Summer of '42 (1971)

77% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(2,505 ratings)

A surprise success in 1971 ($20 million worth of "surprise"), The Summer of '42 is a coming-of-age piece, drenched in nostalgia. Director Robert Mulligan narrates the film as the grown-up counterpart of Hermie (Gary Grimes), a teenager of the War Years who has a crush on twentyish Jennifer O'Neill.… More A surprise success in 1971 ($20 million worth of "surprise"), The Summer of '42 is a coming-of-age piece, drenched in nostalgia. Director Robert Mulligan narrates the film as the grown-up counterpart of Hermie (Gary Grimes), a teenager of the War Years who has a crush on twentyish Jennifer O'Neill. With O'Neill's soldier husband off to war, Grimes convinces himself that he can take hubby's place in every way. O'Neill is amused by Grimes' attentions (confined to doing chores and carrying her groceries), but never thinks of him in sexual terms. And then, O'Neill's husband is killed in battle. Herman Raucher based his intensely nostalgic script on his own experience, going so far as to use the real names of past acquaintances (including the Jennifer O'Neill counterpart) as character names in his screenplay. An Academy Award went to Michel LeGrand's evocative musical score. Summer of '42 was later novelized by Raucher, then followed up on screen by the less effective Class of 44. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Robert Mulligan
Written By: Herman Raucher
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 30, 1971 Wide
On DVD: Feb 5, 2002

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Summer of '42 has a large amount of charm and tenderness; it also has little dramatic economy and much eye-exhausting photography which translates to forced and artificial emphasis on a strungout story.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
"Summer of '42" is a memory movie, written, directed and acted with such uncommon good humor that I don't think you'll be put off by its sweet soft-focus, at least until you start analyzing it afterwards.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Nostalgia is used as a distancing device -- to keep us safely insulated from the boy's immediate grief, love, and passion.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
People who actually recall 1942 will more greatly appreciate the waves of nostalgia that bathe this affectionate coming-of-age drama, set on a tiny island off New England.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Visually lyrical film romance also has problems with dubious views on teen sexuality.
, Empire Magazine
In the early hijinks phase, the film seems like a dry run for Porky's, but it later gets into the business of fluttering curtains, walks on sandy beaches and longing glances.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It forever misses, unlike American Graffiti, the heady sexual climate of adolescence to concentrate on the circumstances of the sex act itself.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"Summer Of '42" is an unforgettable meditation on sexual awakening and loss during WWII.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
One of the cinematic coming-of-age stories that started a trend.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Nostalgic coming-into-manhood fantasy.
, Film4
The interaction between Grimes and his teenage co-stars - the sharp, crude Houser and the more innocent Conant - is engaging, and the spare, uncluttered soundtrack is recompense for Mulligan's overblown visuals.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Dates very badly indeed