Summertree
Encyclopedia
Summertree is a 1971
film directed by Anthony Newley
. The screenplay was written by Edward Hume
and Stephen Yafa, based on the 1967 play of the same name by Ron Cowen
.
) returns to his parents Herb (Jack Warden
) and Ruth (Barbara Bel Geddes
) to let them know that he has dropped out of university to find himself. His parents are worried not only because they've wasted expensive tuition on Jerry, but the Vietnam War
is raging and Jerry has lost his draft deferral
. Jerry has plans to enter a Conservatorium of Music as he is confident in his self taught guitar playing.
Inspired by a television advertisement, Jerry becomes a Big Brother
to a black child named Marvis. When Jerry is slightly injured in a fall, they visit a hospital where Jerry meets a nurse named Vanetta (Brenda Vaccaro
). They soon fall in love despite Vanetta being older than Jerry and begin living with each other.
Jerry accidentally discovers an autographed photo of Vanetta declaring her love to a man named Tony (Bill Vint). Vanetta explains that Tony is her husband and they separated two years ago but are not divorced. Tony pops in for a visit wearing his Marine uniform with Vietnam decorations. Tony tells Jerry that Vanetta promised to wait for him with Jerry leaving for Vanetta and Tony to clear their personal issues.
Jerry's streak of luck continues when Marvis's brother is killed in Vietnam with Marvis taking his anger out on Jerry ending his relationship. Despite an impressive performance at his audition for the Conservatorium he is rejected for entry because he has had no formal musical education. Three times lucky, Herb visits Jerry to bring him his draft notice.
Jerry buys an old Ford Fairlane
and intends on going to Canada. After a family argument his father agrees with Jerry but urges him to have his car inspected at the local gas station for safety prior to his departure. On the day he is supposed to take his induction physical Herb buys Jerry a set of new tyres. When Jerry looks at some road maps he overhears Herb attempting to bribe the petrol station attendant to fix Jerry's car so it can not run for a few days.
Lucky Jerry bursts into tears and drives his old heap out of the petrol station into another junk car being towed by a tow truck
.
The final scene is in Herb and Ruth's bedroom where the television news of Vietnam shows a dying Jerry being carried away.
. His father Kirk Douglas
bought the rights to the play and filmed it with his son in the lead he lost.
The title refers to a tree house
that Jerry returns to sit in.
During the low budget production, Brenda Vaccaro and Michael Douglas initially shared the same trailer, then began a six year relationship.
of The New York Times
did not care for the film:
1971 in film
The year 1971 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music...
film directed by Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
. The screenplay was written by Edward Hume
Edward Hume
Edward Hume is an American film and television writer, best known for creating and developing several TV series in the 1970s, and for writing the 1983 TV movie The Day After.-TV series:...
and Stephen Yafa, based on the 1967 play of the same name by Ron Cowen
Ron Cowen
Ron Cowen is a writer and producer.-As a writer:* Queer as Folk TV Series * Sisters TV Series* The Love She Sought * An Early Frost * Paul's Case...
.
Plot
In 1970 twenty year old Jerry (Michael DouglasMichael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
) returns to his parents Herb (Jack Warden
Jack Warden
Jack Warden was an American character actor.-Early life:Warden was born John Warden Lebzelter in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Laura M. and John Warden Lebzelter, who was an engineer and technician. He was of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry...
) and Ruth (Barbara Bel Geddes
Barbara Bel Geddes
Barbara Bel Geddes was an American actress, artist and children's author. She is best known for her role in the television drama series Dallas as matriarch Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Ewing. Bel Geddes also starred in the original Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in the role of Maggie...
) to let them know that he has dropped out of university to find himself. His parents are worried not only because they've wasted expensive tuition on Jerry, but the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
is raging and Jerry has lost his draft deferral
Conscription in the United States
Conscription in the United States has been employed several times, usually during war but also during the nominal peace of the Cold War...
. Jerry has plans to enter a Conservatorium of Music as he is confident in his self taught guitar playing.
