Summer of 42 (1971). Coming of Age classic

[Hank the Tank]

Now who here remembers this 1971 coming-of-age classic that unlike most coming-of-age films, had some real depth to it. I first saw it in 1975 on TV (edited to crap of coruse) since I was way too young in 71 to check it out in theatres. Of course back then, I probably didn't give a crap about romance in films.
Never released in blu-ray yet and any DVD's out there start at $64.00 (on Amazon). Amazon will show it on Instant Video for $1.99 (rental) but I won't vouch for the quality.

Kinda surprised this hasn't had wider release considering it was probably the second best known film in 1971 (behind The Godfather), well in my opinion anyway.


Summer of 42 Wiki


Summer of 42 IMDB Entry




Excerpt from Wiki:
The film opens with a series of still photographs appearing over melancholic music, representing the abstract memories of the unseen Herman Raucher, now a middle-aged man. We then hear Raucher recalling the summer he spent on the island in 1942. The film flashes back to a day that then 15-year-old "Hermie" and his friends – jock Oscy and introverted nerd Benjie – spent playing on the beach. They spot a young soldier carrying his new bride into a house on the beach and are struck by her beauty, especially Hermie, who is unable to get her out of his mind.

They continue spending afternoons on the beach where, in the midst of scantily-clad teenage girls, their thoughts invariably turn to sex. All of them are virgins: Oscy is obsessed with the act of sex, while Hermie finds himself developing romantic interest in the bride, whose husband he spots leaving the island on a water taxi one morning. Later that day, Hermie finds her trying to carry bags of groceries by herself, and helps get them back to her house. They strike up a friendship and he agrees to return to help her with chores.

"Meanwhile, Oscy and Hermie, thanks to a sex manual discovered by Benjie, become convinced they know everything necessary to lose their virginity. Led by Oscy, they test this by going to the cinema and picking-up a trio of high-school girls. Oscy stakes out the most attractive one, Miriam, "giving" Hermie her less attractive friend, Aggie, and leaving Benjie with Gloria, a heavyset girl with braces. Frightened by the immediacy of sex, Benjie runs off, and is not seen by Hermie or Oscy again that night. Hermie and Oscy spend the entirety of the evening's film attempting to "put the moves" on Miriam and Aggie. Oscy pursues Miriam, eventually making out with her during the movie, and later learns her ways are well-known on the island. Hermie finds himself succeeding with Aggie, who allows him to grope what he thinks is her breast; Oscy later points out Hermie was fondling her arm."

[Horus]

I was hoping for a BR release for 'Summer of '42' as well. Haven't seen it since around 1990 on a PBS station.

At least it's available on dvd now for a reasonable price though.

[Brett C]

I would love to see Warner release this on BD. Even a BD release through their Archive Collection would be fine by me!

[PLG1962]

Oh I thought it was coming out guess not what about the sequel Class of '44

[Brett C]

Originally Posted by PLG1962

Oh I thought it was coming out guess not what about the sequel Class of '44

That would make a great extra on a release of the first film.

[Jobla]

I much prefer the vaguely similar RED SKY AT MORNING, which sadly never even saw a VHS release, let alone DVD or Blu-ray.