Product Description

Jeffrey Willis is out to set the world on fire'starting with a well-to-do Long Island beach club! Matt Dillon leads an all-star cast, including Richard Crenna, Hector Elizondo, Jessica Walter and Janet Jones, in this poignant, fast-moving and totally engrossing story that USA Today calls "funny, sensitive [and] beautifully written!" Everything was settled for 18-year-old Jeffrey (Dillon), the plumber's son from Brooklyn: one last summer of carefree fun before college. But when he gets a job as a cabana boy at the El Flamingo Beach Clubwith its shapely coeds, gin-playing cardsharps and wealthy snobsJeffrey is lured into a world distinctly different from his working-class roots a world that could ultimately draw him away from his education, his background and his family!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8484 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2003-08-05
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.com
Matt Dillon broke through as a heartthrob in this surprisingly affecting comedy, from director Garry Marshall. Dillon plays a Brooklyn kid who lands a summer job at a tony Long Island beach club in 1963. His good looks and obsequious manners win him favor among the snobby members, who trigger dreams that he might actually move up far enough in the world to be one of them--particularly his hero, the club gin champ (Richard Crenna). Meanwhile, his hard-working plumber father (Hector Elizondo) casts a jaundiced eye at all the easy moolah his son is raking in in tips and the lessons about easy living that he seems to be learning. Marshall captures a loose comic nostalgia and the sense of a teen who is suddenly discovering his own abilities--and seeing his parents for the first time, both for bad and for good. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

"Dad, how many potatoes do you think you'll eat b4 u die?"
I fell on the floor with above line by Matt Dillon, to his father, perfectly played by Hector Elizando. And many other lines as well.

Dillon is a young impressionable kid from working-class Brooklyn who is in awe of the part played by Richard Crenna, a charming charlton. Dillon's character is swept up by wealth and the beautiful people and Crenna's character undoubtedly likes the attention. So Jeffrey hangs on to every word and goes home at night and repeats them. It doesnt take long for his true-to-his word father to catch on and call him on it.

The differences in class and values come to a head when Elizando and Crenna meet.

Funny and very entertaining.

From Small Screen to Big Screen
Garry Marshall was noted for two things, a great sitcom director and the big brother of Laverne DeFazio a.k.a. Penny Marshall. This film showed that he could translate his skill from the small screen to the big screen. And it is written by Garry and Neal Marshall, what a talented family!

In 50's New York City, if you have made it you live in Manhattan, if not, you live in Brooklyn. Jeffrey Willis is the son of a plumber (Hector Elizando) and lives in Brooklyn. He has graduated from High School and is the first in his family to go to college. This is his last summer before becoming a true adult. His father has arranged a summer office job but he wants a summer of fun. He gets a job as a cabana boy at the prestigious El Flamingo Beach Club.

Next to sun and surf, the main diversion is gin rummy. Jeff just happens to be a wiz at gin. He quickly catches the attention of Phil Brody, the club cardsharp. But things don't sit as well when he catches the eye Phil's daughter (Carole R Davis). In the end, Jeff decides to go to college.

The 50's was the last decade of innocence. This film captures this spirit. While the boys talk a good game, they seldom got anywhere with the girls. Marshall keeps the film on the right note for high drama to light comedy.

While some may say that this was a star studded cast only Matt Dillon had a solid movie background. Richard Crenna was a TV star from 50's and 60's. The remaining cast had TV notoriety but would gain their fame later - Hector Elizondo (Chicago Hope) and Jessica Walters (Arrested Development). Even Dillon's success didn't happen until this film and later.

This is a great film to watch when you want to see the end of innocence in America.

Summer Flies By
Another classic that doesn't really get the attention it deserves. This is a fun movie, a summer movie. Matt Dillon plays Jeff, a young kid who has just started his last summer before college. His dad wants him to work in an office for the summer but he wants to work at an upscale beach resort called The Flamingo. He grew up in lower class Brooklyn, but his job takes him to the ritzy shores of Long Island where he is quickly making money, moving up the ladder and making solid connections with the wealthy. His friendship with Mr. Brody (The King) begins to change Jeff's ideas about his future, much to the dismay of Jeff's father. Surrounded by wealthy people all day long, Jeff begins to dream of following in Mr. Brody's footsteps and becoming a sports car salesman. When Jeff finds out that Mr. Brody is just a cheater filled with a lot of hot air he takes him on in a marathon game of Gin. This is a great coming of age story and Matt Dillon is perfect in the role. All of the acting is great, it looks beautiful and is an easy movie to watch. The moral of the story for me: don't be fooled by those who preach the easy life, life is more rewarding when you take the hard road.