I was the production sound mixer on this film and have some wonderful memories,stories and photos to go with the experience.Mr Fonda was an actor's actor,a true gentleman and master of the craft.Ms Loy was as charming and as beautiful in her seventies as she was in any of the films of her youth.They had never worked together until this film and that was one of the reasons they did it,to have that opportunity. Steven and Lindsey were also a joy to work with.It was a great casting job,with two young actors that matched their elder counterparts. Sad to say I think we will probably not see a DVD release since it's so short and no one knows what sales would be like. Hope I'm wrong.I'd love to own a copy. Never know.
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viorillo-13 March 2006
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JLRMovieReviews10 September 2010Henry Fonda and Myrna Loy star in this made for TV short film, whose history of how it came about you can read on other reviews. I did read them, which I usually don't. I don't have much to add, except for a few things. Fonda and Loy play a married couple who make a day trip to the beach on Cape Cod and look back on their life together.
I went into this not knowing what to expect, but I had hoped on 50 minutes of Fonda and Loy, like in a one-act play. But instead I get Stephen Collins and Lindsay Crouse as them in flashbacks. I might appreciate it more the second time around now that I know what to expect, but the presence of such great actors as Henry Fonda and Myrna Loy in their last years of their lives seems to command the respect and attention of the viewer even from the beginning, Miss Loy being ever the graceful lady and Fonda seeming to have been through it all. (He died soon after this, but not before winning an Oscar for his last theatrical movie, On Golden Pond, accepted on his behalf by his daughter Jane Fonda.)
If you get the chance to see Summer Solstice, it's a chance to see true legends working together for the first time. It's an experience you're not likely to forget. -
bkoganbing13 February 2021A pair of Hollywood legends got together to do this film in what would turn out to be their last timeout. This was Henry Fonda's last role and Myrna Loy's lst film role. She did guest star role on Tony Randall's show Love Sidney a few years later and hung it up after that.
Lots of similarities to this and Fonda's On Golden Pond where he and Katharine Hepburn won Oscars. Both involve aged couples in a setting involving water.
On Golden Pond is just that on a favorite lake where the two spent much time. Summer Solstice has the aged Fonda and Loy at the Cape Cod sea shore where they met and it seems that all the significant moments of their lives are spent at Cape Cod. Playing earlier versions of the stars are Stephen Collins and Lindsay Crouse and the two do very well as younger versions of Fonda and Loy.
Summer Solstice has a much sadder tone than On Golden Pond. Still it is a life and love affirming movie about two people so right for each other and how they make it through lfe together. -
richardmonse1 April 2006this is one of the most powerful depiction of two people in love for a quote of, until death do us part. more touching than i could ever imagine. for many years i have waited for a production to be released to the public. a must to see for all couples readying to take their vows or have taken them. at my age i don't remember everything, but i still remember this movie like it was yesterday.it's at the beach, when i look out over the water and i see the movie playing, that my love for my best friend grows stronger. the hard times and the good times are so well portrayed in this movie, that i use some of the lessons learned in my
life today. this movie shows that life may be at times very tormenting, but the love and union of two people can be stronger than any hurdle put before two people that sanction as one. i do hope this movie will be on the market soon, for our new generations to see. -
dpuopolo6 November 2004This was a made for TV movie produced by WCVB-TV, Boston, MA. The movie was the end result of a viewer's script that won a script contest conducted by WCVB. It was shot on Cape Cod.
They got Henry Fonda because he had just finished shooting: "On Golden Pond" in New Hampshire. He literally was already in the area.
Ironically, this wound up being his last film (and Myrna Loy's too).
Some dismiss it as a "TV Movie". I don't! I believe that it is as good as any theatrical release. You must remember that since WCVB produced it, it was going to air on their station first. -
HotToastyRag28 August 2023The same year as On Golden Pond, but filmed and released afterwards, Henry Fonda made a very similar television drama called Summer Solstice. It's about an elderly couple reflecting on all their decades of marriage as they spend one last summer by the water. Sound familiar? The movie even starts with a cinematic shot of ripples during the golden sunset.
