Summer Magic (1963)
Mother Carey, a Bostonian widow, and her three children move to Maine. Postmaster Osh Popham helps them move into a run-down old house and fixes it up for them. It's not entirely uninhabited, though; the owner, Mr. Hamilton, is a mysterious character away in Europe, but Osh assures them he won't mind their living there, since he won't be coming home for a long time yet. The children and a cousin who comes to live with them have various adventures before an unexpected visitor shows up
- James Neilson
- Sally Benson
- Kate Douglas Wiggin
Rating: 6.6/10 by 44 users
Alternative Title:
Magia D'Estate - IT
Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 50 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0
Plot Keyword: small town, based on novel or book, widow, musical, maine
Another one to put in the 'meh' category of live-action Disney. 'Summer Magic' isn't entertaining. You have Hayley Mills (Nancy), Burl Ives (Osh) and Dorothy McGuire (Margaret) all giving alright performances but most others things in this film are very plain. The musical numbers are forgettable, as is the overall premise and supporting cast under Mills, Ives and McGuire. I have most definitely seen worse from the studio, this is still at least watchable. Going back to the plot, it just feels a bit slapped together without much thought or solid connection. The film ends quite abruptly, too. 1963, it's safe to say, wasn't Disney's strongest year for live-action. This adds to the disappointments of 'Son of Flubber', 'Miracle of the White Stallions' and 'Savage Sam'. Here's hoping 'The Incredible Journey' will conclude their releases from these twelve months on a high.
