Product Details

• Actors: James Earl Jones, Jake LeDoux, Brendan Fletcher, Wendy Crewson, Jonathan Kroeker
• Directors: Helen Shaver
• Writers: Grant Scharbo, Jim Thompson
• Producers: Connie Tavel, Frank Siracusa, Gina Matthews, Patrick Whitley
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Showtime Ent.
• VHS Release Date: April 18, 2000
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1929732325
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,244 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This coming-of-age story will appeal to anyone seeking family entertainment that deals with issues and values. Jamie and his older brother, Hunter, are recovering from the death of their father, so their mother brings them to their cottage at the lake even though she must commute to work in nearby Atlanta. Left alone, the boys demonstrate strong brotherly bonds, but these begin to strain when a black doctor buys a cottage nearby and befriends Jamie, until the racist element in the town, including Hunter's best friends, campaign to drive him out. Jamie must choose between the brother he loves and the new friend he sees being persecuted, while Hunter must choose between keeping his friends despite their vile actions and the moral behavior of the brother who is the person that matters to him the most.

This Showtime production is directed by actress Helen Shaver, who has worked for directors such as Martin Scorcese and Sam Peckinpah, and her deft use of camera and editing never obscures the actor's concern for motivation and emotional truth. The film is serious and character based, built on small details such as turns in conversations and body language. James Earl Jones provides yet another majestic performance, filling the screen, and carrying along talented young performers Jake LeDoux and Brendan Fletcher. The climax is ennobling and stirring, and communicates the overall theme so richly intoned in his fabulous "Darth Vader" voice, "about the feeling you get when you do something right." --Lloyd Chesley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story... great acting, March 2, 2002

By 

Kenneth G. Pittman (Johnson City, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Summer's End [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The tale of Summer's End is about a black man, Dr. William Blakely, who returns to live in the town where his father was killed by whites when he was a young boy. The other main character is Jaime, a young boy who strikes up a friendship with Dr. Blakely and is the central "coming of age" figure. Also key to the plot are Jaime's older brother Hunter, his mother, and his brother's friend Lad. Lad is a young man brought up to belive what much of the town 'believes' (although only a small handful of Lad's family displays)- blacks are bad and shouldn't be in the town. It turns into a story of relationships as Lad and his grandfather (mainly) try to run Dr. Blakely out of town. It keeps your attention the entire time.

The acting in the movie is pretty incredible for a TV movie. James Earl Jones was the perfect casting for Dr. Blakely. Wendy Crewson plays Jaime's mother very well. The only acting I wasn't all that fond of was Brenden Fletcher, who played Hunter. What really stands out though is the acting of Jake LeDoux, who plays Jaime- you have to see it for yourself, but I don't understand why he hasn't landed bigger roles. Similar to Haley Joel Osment- wonderful at displaying a wide range of emotions.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not an End but a beginning, July 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Summer's End [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As an English teacher, I am always looking for companion films for novels I read in my classes. Summer's End is the perfect companion for Montana 1948 by Larry Watson. Both the film and the movie beautifully portray what happens when the youngest in a family discovers a "truth" about another member of the family. Both deal with several issues such as racism, family loyalty, and justice in a way that is both fair to the topic and engaging for my students. Both of these titles have been well received by students. I highly recommend both the film Summer's End and the novel Montana 1948.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING!, January 20, 2005

By 

Cowman "Mike" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Summer's End (DVD)

A must see movie James Earl Jones was great. Jake Ledoux did a good job,But I didn't see the wide range of emotions the other viewer saw.A GREAT MOVIE!