the leading man is my tpye

Best movie of this year hands down!

Excellent, a Must See

Brilliant and touching

Susannah York is astonishingly good as a sixteen-year old British girl, traveling through France with her mother and three younger siblings, who falls in love for the first time with a handsome, older man (Kenneth More) who is harboring a guilty secret. The kids, who are left temporarily without their mum after she takes sick, arrive at their hotel in France's Champagne Country to an ill-wind: the two lesbian women who run the extravagant spread do not permit children, but one of the ladies is also involved with More and he takes the family under his wing. The complex relationship between the women, business partners who appear to have a great deal of history together, is handled without high drama (indeed, Howard Koch's writing is so subtle that the depth of these characters may elude many viewers). The kids get to stay, and everyone falls in love with dashing More, but with crystal-eyed Susannah there's bound to be heartbreak--and in that heartbreak, jealousy and a child's vindictiveness. A fully thought-out and realized film, adapted from Rumer Godden's novel, and played out amongst a gorgeous backdrop. The movie has a precocious nature and a wise child's sensibility--very little of the drama is hammered out for us--and the tone of the picture is kept dreamy-romantic. It is exceptionally well-performed (by the principals as well as by the children cast as York's siblings), with a sensitive direction ably steering the complicated narrative to its poetic finish. Beautiful, sad, enveloping, wistful; it's a perfect example of how a movie can be capable of absorbing its audience in much the same way a good book can enrapture its reader. A winner! ***1/2 from ****

I note that a number of people have written enthusiastically on The Greengage Summer and I agree. It was a charming film with great performances and a lovely score. I note one contributor has found difficulty getting a copy of the book from which the film was drawn. I managed to obtain a copy from the Folio Society in London last year but their print is now sold out and you have to be a member in any case to purchase books. Like others I have also tried to find a copy of the film in VCR or DVD form without success. I have been told by someone in the film business that one of the British studios destroyed many of their original prints and so quite a number of old films will never be available again. I cannot remember the name of the studio/distributor but The Greengage Summer might be one of the affected films which would explain why no one can find a copy. I hope I'm wrong! I also have never seen The Greengage Summer on TV.

Greengage Summer (Loss Of Innocence, American release title) is a wonderful, nostalgic movie that I love to watch over and over again. How can you improve upon Kenneth More looking over at a blossoming Susannah York in one of her first films, tasting the perspiration on her face and saying sweetly: "Dew of Joss"? Sigh. So romantic!The performances of all the children are first rate, and the actor who plays Paul is perfectly slimey for his part. You can almost smell him through the tv screen! In the novel by Rumer Godden I think there were two more children than in the movie, but who's counting? Best scenes: the French countryside, the sightseeing tour to the church, winery and the cafe, the dance scene at the hotel, and Eliot saying goodbye to Joss at the end. The movie also boasts rather gorgeous music that is available on CD. Check it out. I sounded out the main theme and play it on my piano quite often. They just don't make films like this anymore, and if they tried to they would have the main characters in bed together in the first five minutes. Yuck. Give me yesterday, and understated romance over the tripe they call entertainment today.

I saw the movie only once and that was over 30 years ago. It was one of the best films I have ever seen and remains so. As others have commented, it doesn't appear to be on VHS nor have I ever found it shown on either AMC or TCM. If anyone knows where or how to see it and/or own it please email me.