Summertree

Summertree (1971)

All-American boy Jerry is drafted to serve in the Vietnam War just as things begin to go well for him. His decision to flee to Canada sparks off conflict with his parents, ending in the film's tragic conclusion.

Date of release
1971-06-06
TMDB
6.2 / 10 (5)
Runtime
1h 28m
Genres
Drama
Director
Anthony Newley

Casting

Interesting facts

Summertree is a 1971 American drama film directed by Anthony Newley, about a young man who drops out of university, falls in love with an older married woman, and contemplates dodging the draft to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. The screenplay was written by Edward Hume and Stephen Yafa, based on the 1967 play of the same name by Ron Cowen.

Production

Michael Douglas had been cast in the original play on Broadway but was fired from his role and replaced with David Birney. His father Kirk Douglas bought the rights to the play and filmed it with his son in the lead he lost.

The title refers to a tree house that Jerry returns to sit in. The original play by Ron Cowen went by "Summer Tree" until director Lloyd Richards suggested the change.

During the low-budget production, Brenda Vaccaro and Michael Douglas initially shared the same trailer, then began a six-year relationship.

She guest starred twice with him in The Streets of San Francisco, playing a rookie cop in season 1, episode 15, and a hit-woman in season 3, episode 2, during that time.

Read on Wikipedia · Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Data from Wikidata.

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