Summertime (1955) ***1/2

David Lean's Summertime (1955) represents a certain bygone melodramatic movie romance and fully embraces the cliches that go along with that genre, though there is a melancholic quality to the film that falls short of fairy tale. It can come off a bit hammy and its gender politics are certainly dated by today's standards. But there is an undeniable charm, lushness, and amusing sense of humor to this story of a Venetian holiday affair, which makes it easy to get swept up in the world of its characters. Summertime features one of Katharine Hepburn's best performances—the way she conveys awkwardness, loneliness, and heartbreak is universal. 

David Lean Feature Films Ranked