Alright, it's a shameless rip-off. But if you like to grab for your handkerchiefs when old timers grace the screen for the last time, you probably eat up every one of these movies. This is both Henry Fonda and Myrna Loy's final movie, and it is incredibly sad - even though they split their screen time with their younger counterparts. About half the movie is full of flashbacks during their meeting, courtship, and early marriage. Stephen Collins and Lindsay Crouse play the young couple, and if this was a full-length film, it would have been full of far more opportunities for tragic moments. Instead, this is like a Cliffs-Notes version, with little memories they get to share with the audience.
There is an interesting, poignant line nestled into this tv drama. Henry Fonda remarks about the difference between having a son and a daughter. With a son, he says, a father has to be honest about himself. A daughter puts him up on a pedestal so high, he can stay dishonest about himself and forget about his flaws. If you're in the mood to cry, you definitely will. The ending in particular is extremely sad - no spoilers here - and Henry Fonda's performance will reduce the hardest hearts to mush. It's not as polished as On Golden Pond, but it certainly tugs on your heartstrings. -
Roxanne4444420 January 2003Though exaggerated in some instances for dramatic effect, this film encompasses many of the phenomena that middle class Americans experience through out their life cycle. It is somewhat fantastic, however, the basic reality is inescapable.
I found the assorted vignettes drove my emotions across the continuum from utter hilarity to absolute despair. No other movie has given me such an emotional roller coaster ride.
This movie is truly a sleeper and it's a shame that more people have not had the pleasure of experiencing it. -
thatjimguy-585-49717317 November 2009This was a fantastic movie. Period. I grew up very close to Cape Cod and can definitely sympathize with the characters and their beliefs/attitudes. I won't spoil this with parts I liked best, but I have to say that the back and forth through time was sadly enjoyable. To put a human's face on this great land and the traditions and future expectations of its inhabitants was just amazing. This is not just another sappy love story, it is much more than that. It is a story about change, about old vs. young, about the things in life that really matter. It reminds us that older people were once young, vibrant, and full of life, and as such, should always be treated with respect. I'm a man, but was not afraid to cry at the end of this movie. Very very few movies evoke emotion to this scale in me, and this is definitely one of them. I highly recommend this movie, especially for those who live on or near Cape Cod or any seashore for that matter :-)
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patrickvincent3 January 2010What a joy to see Myrna Loy and Henry Fonda together. The story is touching, and for a TV movie of the time it holds up. Collins and Crouse are appealing, although it is hard to imagine that they are actually younger versions of Fonda and Loy. As soon as the movie starts it is clear that Fonda and Loy's dialogue is going to be.. How shall I put it? Precious. At times it's as if they are topping each other with one cliché after another.. utterly unbelievable, over-written dialogue, but to their credit Fonda and Loy remain engaging and lovable and dignified. I think if one watches this in the spirit of TV movies of the time (early 80's) it actually is probably better than most. Comparisons to "On Golden Pond" are likely to be made, with Fonda practically the same age, and I must confess I find "On Golden Pond" a corny guilty pleasure. Myrna Loy has an amazing beauty without trying to glamorize or look younger and she is great to watch.
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mobrien714718 September 2005I agree with the other commentators that this film is a rare, unseen gem. It was, I believe, the final film for both Mr. Fonda and Ms. Loy. It was, indeed produced by WCVB-TV in Boston as the result of a script competition. It was filmed in the Cape cod National Seashore in Truro, MA at Ballston Beach. I was vacationing there @ the time and was able to observe some of the shoot. I did not know that Loy&Fonda were involved and did not see any of the principal players. If I had known at the time that those two legends were there, WOW, that would have been great to see! I'd love to see it again. I highly recommend it. Though locally produced, it was well done. At that time, the then owners of WCVB were really into locally produced pieces.
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a_rarden12 June 2004I was house sitting for my aunt and uncle when I saw this movie on one of those HBO stations and I fell in love with it. I had missed the title and couldn't wait to get home to the internet and order it. But according to IMDb.com it's not for sale on DVD or tape. I'm very disappointed because I loved this movie so much.
