How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Robert Wagner is very good portraying directionless young American, living abroad and working as a bartender, who chances to run into Jill St. John, a former girlfriend from college. She invites him to vacation with her family in Monte Carlo, which begins a series of oneupmanship games with Jill's father, a fanatic for competitive sports. Once Wagner realizes the wealthy titan is only vulnerable against one other person, he turns amateur sleuth in the hopes of exposing his host and his weakness. TV-made film with an apparently large budget, imaginative visual tricks and gorgeous locations. Though quite necessarily told in flashback, it is too bad the script and story are so ritzy that they occasionally confound the viewer, with a nervous breakdown/brainwashing midsection which seems an abstraction. Still good, however, and Wagner is more animated than usual (he often looks wounded or confused, which suits his handsome stoicism). Jill St. John is once again a curvy, haughty dish (in a variety of wacky sunglasses) and Peter Lawford is amazingly controlled and enigmatic as Wagner's adversary.

I'm so glad to see that others agree with me that this may well be one of the greatest films ever made. It is absolutely brilliant as an unwinding tale of suspense and intrigue. I think that I've seen this movie 5 times over the years on TV, but have never caught it on tape. Most of the times, I saw it was before I had a VCR about 1980. Maybe, we could get AMC to show this true classic. The casino scene was one of the most chilling scenes that I've ever seen. So many great scenes in this film.

I remember seeing this film as a 12-year-old and being blown away by it. I probably haven't seen it for 20 - 25 years, but I can still recall much of it and would love to see it again. I'm a bit hesitant to call it a "forgotten masterpiece", but it sure was a good piece of entertainment, with shades of James Bond and 1984. See it if you can!

Okay, this is the best movie ever! Its not on video, and i haven't seen it in 10-12 years. Every summer's end, I hope that my local TV stations will play it...BUT THEY NEVER *##(% DO! This movie is a lost treasure. I'm sure one day, critics and art house hags will be jonesing over 'discovering' another 'Carnival of Souls' or 'Henry - Portrait of a Serial Killer' (this movie isnt like either one, however). Or I just might end up seeing this under Taratinos' 'Rolling Thunder' video release label, as he gives his stamp of approval....but I digress.

This movie rocks. If I was a director, and had to remake a movie, I would do this in a heart beat. Robert Wagner is excellent. Peter Lawford is sooooo damn smug as a law breaking jet setter. Robert Wagners 60's beatnik vibe, matched against Peter Lawford's 50's swank is brilliantly played out for a "winner" take all. As Mr.Pine would say, "To the victor goes the spoils".

I just cant explain it in words, right up there with Mamets 'House of Games' or 'Glengary GlenRoss'.

I NEED THIS MOVIE!

I can see that I am not alone in thinking that this was a superior story, handled very well (except for the very last shot!). The same spooked atmosphere of THE PRISONER pervades; I recommend FRAGMENT OF FEAR for the same what-is-reality take. Anyway, just wonderful. That scene on the yacht! Film noir lives!!