Product Details

• Actors: Laurence Harvey, Geraldine Page, Rita Moreno, Una Merkel, John McIntire
• Directors: Peter Glenville
• Writers: James Poe, Meade Roberts, Tennessee Williams
• Producers: Hal B. Wallis, Paul Nathan
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: January 13, 1998
• Run Time: 118 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302023777
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,426 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GERALDINE PAGE, most unappreciated..., February 14, 2002

By 

R. Gawlitta "Coolmoan" (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Summer & Smoke [VHS] (VHS Tape)

There are a lot of things you can say about this film, but foremost must be the performance of Geraldine Page, perhaps the finest female performance ever captured on film. Her use of her hands, a glance...every nuance imaginable has not been matched (a close second: Giulietta Massina). Alma is a lot more complicated than most realize, a repressed rage, hopeless love, culminating in a dependance on drugs (not brought out so much in the film); "those little white tablets...ever so merciful..." After an Oscar nomination in 1953 for "Hondo", Page was subjected to ugliness by the McCarthy nonsense, and "S&S" was only her second film. English director Peter Glenville, famous for attention to detail ("Becket"), worked with fellow Brit, Laurence Harvey (a southerner by association since he played Travis in "The Alamo"), and it was actually a fine group of talent. Tennessee Williams always thought this was his best play; he re-wrote it as "Eccenticities of a Nightingale", but the new idea, though admired, never survived. It made more reference to Alma's addiction, and also referred to all 4 women as caged birds, escaping in different directions. I applaud anyone who takes the time to soak in all the nuance that Williams has to offer, the mood and delivery of Glenville, and the unflinching perfection of Page's performance. Taking this all at once is quite overwhelming. AFTERTHOUGHT: I failed to mention the power of Jerry Goldsmith's magnificent music. Along with his score to "To Kill a Mockingbird", these films were both transcended to a place complete understanding. Oops, I meant composer Elmer Bernstein; one of his best scores. HALLELUJAH! The DVD is very fine, a great 2.35 widescreen, and terrific sound quality. Page's last 20 minutes will blow anyone away. Alas, no DVD extras.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Haunting adaptation of Williams' most poetic work, December 23, 1998

By 

A. Andersen (Bellows Falls, VT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Summer & Smoke [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This Panavision and color adaptation of Tennessee Williams' most poetic play is a showcase for both his words and Geraldine Page's Oscar-nominated performance. Spirituality vs. carnality is the theme of a spinster romantically attracted to her childhood neighbor, a wild libertine. Elmer Bernstein's score is magnificant - one of his finest and one of the finest in film history. Listen during Alma's soul-searing final monologue using images of ice and fire and listen to Bernstein's use of harp glissandos that reflect the words. This is Page's finest screen performance and along with the score and the writing are the main reasons for viewing. The prologue and main title are letterboxed - showing the fine use of wide screen. Nominations were also received for Una Merkel's supporting performance as the dotty mother, Bernstein's score and the period Art Direction. Well worth a visit.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IN THE PARK . alone ... waiting..... at night., August 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Summer & Smoke [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It's THAT final scene that always grabs ya, poor Alma, little desolate sitting there, next to that grotesque stone angel, a bit like Blanche, waiting for that Gentleman Caller, getting by with a little help from her friends, and that ODD, bittersweet conclusion.....

Underrated performances, underrated movie, pre-David Lynch territory, almost Ray Bradbury country, weird, Wonderful Tennessee Williams! Geraldine Page assaults your senses as the repressed, tightly-encorseted spinster masking a volcano of passion - just under the veil! A product of affuent early 20th century domestic repression she pines for the affection of neighborhood hunk Harvey M.D., but to no avail. He has been "taken" by a much younger rival [another devastating scene with Page and Pamela Tiffin as the "bride to be"].

There's plenty a-foot, spot-on performances by Una Merkel as the ever-eccentric mother, and Rita Moreno as the passionate, doomed Rosa BUT its those last moments with Alma [Page] and the salesman [Mr. Goodbar, Ragtime style? - Earl Holliman] in the park, alone, late at night ....that sobers!