Henry Fonda was one of the very best actors of his time and was until the very end...this movie shows it. The quality of the movie was excellent; the story was great, the actors chosen for their roles were fantastic, and the quality of the picture reminds me so much one of my other Henry Fonda favorites, On Golden Pond.
I was also disappointed to visit this webpage and only find one comment; It's a horrible thought to think that not many have seen this movie. It's a great movie that should be seen by everyone, and I truly hope that it will soon be released on tape or DVD so that the children and other generations of the future can enjoy it as much as I have. -
Bobubas30 March 2014Being a huge fan of Myrna Loy's I was so happy to be able to watch this movie. It has never been released on DVD, and a rare VHS tape of it goes for over $70.00 on Amazon. I was very happy to acquire it on DVD from a collector of RARA movies.
This was the last film Ms. Loy ever made and coincidentally it was also Henry Fonda's last movie. Entertaining throughout, it was a wonderful treat to see these two "HOLLYWOOD STARS" interact and work together in the twilight of their careers.
The story itself flashes between the present day and the past when Henry Fonda's character began "courting Ms. Loy's character. I don't want to spoil the plot line for anyone, so I will just say it is a must see movie for fans of either or both of these Hollywood legends. -
I give this movie a "9" because I think there are a number of ways it could have been edited better, but perhaps this is a function of its being a Made for TV (HBO?) movie. It is CERTAINLY a movie worth viewing, and I do wish "On Golden Pond" had not upstaged "Summer Solstice" to the extent that it did!
My husband hates "chick flicks," and normally I do, too. But he begged me to watch this after he'd seen it late one night, and even on second viewing it brought him to tears. We'd been married only 5 years in 1981, and he said made him think of the kind of deep, long-term relationship he'd like to look back on in our own sunset years - Which we have now reached.
The movie showed giddy romance, tragedy, betrayal, growth, and final deep commitment.
I did love this movie. I can't think of a more expressive line I've ever heard in a movie anywhere than Henry Fonda to the cop, referring to the dying Myrna Loy, "She's leaving me now. Please let us alone." When I was in school becoming certified as a librarian, I had to create a website. That original site is gone, but I have recreated it here:
http://kam1953f.tripod.com/quietude/index.html
(Please copy and paste the URL into your browser - It seems I am unable to create a hyperlink on IMDb.)
Here I give tribute to a fine movie, as "A Reverie...The Beauty of a Lifelong Love." Please take the time to click on the picture and visit the Summer Solstice page. (Full permissions were obtained.) -
vjelster7 January 2005I saw this on TV when it was first shown. I loved it. I saw On Golden Pond afterward, and I remembered Summer Solstice. I thought On Golden Pond was an imitation, as they seemed very similar to me. Summer Solstice is better, in my opinion. Like others, I wish I could buy it, or at least see it again. I wonder why it hasn't been shown again--perhaps since it is so much like On Golden Pond, there is some kind of ban on it throughout the industry. Or since it was made for TV, and On Golden Pond was in movie theaters, Summer Solstice isn't considered as worthy. This is definitely a shame. Is there a way we can influence the industry to show it, or make it available on tape or DVD?
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mark.waltz14 September 2021Like Katharine Hepburn in the sane year's "On Golden Pond", this was the only pairing of Henry Fonda with the equally legendary Myrna Loy. They had obviously crossed paths in the golden age of Hollywood but being at different studios under contract had prevented them from working together, and the studio heads never got around to promoting and negotiating a teaming.
The story of this long married couple is simple and very close to "On Golden Pond". It is the twilight of their relationship, both now nearing 80 and surviving the death of a child and surviving an affair has only made them stronger. Much of the footage is through flashback with the very good Stephen Collins and Lindsay Crouse portraying them in their younger adult days. They discuss how they made it through all of their crisis and it is apparent that something sad is about to happen.
