SUMMER CHILDREN Screening at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre for “AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE”
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 7:30 pm.
The 45 year delayed Los Angeles World Premiere of Summer Children, will unveil the work of Academy Award winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC. Vilmos is known for his exquisite use of natural light, and desaturated color. SUMMER CHILDREN is an example of his early work in the American New Wave movement. Fresh from his training at the Budapest Film Academy where he studied with Laszlo Kovacs, it is evident that Vilmos’ style was directly influenced by Italian Neo-Realism, New Wave, and Fellini. His creative combination of nourish lighting with intoxicating natural light on the deck of “The Mayflower”.
Academy Award Winning Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC states, “You can’t cut corners in Film Making”…referring to the importance of lighting direction and quality education for aspiring film makers. The craftsmanship and raw film making talent revealed in this early feature, supports the importance of good training in the current digital film making world.
Summer Children was produced in the summer of 1964. The black and white romantic drama is an early form in the American New Wave period. “We were free in those days, I did my own camera work”, says Vilmos as he describes his experience in freedom of expression working with Director James Bruner. “We had a shooting script but our shot list changed with the natural surroundings and the available light”. Summer Children is an example of the wave of independent films made in the 1960’s just after the major studios began to dissolve and before the Blockbusters of the 1970’s.
A time capsule of the 1960’s pop culture, music, dances, and social mores, Summer Children brings together a group of friends who are experiencing teenage angst, and conflicts in their identities. A noir-ish feel in the night segments adds to the angst of the lead character ‘West’ played by Stuart Anderson. His rugged good looks are compared to Rafaele Vallone, while the alluring and soulful lead actress ‘Diana’ is played by ’60’s beauty queen Valora Noland. The capricious and menacing ‘Frankie’ is played John Kulhanek.
Each of these actors played several roles in the popular TV series of the day including The Twilight Zone, The Virginian, Star Trek, The Man from Uncle, Bonanza, and Mannix. The role of ‘Muffy’ was played by Steve Bobbitt and ‘Candy’ was played by Sandy Gabriel. Sandy has enjoyed many years working as a popular soap opera star on “All my Children.” Once principle finished in 1964, the producer and director found distribution things went wrong.
The back story that features the passion of Jack Robinette, original Producer of the film and partner “Film Detective” and Restoration Producer Edie Robinette-Petrachi demonstrates the archival quality of the Kodak film Plus- X Film Stock that was used, and the storage of the film over 40 years in a Deluxe Laboratory Archival vault; actually several different vaults in several states and countries. During all of these years, Deluxe never lost track of the original negatives, prints, or out takes. When the cans were opened, the discovery was of pristine quality and the even the splices were in perfect condition.
The young independent film makers didn’t have much money left over after the editing to fight with the distributor and eventually the film was left in a vault with an unpaid bill for money years. After substantial research and due diligence, Edie and Jack determined that the film was free and clear and proper ownership was back under the original producer of the film. The restoration project began in 2007 when Jack and Vilmos recorded a commentary track at Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina with Edie Directing the session. Next Jack set up a home and production office in Los Angeles where he and Edie could work on the film. Next Vilmos balanced the density using a much darker tone overall bringing his unique artistry to the digital development form the original negatives.
More behind the scenes work was done and so much content was cultivated that a second project began to develop, “Light is Everything” a documentary about the early training of Vilmos Zsigmond and his life as a cinematographer. A second pass was made on the commentary track for added content and then Edie got to work editing the two versions. The result is included on the DVD and is called “Silhouettes in Shadow and Light.” A short behind the scenes featurette is added as well called “Reflections in Black and White” and is available on the DVD as well. Additionally, original pages from the 1965 shooting script were scanned and are included in the special features section as well.
SUMMER CHILDREN brings the innocence and of youth and film making in the purest independent form. Its visual storytelling, unusual beauty, and youthful energy are an inspiration to film connoisseurs and young filmmakers alike.
SUMMER CHILDREN will be screening on Tuesday, May 10 at 7:30, at the American Cinemathque, at Grauman’s Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. For more information on the reviews, upcoming screenings, film events, back stories, trailers, and links to purchase t-shirts, signed posters, DVDs and more visit http://summerchildren.com/wordpress/
