That Certain Summer

That Certain Summer (1972)

The first US teleplay to deal sympathetically with homosexuality. Divorced San Francisco contractor Doug Salter is looking forward to a summer visit from his fourteen-year-old son Nick, who lives in Los Angeles with his mother Janet. The boy does not know that his father is gay and committed to Gary McClain, his life partner of several years.

Date of release
1972-11-01
TMDB
6.6 / 10 (17)
Runtime
1h 13m
Genres
TV Movie, Drama
Director
Lamont Johnson

Casting

Interesting facts

That Certain Summer is a 1972 American made-for-television drama film directed by Lamont Johnson. The teleplay by Richard Levinson and William Link was considered the first sympathetic depiction of gay people on American television.

Production notes

Hal Holbrook said he turned down the role when it initially was offered to him. "I wasn't worried about whether the character was a gay person or not; the reason I turned it down, frankly, is I read the script and I didn't think much happened in it. I just thought it was kind of tame." After discussing the script with Carol Rossen, his second wife, he changed his mind and accepted the role.

In a 2007 interview with the Dallas Voice, Martin Sheen reminisced, "I thought it was wonderful. There was a great deal of freedom in it because it wasn't about advocating a lifestyle or a sexuality. It was about two people who adored each other, and they weren't allowed to have a relationship that involved their sexuality." When asked if at the time he was concerned the role could affect his career, he responded, "I'd robbed banks and kidnapped…

Doug's coming out speech to Nick was criticized by gay activists who objected to the father telling his son "some people think that it's [homosexuality] a sickness" and "if I had a choice, it isn't something I'd pick for myself." According to writer Richard Levinson, ABC insisted those lines be inserted. He said ABC felt that the film was taking a pro–homosexual stand and the opposing view had to be aired.

In an interview with the Television Academy foundation, writer William Link said they first took the project to NBC, but they said "we wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole, get out of here." When they took their script to Barry Diller, who created the ABC Movie of the Week, he said yes, but he had to "fight his own network to get it on." Link also reported that they could not get actors to play that part [Doug Salter], and when Cliff Robertso…

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