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Passionate Summer
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Wikipedia article
'Passionate Summer' is a 1958 British drama film directed by Rudolph Cartier and starring Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers and Yvonne Mitchell.[http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/45942 "Passionate Summer (1958)"] , BFI. It is also known by the alternative title 'Storm Over Jamaica'. It was based on a best-selling 1949 novel by Richard Mason called 'The Shadow and the Peak'.
Premise
A British schoolteacher moves to Jamaica to teach after a tumultuous divorce, and meets an exciting new woman.
Cast
* Virginia McKenna - Judy Waring
* Bill Travers - Douglas Lockwood
* Yvonne Mitchell - Mrs Pawley
* Alexander Knox - Leonard Pawley
* Carl Mhner - Louis
* Gordon Heath - Coroner
* Guy Middleton - Duffield
* Pearl Prescod - Mrs Morgan
* Ellen Barrie - Sylvia
Production
The film was based on Richard Mason's novel 'The Shadow and the Peak' which was published in 1949.New Novels
Hale, Lionel. The Observer (1901- 2003); London (UK) [London (UK)]23 Oct 1949: 7. It was Mason's second novel, following 'The Wind Cannot Read', which the Rank Organisation had filmed with Dirk Bogarde. The 'New York Times' called 'The Shadow and the Peake' "diverting, it is humorous, it contains the necessary serious undertones."Among the New Novels: Miracle & Aftermath Queen's Gambit Lion-Killer Jamaica Ginger Mother Knows Best
New York Times 26 Feb 1950: BR18.
In March 1950 it was announced that Alec Guniness was weighing up whether to appear in 'The Mudlark' at 20th Century Fox or 'The Shadow and the Peak' from J. Arthur Rank.KINGSLEY TO DIRECT 'DARKNESS AT NOON': Playwright Has Finished Half of Koestler Dramatization, Due Early Next Season New "Tobacco Road" Version
By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 6 Mar 1950: 27. Robert Hamer was to write and direct.LONDON - PARIS - HOLLYWOOD
Morgan, J; Koval, Francis; Leonard, Harold. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 19, Iss. 4, (Jun 1, 1950): 152.
Guinness elected to make 'The Mudlark' and there were reportedly issues getting the script approved by the censor. In December 1951 Hamer said producer Michael Truman would be going to the US in January to negotiate changes to the script with the Breen Office (the US censor).SCREEN SCENE ON THE THAMES: Maugham Mellows Toward Movies--Full SlateAt Ealing--Addenda Boom Fast Work Pot-Pourri
By STEPHEN WATTS. New York Times 23 Dec 1951: X5. Hamer was to make the movie for Ealing and he wanted to star Vivien Leigh. Michael Balon reportedly gave his approval, then changed his mind, worried about the film's erotic content. This led to Hamer leaving Ealing.The long shadow: Robert Hamer after Ealing
Kemp, Philip. Film Comment; New York Vol. 31, Iss. 3, (May 1995): 70.
In December 1957 it was reported that film rights were owned by Kenneth Harper, who had offered the lead to Van Johnson, who had just made 'Action of the Tiger' with Harper.De Toth Sets Star Musical: 'Best Dancer' May Get Oscar; Scripts Pile Up for Johnson
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 9 Dec 1957: C13.
In March 1958 it was announced the film would be made in Jamaica and at Pinewood Studios under the title of 'Passionate Summer' starring Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers and Yvonne Mitchell. McKenna was coming off two large hits, 'A Town Like Alice' and 'Carve Her Name with Pride'. Stars Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers had married in real life in 1957. Filming began shortly after production had started on another Mason adaptation, 'The Wind Cannot Read'.CURRENT ACTION ON BRITISH SCREEN FRONTS: British Lion's New Blood -- Wartime Heroine's Biography -- Other Items
By STEPHEN WATTSLONDON. New York Times 23 Mar 1958: X5.
Director Rudolph Cartier was under contract to the BBC but was released to Rank to make the film.GOSSIP
Filmer, Fay. Picture Show; London Vol. 70, Iss. 1830, (Apr 26, 1958): 3-4.
Reception
'Variety' said It "will do nothing for the reputation of the British film industry".[https://archive.org/details/variety212-1958-10/page/n5/mode/1up?q=%22joan+henry%22 Review of film] at Variety
The 'Monthly Film Bulletin' said "any forebodings roused by the story outline of this film are thorough fulfilled."PASSIONATE SUMMER
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 25, Iss. 288, (Jan 1, 1958): 144.
In the US, 'Passionate Summer' was the name given to a French film starring Raf Vallone that came out in 1957. So the film was retitled in America as 'Storm Over Jamaica'.
Box Office
The film was a box office failure. Travers later said that because of this he and McKenna became "less than favourites with the Rank Organisation".References
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