The Greengage Summer
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| The Greengage Summer | |
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| Directed by | Lewis Gilbert |
| Written by | Rumer Godden (novel), Howard Koch (adaptation) |
| Starring | Kenneth More Danielle Darrieux Susannah York |
| Music by | Richard Addinsell |
| Cinematography | Freddie Young |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April 4, 1961 (UK) |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Greengage Summer (called The Loss of Innocence in the US) is a 1961 British film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Kenneth More and Susannah York (in her first leading role). It was based on the novel, Greengage Summer, by Rumer Godden. Set in Epernay, in the Champagne region of France, it is the story of the transition of a teenage girl into womanhood.
More later named it as his favourite film, stating, "She [Susannah York] was just twenty-one and an adorable creature...it was one of the happiest films on which I have ever worked."[1]
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[edit] Plot
Joss Grey (Susannah York), a sixteen-year-old English girl, finds herself responsible for the care of her three younger siblings on a summer vacation in France when their mother is taken suddenly ill and rushed to the hospital. When they go to the Hotel Oeillets, proprietress Mademoiselle Zisi (Danielle Darrieux) does not want the responsibility of unchaperoned children, but is persuaded to change her mind by her enigmatic English lover Eliot (Kenneth More). As the days pass, Mademoiselle Zisi comes to regret her decision. She becomes increasingly jealous of the attention Eliot pays to the children, especially Joss.
Meanwhile, there are signs that Eliot's murky past is a troubling one. Paul (David Saire), a hotel employee, snoops in Eliot's suitcase and finds a pistol. When Eliot catches Paul in the act, he gets Zisi to fire the young man. Hester (Jane Asher), Joss's thirteen-year-old sister, has taken a liking to Paul and pleads with Joss to persuade Eliot to reconsider. Eliot gives in to her request. Later, he becomes angry when his photograph is taken by Hester. Also, on a tour of caves where champagne is stored, he leaves hurriedly to avoid being seen by a famous guest, Monsieur Renard (Raymond Gérôme), the best policeman in France. Finally, at his insistence, Zisi has been turning away potential guests.
Tensions come to a boiling point when Zisi throws a glass of champagne in her rival's face. Eliot chases after her, telling her that Joss is just a child within the young woman's hearing. Having guessed from a newspaper article that Eliot is a notorious jewel thief, an outraged Joss mails Hester's photograph of him to the police.
Eliot has already decided to leave and sneaks out late at night, only to hear a drunk Paul trying to rape Joss. He rushes upstairs to Joss's room and punches Paul. In panic, the young man tries to climb down a drainpipe and falls to his death. Remorseful, Joss tells Eliot what she has done to endanger him. Eliot gives Joss a grownup kiss at her request, then disposes of Paul's body, and flees.
The next morning, when Renard questions the uncooperative children, their solicitor uncle Mr. Bullock (Maurice Denham), summoned by an unsigned telegram, shows up to extricate them. Renard examines the message and realizes from where it was sent that Eliot is trying to escape on a river barge.
[edit] Cast
- Kenneth More as Eliot
- Danielle Darrieux as Mademoiselle Zisi
- Susannah York as Joss Grey
- Claude Nollier as Madame Corbet, the hotel manager
- Jane Asher as Hester Grey. Asher would later become Paul McCartney's girlfriend.
- Elizabeth Dear as Vicky Grey, the youngest sister
- Richard Williams as Wilmouse Grey, the younger brother
- David Saire as Paul
- Raymond Gérôme as Police Inspector Renard
- Maurice Denham as Mr. Bullock
- André Maranne as M. Dutour
- Harold Kasket as M. Prideaux
- Jacques B. Brunius as M. Joubert
- Joy Shalton as Mrs. Grey
[edit] References
- ^ Kenneth More, More or Less, Hodder & Stoughton, 1978. ISBN 0-340-22603-X
[edit] External links
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