A Storm in Summer

Plot

Robert Wise brings his distinguished name and considerable directorial skill to this remake of a 1970 Rod Serling TV drama. Set in 1969, Abel Shaddick (Peter Falk), a crotchety deli owner, has a grudge against virtually everyone in his upstate New York town of Fairview, particularly against his slacker nephew Stanley (Andrew McCarthy) who lives behind the shop. Without telling his uncle, Stanley agrees to put up a needy city kid for the summer as part of a charity program run by rich debutante Gloria (Nastassja Kinski). Abel immediately vetoes the plan, but it is too late. The kid, young Herman Washington (Aaron Meeks), is already on his way. Though initially the two intensely dislike each other, they bond over fishing and war heroes -- Abel's son died during WWII, while Herman's brother was killed in Vietnam. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Review

A Storm in Summer is a powerful "social issues" drama that features a sterling lead performance by Peter Falk. While it feels somewhat dated, this has less to do with the social problems it handles -- which are still relevant -- than with the manner in which it approaches them. Rod Serling's meticulously crafted screenplay is an absolute marvel of construction, but it was written in 1970, and it feels like it; this is not necessarily bad, as the work has the convictions of its times, but it also, occasionally, comes across as a trifle simplistic here, a little manipulative there. Fortunately, Serling was an expert at writing for television dramas such as this; just when a speech starts to veer into a gooey patch, he throws in a disarming turn of phrase or a perfectly-crafted sentence that quickly and unexpectedly adds depth to the character speaking. Robert Wise directs Serling's work with his usual professionalism and sensitivity and has gathered together an exceptional cast. The film rises or falls, of course, on the two leads, and Falk and Aaron Meeks deserve a large share of the credit for making Storm so compelling. Meeks does exceptional work for such a young actor, and he and Falk have an invaluable chemistry. For his part, Falk grabs hold of the role from the first moment and never lets go, clearly relishing the chance of playing a part that allows him to demonstrate just how much he is capable of. He's believably cranky, neither endearingly nor unremittingly, and he makes the breaking down of his wall entirely credible. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast

• Peter Falk - Abel Shaddick
• Aaron Meeks - Herman Washington
• Nastassja Kinski - Gloria Ross
• Andrew McCarthy - Stanley Banner
• Ruby Dee - Grandmother

Credit

Sid Kozak - Casting, Cynthia Summers - Costume Designer, Pete Whyte - First Assistant Director, Robert Wise - Director, Jack Hofstra - Editor, Renee Valente - Executive Producer, Robert Halmi, Jr. - Executive Producer, Cynthia Millar - Composer (Music Score), Andrew Deskin - Production Designer, Bert Dunk - Cinematographer, Renee Valente - Producer, Shannon Murphy - Set Designer, Tim Richardson - Sound/Sound Designer, Rod Serling - Screenwriter

Previous:	A Storm in Summer (1970 Film), A Stoning in Fulham County (1988 Film)
Next:	A Story Written on Water (1965 Film), A Story of People in War and Peace (2007 Film)