On the shores of Cape Cod, the strengths of their strong love are revealed from where they met to where one exits, and the profound music will have you sobbing from the very beginning. Fonda is completely different from Norman Thayer, perhaps closer to Tom Joad. Loy is witty, kind, devoted and strong, once again the perfect wife. For classic movie fans, it's a combination of 100 years of movie, TV and stage moments that come together in just 50 minutes. It won't be difficult to see an elderly Nick and Nora Charles going through the same predicament, all the more touching considering that William Powell passed away around this time, and Fonda after receiving Oscar glory, would soon follow. -
I saw this movie when it originally aired in 1981 and found it to be one of the most touching and powerful stories I have ever seen. I can't believe that it has been neglected all these years and is not even available to be viewed on tape or DVD. I believe it was the last movie that Henry Fonda ever made (at least for TV). That fact alone should have been a reason to make it more available. I only hope that the film will shown in the future. I, myself, would buy it in a heartbeat! Why is it that some films that have absolutely no socially redeeming value seem to be available on every format and can be purchased or rented with endless possibilities and yet a film like this one has to be sought out through "rare" venues. I don't get it.
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onthebryteside14 August 2021I have searched for this film for years, having watched it at least 20 years ago. I couldn't remember the title or the actors, so no luck. On a whim, I searched names: Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Henry Fonda. I found it. I would love to own a copy of it, but not for $70. I thought it was a beautiful story. At 68 with 52 years of marriage, I would love to watch it again. So pleased with finding these comments.
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Grifon14 September 2005I am so happy to hear all of your wonderful comments! I MUST FIND A COPY OF SUMMER SOLSTICE! My father was the stylist for this movie and many others. He is almost 80 yrs old now and recently retired from hair styling. His career was full of movie stars, local Boston celebrities, presidents wives and rock stars. I am going through boxes full of old scripts, photos he took on movie sets, newspaper clippings etc and I really want to put a scrapbook together to be passed on to the next generations. To complete that, I am buying DVDs of the movies and TV shows he worked on. Does anyone know how I can obtain a copy of Summer Solstice? If you do, I have a funny story about Henry Fonda and my dad to tell!
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CaptPeacock11 September 2004This one of my favorite Henry Fonda movies. Myrna Loy is excellent in this one. I think this is the only time these two great stars worked together.
If this is so, it's a shame. They were very good in this. I got the feeling while watching that there wasn't much acting here. Usually, this is bad. But, not here. This was a very natural performance.
I was lucky enough to catch in on HBO. And very lucky to have recorded it on DVD!
I don't think this will ever see release on DVD. Which is a shame. This is some of the best work either Myrna Loy or Henry Fonda ever did. I'm surprise it was on HBO at all. I suspect it was used as filler.
But, what a great way to spend an hour! -
Michael_Elliott9 March 2010Summer Solstice (1981)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Henry Fonda and Myrna Loy made their final film appearance in this made-for-TV drama about a couple looking back on the fifty-years they've been together. The elderly couple sit on their favorite beach as they look back on the highs and lows of their life together. This movie was released the same year as Fonda's Oscar-winning turn in ON GOLDEN POND and I'm sure that's part of the reason why this film has pretty much been forgotten over the past few years. It also doesn't help that this film just isn't as good as one would hope. I don't think anyone could expect this to come anywhere near ON GOLDEN POND but even on its own this film doesn't have enough to keep it going. Seeing Fonda and Loy together is the main reason to watch this as both deliver fine performances and they appear to enjoy working together. Both of them perfectly fit into their roles and are the sole reason to search for this film. Stephen Collins and Lindsay Crouse play the younger versions and neither come off too well since they're trying too hard to "act" like Fonda and Loy. I think it's always hard when you ask actors to try and act like the younger version of another actor and sadly neither Collins or Crouse can pull it off here. The biggest problem with the film is the screenplay that is so hit and miss but I'm sure a lot of this is due to them having to cram so much into a 50-minute running time. We never really get to know either one of the characters and we see these short clips of their lives yet it's hard to really have any strong connection to either of them. Then there's the ending, which I won't ruin, but it come off a little too weird, which certainly wasn't the plan. I found Fonda very effective in the scene but it just didn't play well. Again, fans of Fonda and Loy will want to check this out since it was their final film but others should check out some of their better work.