Last Summer

Screened on Warner Archive bluray

I hadn't heard of Last Summer until very recently, when Warner Archive announced they had restored what has been a long lost film for many years, when it comes to finding a print suitable enough to restore. I was instantly intrigued, especially as any coming-of-age film grabs my interest. I went into it as blind as possible, not even knowing the cast, director, or the controversy that surrounded it.

The plot is fairly simple, focusing on three kids who are likely towards the end of their high school tenure, or the beginning of college. The two boys are portrayed by Richard Thomas (The Waltons) and Bruce Davison, a long-established actor who I could only place from a small role in John Landis' 1985 comedy Spies Like Us. The young woman is played by Barbara Hershey in her first major role. All three meet on the beach, hit it off, and spend the summer as flirtatious friends enjoying the accommodations of their well-off and absent parents. And that's basically it, in what is I view as a slice of life film.

It all sounds fairly innocent and rather pleasant, and for the most part it is. All three actors' performances and characters are genuine and enjoyable. The Fire Island setting and shooting location is gorgeous, and really sparkles in Warner's restoration; it's surprising the print was so hard to acquire as it now looks like a brand new film. The fourth actor to enter the story, played by Catherine Burns*, who received an Oscar nomination for her performance, adds a fantastic dimension that gives the film real purpose, and drives the film forward. For the majority of the film, it's a rather lovely watch.

From the opening scenes however, there is something so quietly traumatic going on that it almost becomes frustrating. Are those thoughts and feelings justified? It's truly hard to tell, and almost impossible to read, like Elizabeth Holmes. The opening plot point involves the rescue of a seagull that swallowed a small metal hook. Hard to watch, but saved by the intention to save it and nurse it back to life ... only to then take a dark turn. A bit of a metaphor for the entirety of the film, where by the end you'll understand why it was originally branded with an X rating from the MPAA. All to what end? A bit frustrating as it concludes rather abruptly, after a sudden change in tone and character development, which feels both completely right, but also baffling as to the WHY. My simple take is that the message here is even the nicest people, those who seem put together, "have it all," also have demons. They can be selfish, aloof, and can do horrible things even when they are completely conscious of their actions. Certainly not groundbreaking, but in 1969, it most certainly was.

All in all, I definitely recommend checking this out. It's a fairly quick watch, beautiful to look at, and is overall fascinating. Just expect a bit of a bumpy ride in the tone department, which comes to make sense by its conclusion. Mostly.

*Check out this Hollywood Reporter article for the fascinating story of her soon-thereafter departure from Hollywood, and near disapperance.