Tennessee Williams' tale of sexual repression in a small Mississippi town makes it to the big screen, with enough, but not all, of its integrity intact; most notably, it glistens when it should sweat. Geraldine Page (as Alma Winemiller) is excellent as the minister's daughter who guiltily longs for rakish playboy Laurence Harvey (as John Buchanan Jr.).Ms. Page's characterization is one that unravels; its full impact realized is in a devastating last act. Mr. Harvey does well, successfully conveying the near-equal importance of his character. Page gives Harvey spiritual love, and he wants her physically; their reversal of desire is very convincingly, and thoughtfully, portrayed. Excellent supporting performances are highlighted by crazed Una Merkel (as Mother Winemiller) and lonely Earl Holliman (as Archie Kramer).If the film seems a little too staged, remember, it is Tennessee Williams; a staged atmosphere is pardonable when your fluttering heroine speaks lines like, "The wind is penetrating this afternoon." (A decade earlier, Page played the role on stage.) Elmer Bernstein's soundtrack is lovely. Music, performance, and dialogue give "Summer and Smoke" an appropriately sexually-charged atmosphere.Toss thoughts of blasphemy to the wind, and turn OFF the color (if you can), to watch "Summer and Smoke" in mood-altering grayish tones. ******** Summer and Smoke (11/16/61) Peter Glenville ~ Geraldine Page, Laurence Harvey, Una Merkel

This is based on one of Tennessee Williams lesser known plays. Apparently, the film is a pretty close adaptation of the play. Based on the film, I can see why this is lesser known than works like A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of those plays, but they are miles above Summer and Smoke.First of all, I couldn't help but feel that the two main characters were absolutely as stupid and annoying as the leads in any film I've ever seen. The character development is bad-the sudden changes in their attitudes are wholly unbelievable. Everything about the film is extremely obvious-about as subtle as a kick in the face. The whole thing reeks of senseless cynicism. Worst of all, there is enough melodrama in this one film to fill a whole day's worth of programming on the Lifetime Channel.Given what they had to work with, the performances in the film aren't that bad, I guess.

"Summer and Smoke" is another Tennessee Williams southern drama that, after debuting as a play, was made into a film and later an opera. Set earlier in the 20th Century, it's the story of repressed passion, unrequited love and desperation. Geraldine Page stars as Alma Winemiller, the uptight daughter of a minister. She teaches voice, sings a little, and lives with her father and an insane mother (Una Merkel). Alma, since childhood, has been in love with the young doctor next door, John Buchanan (Laurence Harvey), the son of a doctor and a playboy. Buchanan has recently returned to town and is still a reckless playboy. Now he's involved with Rosa Zacharias (Rita Moreno), a girl from the wrong class and the wrong side of town. On the evening that something could have happened between Alma and John, she runs from him. One night, while a wild party is going on at the Buchanan house, Alma goes next door and learns that Rosa and John are going to be married. Upset, she calls John's father (John MacIntyre) at the hospital and urges him to return home. The result is tragedy.This is a very powerful and poignant story of two people, one interested in earthly pleasures and one focused on the soul and spirit. Neither one is entirely right or wrong, but it creates a chasm between them. When each realizes what the other has been saying, it's too late for them.Geraldine Page, who played this role to great acclaim on stage, brings her magnificent portrayal to the screen. The role was based on Williams' sister, who eventually went insane. If physically Page is a little less delicate looking than one imagines Tennessee Williams' female characters, her portrayal contains all of the fragility of the role. The final scene between Alma and a salesman, played by Earl Holliman shows the shocking contrast between Alma in the beginning and at the end of the film. Geraldine Page gave us all too few gems on films, as she concentrated on the stage. We have to savor what we have.Laurence Harvey is very handsome and desirable, but probably a little too refined for the role of John. The role needs someone whose sexuality is less ethereal and more earthbound. Una Merkel is excellent as Alma's mother, a truly disturbed and frightening woman.Very good film based on a Williams play, worth seeing for the wonderful Geraldine Page and its thought-provoking story.

In my opinion, Geraldine Page was the greatest American Actress in the 20th Century. I believe that had she not spent much of her time on the New York Stage, she would have won several more Oscars, but was considered somewhat a Hollywood outsider.She should have won for Summer and Smoke, and Sweet Bird of Youth. She carried these movies by her great acting skills and hard work.All of her movies need to be on DVD. It is particularly surprising to me that Summer and Smoke has not been converted to DVD.Does anyone know if any of her Stage Plays have been captured on video, and if so, where such videos could be obtained?