Summer and Smoke

Summer and Smoke is based on a play by Tennessee Williams (expanded from his one-act piece "Eccentricities of the Nightingale"). from childhood, Alma (Geraldine Page) has loved John Buchanan (Laurence Harvey). Repressed by an environment ruled by a minister-father (Malcolm Atterbury) and a mother (Una Merkel) who has never recovered for a nervous breakdown, she keeps her feelings inside. Her life becomes unbearable when John returns from medical school and takes up with the sultry Rosa (Rita Moreno), the daughter of the casino owner (Thomas Gomez) who is as open and willing, as Alma is shy and repressed. Geraldine Page delivers a smoldering, stellar performance, which won her the Golden Globe and the National Board of Review Best Actress Awards. The film received 4 Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress (Page), Best Supporting Actress (Merkel), Best Music (Elmer Bernstein) and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. The wonderful cast includes John McIntire, Earl Holliman and Pamela Tiffin in her film debut. Beautifully directed by DGA nominee, Peter Glenville (Becket).