Summer Holiday

The play on which it was based was a piece of homey Americana and this version continues that. True Mickey Rooney sometimes overacts but he is a real personality and believable. The idea of singing some of the speeches is what's unusual and I believe it works. It sets this film apart from the rest. I always felt the bar room scene was almost a different play and it's done well especially by M. Maxwell. Have you noticed that her hat and dress changes color depending on how Mickey sees her in that scene?

A perfectly enjoyable bit of mid-era Freed Unit MGM, with many of the hallmarks of their greatest musicals. But the real surprise in this film is the extended bar room sequence in which Mickey Rooney is led astray by a wanton showgirl named "Belle," played in an extraordinarily vivid way by Marilyn Maxwell. She positively glows in her many extreme close-ups as she tries to vamp Mickey Rooney down the path of corruption. Her Technicolor costume changes color throughout the scene, reflecting Rooney's increasing drunkenness. As mentioned by other reviewers here, the number is sort of a stand-alone scene that seems rather transplanted from another film altogether...but for this viewer, it's a welcomed shot of "oomph", incongruous or not. One is left wondering why it is that Miss Maxwell is largely forgotten today and wasn't really handed any other roles that fulfilled the promise she showed in "Summer Holiday" (with the possible exception of her equally vivid showing in "The Lemon Drop Kid"). She had a long and busy career, mostly in television...yet her name rings few bells today. Could it be that a certain "Norma Jeane Baker," in largely co-opting her name, sort of pulled the rug out from under her in the process? Bottom-line: If you don't want to see the whole film, tune in about halfway through and catch an indelible star-turn by an indelible star: Marilyn Maxwell. It's her film.

Musicalization of Ah! Wilderness is okay with Mickey one of the oldest high school graduates you'll ever see. This was a huge flop upon release and coupled with Rooney's next film Words and Music, also a significant money loser, it signaled the end of his reign as a box office champ and a long slide until he reemerged as a character actor in his up and down career.

It's the supporting cast of Huston, Morgan, Selena Royale and Marilyn Maxwell that make the picture worth seeing. Agnes Moorehead, who looks great in the period costumes, is wasted in the part of Cousin Lily which has been reduced from the original.

Even though it's O'Neill's only comedy the original has touches of drama and pathos all of which have been drained from this. Still a pleasant film with gorgeous color and MGM's accustomed quality production values, the clothes in particular are beautiful, but as musicals go this is minor with no memorable songs nor dances.

If you are a fan of Mickey Rooney, or if you loved "Ah, Wilderness!" (1935 movie) and "Take Me Along" (Broadway musical version of "Ah, Wilderness!"), you will find this version of Eugene O'Neill's only comedy worth seeing.

Mickey Rooney is in both films. In "Summer Holiday," he does a good job as the older brother, but I liked him better as the little brother in the 1935 movie. Butch Jenkins plays the little brother in "Summer Holiday" (the Mickey Rooney role in the 1935 movie). Somebody must have decided the role was not cute enough, so they gave poor little Butch a lot of extra lines and cutesy costumes. Remembering Mickey's robust performance in the earlier version, I found Butch embarrassing.

The music in "Summer Holiday" is not very inspired. "Take Me Along" has better songs. I don't dislike "Summer Holiday." It just doesn't live up to my expectations of it.

With Mickey Rooney having died about a month ago, I went to the library to see if any of his films were there. I managed to find both this and Thoroughbreds Don't Cry there and checked them out. I just reviewed TDC so this is what I think of this one: It's quite good with the musical numbers and some of the atmosphere of both clean-cut small-town Americana and the more brassy charm of low-rent bars when the Rooney character goes to meet some dance hall girls and has an eye-popping' encounter with Marilyn Maxwell. Gloria DeHaven has her own wholesome charms as his girl-next-door partner. Walter Huston is fine as his wise father. And Frank Morgan is charismatic as his drunk uncle. The songs by Harry Warren and Ralph Blaine are tuneful enough. And the screenplay by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett-who also wrote my favorite movie, It's a Wonderful Life-has some nice humorous touches. Not great, but Summer Holiday was entertaining enough for me.