Le rendez-vous de septembre

For some reason, this lightweight comedy from 1961 became something of an icon in India, where I come from. We were kids when it was first released but Bobby Darin's theme music became so popular that it was played practically everywhere for the next few years. I think the film was re-released three times between 1961 & 1964 in Bangalore, with the locally edited trailers mistakenly adding footage from other films of the era like Palm Springs Weekend! I first saw the film as an 8-year old in 1963, but had to wait 28 more years before I saw it as an adult - on British TV in 1991. On the whole, I like this film as a period piece of what some people call "Kennedy era entertainment" - lightweight, fluffy comedies that are nice to watch now and then.

We love the film and have watched it countless times. Last year we were lucky to find out where the location of Mr Talbot's "villa" was. It is in reality one of the most luxurious hotels in the world dominating the the hill overlooking the bay of Portofino in the Italian Riviera. The staff in the hotel confirmed that the film was shot there. However, when we view the film, the shots from the terrace down to the harbour don't quite line up, so we imagine that another location was also used. If you ever get to Portofino, it is worth the climb to see the view and the coffee wasn't as expensive as it was down in the harbour. Best wishes Peter and Ita Kay.

Come September is the first of two films that Rock Hudson co-starred with Gina Lollabrigida and it's the story of a man who comes only in September to Italy to spend time at his villa where his factotum, Walter Slezak has things in hand.

That he has, since Hudson only shows up in the fall for a few weeks, why let this beautiful grand villa go to waste. So Slezak for years has been turning it into a hotel and turning a few bucks doing it. This summer though Hudson shows up early and boy is he surprised to find a group of teenage girls, Sandra Dee and friends chaperoned by Brenda DaBanzie staying there.

Things are compounded worse when DaBanzie does a Woman Who Came to Dinner number and slips on a champagne cork after being given an eviction by the irate Hudson. Now she can't move. She and the girls are stuck there.

But Slezak is not the only one creating problems for Rock. For years he's been taking fiancé Gina Lollabrigida for granted and now she's set to marry the v-e-d-d-y proper British Ronald Howard. Add to that some boys led by Bobby Darin also arrive with reservations at the Hudson hotel. In fact in one of his earliest screen roles, young law student Joel Grey rightly informs Hudson the group might sue if their reservations aren't honored.

It's quite a mess as you can see, but in these comedies things do have a way of working out. Personally I think the guy who should have been sued is Slezak.

Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee met and were fated to be mated as it were. Darin also gets to sing one of his classic hits, Multiplication on the sound track. He was quite a talent, what a very sad and early loss Bobby Darin was.

Though the story is too silly at times, Rock and Gina have a nice working chemistry together. I rather liked them better in Strange Bedfellows. This one's all right though.

I don't know what other people have said about this movie, but if they said anything bad, they need to be shot. The casting is perfect and the acting is great. It has Gina Lollobrigida which is a definite plus to any movie. Rock Hudson pulls off his character with perfection. The story line is one of the best of all romantic comedies. I heartily recommend the movie to all.

"Come September", handsome Rock Hudson (as Robert Talbot) goes to his luxurious Italian villa, to hook up with gorgeous part-time lover Gina Lollobrigida (as Lisa Fellini). Suddenly changing plans, Mr. Hudson surprises Ms. Lollobrigida by arriving two months before their annual rendezvous. Looking for more commitment, Lollobrigida has made plans to marry another man; but, she agrees to meet Hudson for one more fling. Their love nest is disrupted by entrepreneurial "major domo" Walter Slezak (as Maurice Clavell).

Since Hudson never appears before September, Mr. Slezak has turned Hudson's villa into a hotel for sightseeing teenage girls. Hudson takes a fatherly interest in them, most notably sunny Sandra Dee (as Sandy Stevens). And, he tries to keep Ms. Dee and her girlfriends away from a group of amorous young men, most notably singer Bobby Darin (as Tony). And, yes, that's Joel Grey (as Beagle) years before his overnight success in "Cabaret" (1972). Eventually young and old have a meeting of the minds.

This was Mr. Darin's first feature film appearance as an actor; despite being slightly miscast, he is good. Darin's single "Multiplication" was an accompanying hit (in the film, Hudson has a cute line about sexual mathematics). In real life, Darin and Dee (already a big movie star) married after an off screen romance. Oddly enough, on screen, the young lovers are no match for Hudson and Lollobrigida. The production is first class, with photographer William Daniels highlighting the beauty of the sets, locations and Lollobrigida.

****** Come September (8/8/61) Robert Mulligan ~ Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee