THE SUMMER CHILDREN

When I was doing research for my book Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies, I kept coming across brief entries about a movie called The Summer Children (1965). All I could uncover was that is starred Valora Noland, a castoff from Beach Party and Muscle Beach Party with Frankie and Annette, and that it was set on Catalina Island. Not finding much else on it, I omitted it from my book.

A few months ago I was contacted through my web site by Jack Robinette, the movie's producer, as The Summer Children is set for a DVD release. Seems the movie played a couple of film festivals and was released in a few cities before slipping into obscurity. Jack was able to track down the original negative and had the movie, stunningly filmed in b/w by Academy Award winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, beautifully restored. Click here for the web site and stay tuned for my interview with Jack and hopefully Valora herself.