It’s hard not to agree with a large consensus that Katharine Hepburn may be our greatest film actress. She is often honored for her weakest work. Indeed, her four Oscar-winning performances are not particularly good. She should have won for ALICE ADAMS, LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, HOLIDAY, BRINGING UP BABY, SYLVIA SCARLET, LITTLE WOMEN and many others. SUMMERTIME is one of her most sensitive performances. She doesn’t shy way from making the “spinster” character she plays frustrating to watch and sometimes repellent, but she always makes her fascinating.
David Lean, with his attention to visual detail, is a good director for her. I have always enjoyed this film.