Inspired by a television advertisement, Jerry becomes a Big Brother
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501 non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth....
to a black child named Marvis. When Jerry is slightly injured in a fall, they visit a hospital where Jerry meets a nurse named Vanetta (Brenda Vaccaro
Brenda Vaccaro
Brenda Buell Vaccaro is an American stage, television and film actress.-Early life:Vaccaro was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian American parents Christine M. and Mario A. Vaccaro , both of whom were pioneers in Italian cuisine...
). They soon fall in love despite Vanetta being older than Jerry and begin living with each other.
Jerry accidentally discovers an autographed photo of Vanetta declaring her love to a man named Tony (Bill Vint). Vanetta explains that Tony is her husband and they separated two years ago but are not divorced. Tony pops in for a visit wearing his Marine uniform with Vietnam decorations. Tony tells Jerry that Vanetta promised to wait for him with Jerry leaving for Vanetta and Tony to clear their personal issues.
Jerry's streak of luck continues when Marvis's brother is killed in Vietnam with Marvis taking his anger out on Jerry ending his relationship. Despite an impressive performance at his audition for the Conservatorium he is rejected for entry because he has had no formal musical education. Three times lucky, Herb visits Jerry to bring him his draft notice.
Jerry buys an old Ford Fairlane
Ford Fairlane
- Automobiles :* Ford Fairlane , a car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company between 1955 and 1970* Ford Fairlane , a car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1959 and 2007- See also :...
and intends on going to Canada. After a family argument his father agrees with Jerry but urges him to have his car inspected at the local gas station for safety prior to his departure. On the day he is supposed to take his induction physical Herb buys Jerry a set of new tyres. When Jerry looks at some road maps he overhears Herb attempting to bribe the petrol station attendant to fix Jerry's car so it can not run for a few days.
Lucky Jerry bursts into tears and drives his old heap out of the petrol station into another junk car being towed by a tow truck
Tow truck
A tow truck is a vehicle used to transport motor vehicles to another location , or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface.Towing services are generally provided by an emergency road service operator...
.
The final scene is in Herb and Ruth's bedroom where the television news of Vietnam shows a dying Jerry being carried away.
Production
Michael Douglas had been cast in the original play on Broadway but was fired from his role and replaced with David BirneyDavid Birney
David Edwin Birney is an American actor/director whose career has performances in both contemporary and classical roles in theatre, film and television. He has three children, a daughter Kate, and twins, Peter and Mollie....
. His father Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
bought the rights to the play and filmed it with his son in the lead he lost.
The title refers to a tree house
Tree house
Tree houses, treehouses, or tree forts, are platforms or buildings constructed around, next to or among the trunk or branches of one or more mature trees while above ground level...
that Jerry returns to sit in.
During the low budget production, Brenda Vaccaro and Michael Douglas initially shared the same trailer, then began a six year relationship.
Principal cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Douglas Michael Douglas Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the... |
Jerry |
| Jack Warden Jack Warden Jack Warden was an American character actor.-Early life:Warden was born John Warden Lebzelter in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Laura M. and John Warden Lebzelter, who was an engineer and technician. He was of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry... |
Herb |
| Rob Reiner Rob Reiner Robert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s... |
Don |
| Brenda Vaccaro Brenda Vaccaro Brenda Buell Vaccaro is an American stage, television and film actress.-Early life:Vaccaro was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian American parents Christine M. and Mario A. Vaccaro , both of whom were pioneers in Italian cuisine... |
Vanetta |
| Barbara Bel Geddes Barbara Bel Geddes Barbara Bel Geddes was an American actress, artist and children's author. She is best known for her role in the television drama series Dallas as matriarch Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Ewing. Bel Geddes also starred in the original Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in the role of Maggie... |
Ruth |
Critical reception
Roger GreenspunRoger Greenspun
Roger Greenspun was an American journalist and noted film critic. He is best known for his work with The New York Times in which he reviewed near 400 films, particularly in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and for Penthouse in which he was a columnist throughout much of the late 1970s and 1980s...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
did not care for the film: