Come September is a 1961 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Mulligan and starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin. The movie was written by Alfred Jingle.
SYNOPSIS: (Come September)
Wealthy industrialist Robert Talbot (Rock Hudson) arrives early for his annual vacation at his luxurious Italian villa to find three problems lying in wait for him. Firstly, his long-time girlfriend Lisa Fellini (Gina Lollobrigida) has given up waiting for him to pop the question and has decided to marry another English man Spencer (Ronald Howard). Secondly, the housekeeper of his villa, Maurice Clavell, has turned the estate into a posh hotel to make some easy money while the boss isn’t around. And, finally, the current guests of the “hotel” are a group of young American girls trying to fend off a gang of oversexed boys, led by Tony, who are ‘laying siege’ at the outer walls of the villa. Talbot, to his own surprise, finds himself becoming an overprotective chaperone.
THE CAST
Rock Hudson as Robert L. Talbot
Gina Lollobrigida as Lisa Helena Fellini
Sandra Dee as Sandy Stevens
Bobby Darin as Tony
Walter Slezak as Maurice Clavell
Brenda de Banzie as Margaret Allison
Rosanna Rory as Anna
Ronald Howard as Spencer
Joel Grey as Beagle
Ronnie Haran as Sparrow
Chris Seitz as Larry
Cindy Conroy as Julia
Joan Freeman as Linda
Nancy Anderson as Patricia
Michael Eden as Ron
Claudia Brack as Carol
THE STORY : (Come September)
The story of Come September revolves around a Wealthy American businessman Robert Talbot who owns a villa on the Ligurian coast, where he and his Roman mistress Lisa Fellini spend September of each year. When Robert moves up his annual visit to July and calls her en route from Milano, she cancels her wedding to Englishman Spencer (Ronald Howard) and rushes to meet him. Upon his arrival at the villa, Robert discovers that, in his absence, his housekeeper , Maurice Clavell (Walter Slezak), has turned the villa into a hotel, currently hosting a group of teenage girls, including Sandy (Sandra Dee), and their chaperone, Margaret Allison (Brenda De Banzie). Their departure is delayed when Margaret slips on the cork of a champagne bottle opened by Robert and is forced to spend a day in the hospital. Four teenage boys who irritated Robert on the drive to his villa, including Tony (Bobby Darin), set up camp right outside of the villa and begin courting the girls.
Robert chaperones the girls on a sightseeing tour and to a music club. He dances with each of the girls and appeals to their virtues, stressing the importance of chastity. Trying to get Robert inebriated, the boys end up drunk themselves. Sandy revives Tony, but slaps him when he makes a pass at her. She then recounts the lecture received earlier to Lisa, who gets infuriated over Robert’s double standards. The next morning, she leaves to get back together with Spencer. A sobered-up Tony apologizes to Robert.
Accompanied by Maurice, Robert chases after Lisa, but she refuses to take him back. Maurice decides to play matchmaker, telling the police that his employer is a notorious criminal wanted in Rome. He also tells them that Lisa is his accomplice. His plan fails though. When it is all straightened out, Lisa returns to her apartment, where she finds Sandy. Hearing the teen’s lament about lost love, she has an epiphany and leaves to take Robert back. On her way out, she meets Tony, whom she directs to her apartment, where he and Sandy reunite.
At the train station, Lisa borrows a toddler to convince the conductor that the father is abandoning them. Taken off the train, Robert reconciles with her. As a married couple, they return to the villa, which Maurice has turned into a hotel again, which is now occupied by a group of nuns.
INDIAN REMAKES
There are three Indian remakes of Come September. Two are in Hindi: Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) and Mere Sanam (1965), and one in Tamil: Anbe Vaa (1966).
