Come September (1961)

The first impression is a romantic comedy melded to a slapstick comedy which starts out showing off Italy at its best and ends up showing Gina Lollabrigida in marvelous couture.Her tight ensemble cast features leads by Rock Hudson, Bobby Darrin and Sandra Dee supported by Walter Slezak, Joel Grey and Brenda de Banzie, star turns by all. The photography and editing are lush but the shortcomings of 1960's color filming blare with starker color contrasts than we are accustomed to today and less dimension in the panoramic views than we are accustomed to today. The screwball or slapstick sequences work well as do the romantic comedy sequences. What is jarring is most films try to be one or the other and this one alternates one with the other from moment to moment.

The one thing I would criticize in "Come September" is that we don't see enough of the incredible Bobby Darin! It would have been great to see more of him. Although this was his first starring feature role on film, and his role was the "junior" or "juvenile" lead, his talents way outweighed his opportunities to show his stuff here. Otherwise, Gina Lollobrigida was beautiful, as always, and the scenery was fabulous! I wish we'd had more songs from Darin in the show (the version I saw on DVD credited him with a "Come September" theme song, but I have not heard it - is there a recording?). Also, gotta love Slezak! All in all, a wonderful escape from a sometimes stressful and dreary world. We need more movies like this and more movie stars whose performances and appearance help to lighten the load for us all. That is the immeasurable value of the entertainer! They help to give us our dreams!

This Universal International film was a vehicle for Rock Hudson who showed an uncanny gift for comedy. As such, "Come September" is a product of the times in which it was made. That was the time when Hollywood had an advantage in using natural beautiful European scenery which was affordable then. Robert Mulligan directed this comedy that although pleasant didn't fare as well as other, better made comedies, of that era.Probably one of the best scenes in the movie involves Rock Hudson dancing a fast number with Gina Lollobrigida, something probably no one could have expected for an actor not associated with musical comedies. Mr. Hudson, an actor not known for his dancing abilities, comes across as having the time of his life. The chemistry between the actor and Gina Lollobrigida saves the movie because the story is thin.Also in the movies we see Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin, who later became a couple. Walter Slezak and Brenda DeBanzie, both veterans actors, also appear in the movie. A very young Joel Grey has a small part.The Ligurian region of Italy is shown in all its splendor. Great views of Portofino can be seen from the top of the Talbot mansion. The film is mildly entertaining if one doesn't expect too much out of the material.

For some reason, this lightweight comedy from 1961 became something of an icon in India, where I come from. We were kids when it was first released but Bobby Darin's theme music became so popular that it was played practically everywhere for the next few years. I think the film was re-released three times between 1961 & 1964 in Bangalore, with the locally edited trailers mistakenly adding footage from other films of the era like Palm Springs Weekend! I first saw the film as an 8-year old in 1963, but had to wait 28 more years before I saw it as an adult - on British TV in 1991. On the whole, I like this film as a period piece of what some people call "Kennedy era entertainment" - lightweight, fluffy comedies that are nice to watch now and then.