Summer Magic (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Summer Magic |
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Official theatrical poster
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| Directed by | James Neilson |
| Produced by | |
| Written by | Sally Benson |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Songs: Richard M. Sherman Robert B. Sherman Score: Buddy Baker |
| Studio | Walt Disney Productions |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
| Release date(s) | July 7, 1963 |
| Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Money made | $4,350,000 (US/ Canada rentals) |
Summer Magic is a fun Disney musical film from 1963. It stars Hayley Mills, Burl Ives, and Dorothy McGuire. The movie tells the story of a family in the early 1900s. A mother and her three children move to a small town in Maine. The film is based on a book called Mother Carey's Chickens by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Hayley Mills was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role. This was one of six movies she made for Disney.
Contents
The Story of Summer Magic
In the early 1900s, the Carey family faces a tough time. Margaret Carey (Dorothy McGuire), a mother from Boston, and her three children need to find a new home. Nancy (Hayley Mills), the oldest child, remembers a big yellow house in Beulah, Maine. It was a house they always liked.
The family sells their beloved piano to help with money. Nancy then finds out the yellow house is empty. So, they decide to move to the countryside. They sing about their new home in the song "Beautiful Beulah."
Moving to Beulah
When the Careys arrive in Beulah, they feel a bit different from the townspeople. But everyone in town welcomes them. The family soon realizes that moving to the country was a great choice. They are happy in their new home, singing "Summer Magic."
However, the yellow house is not in good shape. Osh Popham (Burl Ives), the kind caretaker, offers to help fix it up cheaply. He even gives them free items from his hardware store. Osh also helps young Peter, trading his city clothes for overalls. He teaches Peter carpentry and gives him money for a haircut.
A New Family Member
Just as the Careys get settled, they learn that their orphaned cousin, Julia, needs a place to stay. Her adoptive parents are having money problems. The Careys agree to take her in, even though they are a bit unsure.
Nancy and Gilly (Eddie Hodges) joke about Julia's snobby personality. They sing "Pink of Perfection." When Julia (Deborah Walley) arrives, she is just as they remembered. She is not used to country life. She even makes Osh's daughter, Lally Joy (Wendy Turner), help her bathe in the kitchen.
Life in the Country
While Nancy and Lally Joy deal with Julia, Peter enjoys working with Osh. Osh tells him funny stories about bugs he's never seen in the city. They sing "Ugly Bug Ball."
Margaret tells Osh that their money problems are still not solved. Osh wants them to stay in Beulah. So, he pretends the house owner, Tom Hamilton, has a special request. He says Mr. Hamilton wants them to hold a ceremony for his dead mother on Halloween. They also need to find a good spot for her picture. The Careys agree, and Osh finds a fake picture for the ceremony.
Osh's wife, Mariah (Una Merkel), knows he is lying. She goes to tell the Careys the truth. But Osh fakes a fall and pretends to hurt his leg. He makes Mariah help him home before she can tell them anything.
New Romances
One Sunday, Nancy and Julia see a handsome new schoolteacher, Charles Bryant (James Stacy). They invite him to a party at the yellow house. Both girls try to impress him. Nancy uses her smarts, and Julia uses her looks. Julia wins Charles's attention. Nancy feels jealous and sad after the party, singing "On the Front Porch."
Later, Nancy's jealousy makes her tell Julia that her adoptive parents "dumped" her. Julia runs to Aunt Margaret, who tells her that her parents' situation is getting better. They will soon be ready for her to come home. Nancy realizes she has grown to love Julia. She begs Julia to stay, and Julia agrees to live with the Careys permanently.
Halloween Party Prep
As Halloween gets closer, everyone prepares for a big party. Lally Joy (Wendy Turner) has a crush on Gilly. She shows Nancy and Julia her ugly dress, worried she will be embarrassed. Nancy and Julia promise to redesign the dress. They also give her tips on how to act around boys, singing "Femininity."
On the day of the party, a handsome young man (Peter Brown) arrives at the yellow house. He meets Nancy and learns about the party for Mr. Hamilton's mother. The stranger quickly goes to Osh's store. It turns out he is Tom Hamilton, the real owner of the house. Osh admits he rented the house to the Careys because Nancy was so kind. Tom is upset and leaves the store.
The Party and Surprises
Gilly doesn't want to take Lally Joy to the party at first. But when she appears in her beautiful new dress, he changes his mind. Nancy sees Gilly with Lally Joy and Charles with Julia. She realizes she is the only one without a partner. After talking with her mother, she decides to go alone.
As Nancy walks downstairs, she meets Tom Hamilton. He goes with her to the party. Nancy shows the picture Osh gave her for the ceremony. It is a very ugly woman, which makes Tom feel insulted. He reveals he is the real Tom Hamilton. Nancy is very embarrassed. Tom, who likes Nancy, asks her to dance. As the party begins, Osh says that things always work out in the end.
Meet the Cast
- Hayley Mills as Nancy Carey
- Burl Ives as Osh Popham
- Dorothy McGuire as Margaret Carey
- Una Merkel as Mariah Popham
- Deborah Walley as Julia Carey
- James Stacy as Charles Bryant
- Eddie Hodges as Gilly Carey
- Jimmy Mathers as Peter Carey
- Michael J. Pollard as Digby Popham
- Wendy Turner as Lallie Joy Popham
- Peter Brown as Tom Hamilton
- O.Z. Whitehead as Mr. Perkins
- Hilda Plowright as Mary
- Harry Holcombe as Henry Lord
- Marcy McGuire as Ellen (uncredited)
Songs from the Movie
- "Flitterin'"
- "Beautiful Beulah"
- "Summer Magic"
- "Pink of Perfection"
- "Ugly Bug Ball"
- "On the Front Porch"
- "Femininity"
