Customer Reviews

Summer Lovers (Full Screen Edition)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Summer Lovers is a fun little film about a young couple on vacation in the Greek islands. Michael (Peter Gallagher) and Cathy (Daryl Hannah) are on a Summer vacation after college graduation and his father's death, and are apparently headed for engagement and marriage. Michael encounters and is uncontrollably drawn to Lina (Valerie Quennessen), a French Archeologist working at a dig nearby.

What follows is a light but well handled exploration of the complications that ensue when passion and love collide with society's rules and expectations. What could have easily ended up as just another shallow movie sex romp actually does some justice to the theme of adults exploring new relationship territory and the power of overcoming one's barriers. Although lighter and not in the same league as "Same Time Next Year," it is still a good movie and a fun but somewhat thoughtful look at unusual relationships. It does not follow the expected Hollywood pattern, and I like that. (Can't say more without spoiling it.) I disagree that it is bubble-brained and predictable. The story isn't any sillier than the plot of Casablanca or the Wizard of Oz, just not quite the same caliber.

The story is well told, dialog is okay, and the characters are believable. The scenery is gorgeous and well photographed, and the film is much more enjoyable on DVD than it was when I first saw it on cable and on VHS. The details in the scenes and sound track are much better. I caught much more subtlety in the photography on the DVD. I loved the footage of the beautiful whitewashed Greek buildings and the ocean. There are nude beach scenes and some other nudity, but it is relevant to the time, location, and situations of the characters. This is a love story about sexy young people on vacation in the Mediterranean, after all. The sound track is late 70s to early 80s pop (Prince, Tina Turner, Pointer Sisters, etc.), but good songs that drive the story. There are no real extras on the DVD, and I would have enjoyed at least some commentary from the actors or director about the film and its theme, shooting on Santorini, etc. There was apparently a "Making of" documentary done for TV, and that would be a nice addition. Since Valerie Quennessen is dead, something extra about her would be nice. I agree that she is the most interesting in the cast. Her passing is indeed sad. (She also had a small role in Conan The Barbarian, by the way.)

I especially like one line where Hannah remarks that she had a dream where she was a mermaid. This movie was released in 1982 and Splash (with Hannah as a mermaid!) in 1984. Interesting.

This is one of those films I watch every so often to refresh my attitude and have a light but not completely meaningless escape. Hey, not every movie has to be Doctor Zhivago or Schindler's List to be good to watch. Beauty comes in many forms, and should be enjoyed.

As a life-long nudist, I was very disappointed with the DVD compared with the theatrical release that I saw in the mid 1980s. The theatrical release opened with many shots of the nude beaches, and continued this theme quite simply and unashamedly throughout the whole movie. Many nude beach scenes have been deleted altogether from the DVD and the few remaining scenes are cut drastically, in my view detracting badly from the spirit and freedom of the Greek islands at the time portrayed in the original movie.

I watched this movie 50 times while pent up in a Coast Guard Station in the North Sea duing the winter time. People from all over the island would come over and watch the daily viewing, which actually became sum what of a ritual. A few years later I traveled to Greece to visit the different places I saw in the movie and remembered so fondly. I was not at all disapointed. Greece is a beautiful country full of pleasent people full of great ruins of past cultures. I thank the director of this movie for making such a well thought out love triad done in the upmost of plesentries. I highly recommend the movie, the country, and of couse the threesomes.

This movie is in my all time top 20 that I love to watch when I am feeling blue.

An irristable movie about two college students, on summer break in Greek Isles.

Shortly after arriving on Santorini they meet gorgeous French paleontologist and a menage a trois begins.

Michael, Cathy and Lina spend their days in the sun and fun and you will wish you were with them. Just when you think you know what will happen you don't. Summer lovers has it all. From the beautiful blue Agean waters and white washed houses of Santorini,to the extrodinary scenes of the Greek ruins.

Beautiful men and woman and a menage a trois that is both happy and sad.

Some of the best music of the 80's. I have checked high and low for a copy of this CD and is has been out of production for long time. Please, If anyone knows where I could get a copy please contact me at mhaddad45@aol.com.

This is a great movie for those willing to throw caution to the wind and go for a ride. At first I was into it for the funky love-triangle. I wanted to see how it would turn out. As it progressed I found that I was paying less attention to the sexual aspects of the film and ended up lost in the eyes of Valérie Quennessen. Without a doubtm she has the most beautiful soul I've ever seen in a woman's eyes. THe instant it ended I came to IMDb to see what else she's done. Then I learned the worst. Valérie died 10 years ago. I genuinely feel a loss in my heart. I must be crazy...I must be in love.

This is a movie which,for some reason,really struck a cord with me.The film came out in August 1982,and in that Sept.I would be a Senior in High School.I had seen the MTV advertising push for the film and it really interested me.I eventually saw the film and could give or take it.For me,it was one of those films that really grew on me,and I've found out I'm not alone.Every woman I've dated has seen this film and has touched them in one way or another.I had a bad video copy of this for a long time,and actually purchased a 16mm print which was really nice,actually nicer than the DVD.When I saw the DVD for sale I immediately bought it.I was surprised at the fact it was only available in full frame,the film was shot in 2:35/1 wide screen aspect ratio,so full screen eliminates about half the image.The only extra is a trailer for the film,and the audio is only a basic Dolby surround,still the picture quality is great though.After viewing this again,it brings back a lot of memories,both of the film and the time period it was set in(early 80s,sex was still relatively easy and safe,drugs were prevalent,and Reaganomics was still in the future).I highly recommmend this movie,I only wish the DVD was better produced.

I love how this movie takes you away to a Greek Isle for a fantasy summer of fun, with a nice soundtrack and beautiful people as well. What a nice tribute this DVD is to Valerie Quennessen, who tragically died just a few years after filming "Summer Lovers." She is so gorgeous and so much fun that I can only hope she was like Lina in real life. She will always be my fantasy girl.

Ok.The plot is predictable. The acting borders on the atrocious. The dialogue is awful. But somehow I love this movie. Could be the "menage a trois" fantasy which is the center of the movie. Could be the truly beautiful Greek scenery. More likely it is the presence of one of the most beautiful and enigmatic actresses ever to grace the screen...Valerie Quennessen. This French actress, who unfortunately died in a car crash in 1989, had a simple, down to earth beauty and charisma that was truly amazing.

As for the DVD, the transfer is excellent. This movie has never looked so crisp and beautiful. The transfer is pan and scan. As for special features, there's a theatrical trailer full of nudity, which is cool. But there's nothing elese. No liner notes. No director's commentary. It would have been nice to hear the behind the scenes story on this movie. But I guess Peter Gallager and Darryll Hannah don't look at this flick as their finest hour. Still, this is a good buy. I just wish Paramount would now release, the only other Valerie Quennessen movie, "French Postcards"

Maybe this movie can be looked at as a campy film of the eighties, but it always puts me in a good mood. The scenery is lovely and makes you want to visit the island of Santorini,i love it and enjoy the way the movie does not take itself too seriously, and how it was probably a blast for the actors to make this movie that explores the beauty of personal freedom and
the joy of being uninhibited.

I am not kndding, this movie is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Beatiful women, beutiful men, beautiful places, beautiful love, beautiful music, clothes, wine, beaches, ruins, beautiful everything! It left me runnig in circles throughout the house and yard at 4 o'clock in the morning hating the world for not being able to get on a plane for Santorini right away. If you ask me, don't see the movie, just go to Greece for 2 months, you'll be infinitely more happy. And make sure you don't see the movie after you come back either, because you'll be really sorry that you didn't try to use the movie's script for a vacation plan.