Summer Magic

THAT WONDERFUL HAYLEY! a-flitterin' in a romantic whirl of her own!

1963 • 110 min • Music · Comedy · Family

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Synopsis

Mother Carey, a Bostonian widow, and her three children move to Maine. Postmaster Osh Popham helps them move into a run-down old house and fixes it up for them. It's not entirely uninhabited, though; the owner, Mr. Hamilton, is a mysterious character away in Europe, but Osh assures them he won't mind their living there, since he won't be coming home for a long time yet. The children and a cousin who comes to live with them have various adventures before an unexpected visitor shows up

Our family guide

Best from age 6

Movie Knight Score

54 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
67 Audience · 53 · 49%

A newly-widowed mother and her children move from Boston to a small town in Maine, finding adventure and community in an old house. They navigate new friendships and family bonds before an unexpected guest arrives.

Violence & peril: 1/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 1/10

Heads up

Brief discussion of a parent's passing
Some mild romantic interest
A few minor disagreements

What it models well

Family unity and resilience
Embracing new beginnings
Kindness and community support
Finding joy in simple things

Talk about it after

Adjusting to change and new environments
The importance of helping others
What makes a house a home
Making new friends

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Summer Magic. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: James Neilson • Crew: Sally Benson

Trailers & clips

Trailer Summer Magic

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Another one to put in the 'meh' category of live-action Disney. <em>'Summer Magic'</em> isn't entertaining. You have Hayley Mills (Nancy), Burl Ives (Osh) and Dorothy McGuire (Margaret) all giving alright performances but most others things in this film are very plain. The musical numbers are forgettable, as is the overall premise and supporting cast under Mills, Ives and McGuire.…
r96sk, TMDB Community