US (1971): Drama/Romance
A surprise success in 1971 ($20 million worth of "surprise" for Warner Bros.), this picture is a coming-of-age piece, drenched in nostalgia. Director Robert Mulligan narrates the film as the grown-up counterpart of Hermie (Gary Grimes), a teenager of the War Years who has a crush on twentyish Jennifer O'Neill. With O'Neill's soldier husband off to war, Grimes convinces himself that he can take hubby's place in every way. O'Neill is amused by Grimes' attentions (confined to doing chores and carrying her groceries), but never thinks of him in sexual terms. And then, O'Neill's husband is killed in battle.
Herman Raucher based his intensely nostalgic script on his own experience, going so far as to use the real names of past acquaintances (including the Jennifer O'Neill counterpart) as character names in his screenplay. Summer of '42 was later novelized by Raucher, then followed up on screen by the less effective Class of 44 (1973). (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)
4 nominations, 1 Award
· Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Dramatic Score) 1971: Michel Legrand
· Writing (Story and Screenplay based on factual material or material not previously published or produced) 1971: Herman Raucher
· Cinematography 1971: Robert L. Surtees
· Film Editing 1971: Folmar Blangstad