experienced the same really shocking out-of-sync problem described by the viewer from Los Angeles. I've rented or purchased many, many films on DVD and have never had this problem on my player, so it looks like the problem is with the disk. Beware of Criterion, with its perfect reputation. Since other viewers don't report this phenomenon, apparently Criterion has a significant quality control problem in the production of individual disks.
Rating:
Summary: summertime
Review: I am a "Summertime" and Venice, Italy junky. I have seen this movie at least 20 times and have visited Venice an equal amount of times. Everytime I arrive in Venice I try to plot out the locations that were used by David Lean. On my last trip, I found the shoppe where she bought the beautiful red goblet. I almost fell in the canal at the spot "Jane" did.I have photographs to prove it. This movie is timeless. It shows that hope for eternal love is alive in all of us no matter what are ages are. This movie shows Venice in all her magic,beauty and glory. It shows Katherine Hepburn is all her grace,charm,intelligence. Rossano Brassi is every womens' idea of romance. Buy this film as soon as you can. Watch it as often as you want to escape to romance and beauty.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: I have only seen this film once, probably about 15 years ago when I was in my early twenties, but it stays with me as one of my all time favourites. I had scived an afternoon off work, came home with a bottle of wine, turned the TV on and Summertime or Summer Madness as it was called in the UK appeared. I instantly fell in love with this film, probably because I am a romantic at heart and you want the girl to get her man ! The innocence of Hepburn in this film is there for all to see, she gives her all and you cannot help but feel for this very naive woman in a city where inexperience in love is rare. Venice itself is shown to be a beautiful city, alive and full of energy, a perfect setting for this story to unfold. I am English and live in the UK and have been unable to get a video copy of this film that will play on my TV, but I would recommend this film to anybody who enjoys a love story. It tugs at your heart and really does stay with you as one of Hepburns best films and her main main Rossano Brazzi is great too, he plays her emotions magnificently - Sit back and enjoy a truly wonderful film...
Rating:
Summary: A Love Story Never to be Forgotten !!
Review: I have only seen this film once, probably about 15 years ago when I was in my early twenties, but it stays with me as one of my all time favourites. I had scived an afternoon off work, came home with a bottle of wine, turned the TV on and Summertime or Summer Madness as it was called in the UK appeared. I instantly fell in love with this film, probably because I am a romantic at heart and you want the girl to get her man ! The innocence of Hepburn in this film is there for all to see, she gives her all and you cannot help but feel for this very naive woman in a city where inexperience in love is rare. Venice itself is shown to be a beautiful city, alive and full of energy, a perfect setting for this story to unfold. I am English and live in the UK and have been unable to get a video copy of this film that will play on my TV, but I would recommend this film to anybody who enjoys a love story. It tugs at your heart and really does stay with you as one of Hepburns best films and her main main Rossano Brazzi is great too, he plays her emotions magnificently - Sit back and enjoy a truly wonderful film...
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A TREAT!!
Review: I have to laugh with the reviewer before me, for I did in fact, after viewing this movie, rush to my computer and search the web for air fares to Venice. That is how beautifully the cinematographer captures this gorgeous city. For those of you who have been there, this will be a wonderful re-visit. And for those of us who have not, let's go!! Katharine Hepburn here is in her prime. Rossano Brazzi is every woman's dream man (at least, he is mine). I do not believe that her conflict about their attraction (and yes, love for each other) was about sex outside of marriage, so much as it was the principle of an involvement with someone who is married. Perhaps it was a little of both. Still, they touched the heart of happiness, and Hepburn's character, Jane, seemed to intuitively know when to leave, stating that in the past she had always stayed too long at the dance (or was it the party?). It is hard to review a movie that is so much about the heart, because matters of the heart are mysterious, and are not always reviewable. Leave it to say that this film is a delight, a trip through beauty, Brazzi's sincere performance, Hepburn at her most spirited, and a sterling story. And must not forget David Lean's quality direction. No part seems small with him at the helm.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A TREAT!!
Review: I have to laugh with the reviewer before me, for I did in fact, after viewing this movie, rush to my computer and search the web for air fares to Venice. That is how beautifully the cinematographer captures this gorgeous city. For those of you who have been there, this will be a wonderful re-visit. And for those of us who have not, let's go!! Katharine Hepburn here is in her prime. Rossano Brazzi is every woman's dream man (at least, he is mine). I do not believe that her conflict about their attraction (and yes, love for each other) was about sex outside of marriage, so much as it was the principle of an involvement with someone who is married. Perhaps it was a little of both. Still, they touched the heart of happiness, and Hepburn's character, Jane, seemed to intuitively know when to leave, stating that in the past she had always stayed too long at the dance (or was it the party?). It is hard to review a movie that is so much about the heart, because matters of the heart are mysterious, and are not always reviewable. Leave it to say that this film is a delight, a trip through beauty, Brazzi's sincere performance, Hepburn at her most spirited, and a sterling story. And must not forget David Lean's quality direction. No part seems small with him at the helm.
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