The Greengage Summer

The Greengage Summer (1961)

A young girl's awakening in a summer of evil!

Sensitive story of a British girl's awakening from childhood into life and love on vacation in France.

Date of release
1961-05-01
TMDB
6.4 / 10 (12)
Runtime
1h 40m
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director
Lewis Gilbert

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: Shepperton Studios

The Greengage Summer is a 1961 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Kenneth More and Susannah York. It was based on the novel The Greengage Summer (1958) by Rumer Godden. Set in Épernay, in the Champagne region of France, it is the story of the transition of a teenage girl into womanhood.

Production

The film was a co-production between Victor Saville and Edward Small for United Artists. It was meant to be one of several the two made together, a never-filmed adaptation of The Mousetrap intended to be another, with the third being Legacy of a Spy. Cary Grant was the original choice for the male lead. However, the film was eventually set up at Columbia.

According to Lewis Gilbert, Victor Saville sent the script to Kenneth More before him.

More later wrote that Lewis Gilbert insisted he go on a diet before making the film in order that he might be more believable as a romantic lead. More did so as he very badly wanted to star in the movie.

Hayley Mills was originally offered a lead role. Gilbert says his wife saw Susannah York on stage in a production of The Crucible. This led to her being auditioned and she was given the role.

Filming started 29 August 1960 at Shepperton Studios.

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