Summer's Lease Reviews

Rated:
60
from 282 members

This BBC TV mini-series is an adaptation of John Mortimer's novel of the same name, and follows a family as they attempt to enjoy a relaxing holiday in Tuscany. Molly Pargeter takes her family to the luxurious destination but spends more time trying to find out who owns the villa they are staying in than she does relaxing on .. Read more

Starring	John Gielgud, Susan Fleetwood, Leslie Phillips, Annette Crosbie
Director	Martyn Friend
Genres	Drama

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Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Summer's Lease
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10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

An Innocent Abroad

When Molly Pargeter rents a villa in the Tuscan hills, what should be a carefree holiday isn't quite as expected. Her raffish father finagles his way along for the ride, her priggish husband is sending secret postcards to his mistress, and when Molly finds a cryptic note hidden in the villa, she begins to question the whereabouts of the villa's owners. Nothing is quite what it seems amongst the locals and ex-pat's... and then a body is found.

Wonderful adaptation of John Mortimer's novel, full of brilliantly captured performances by a host of British and Italian character actors (Treves and Leach are standout) and a star turn by an apparently ailing Gielgud, all mischievious twinkle and cunning. Against this backdrop, Fleetwood cleverly underplays throughout as Molly, a delightful study in self-effacement and quiet tenacity.

A little leisurely-paced perhaps, but a minor British tv classic never-the-less.
- - robertconnor from Gloucestershire
  - Posted 02 Dec 2007 11:22
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Summer's Lease

Great story, great acting, (especially John Gielgud), very relaxing.
- - A customer from Cambridge
  - Posted 15 Jan 2007 14:08
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

FABULOUS

Fabulous! Watch this at least once in your life, if nothing else. The most sublime evocation of time and place. Superb and faithful filmic portrayal of the original book. Utterly stellar cast make this a mesmerising experience. Well done, John Mortimer!
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 19 Apr 2008 20:03
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Summer's Lease
View all
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

An Innocent Abroad

When Molly Pargeter rents a villa in the Tuscan hills, what should be a carefree holiday isn't quite as expected. Her raffish father finagles his way along for the ride, her priggish husband is sending secret postcards to his mistress, and when Molly finds a cryptic note hidden in the villa, she begins to question the whereabouts of the villa's owners. Nothing is quite what it seems amongst the locals and ex-pat's... and then a body is found.

Wonderful adaptation of John Mortimer's novel, full of brilliantly captured performances by a host of British and Italian character actors (Treves and Leach are standout) and a star turn by an apparently ailing Gielgud, all mischievious twinkle and cunning. Against this backdrop, Fleetwood cleverly underplays throughout as Molly, a delightful study in self-effacement and quiet tenacity.

A little leisurely-paced perhaps, but a minor British tv classic never-the-less.
- - robertconnor from Gloucestershire
  - Posted 02 Dec 2007 11:22
Summers Lease

Gripping in that all seems fairly normal until a mystery begins to unfold.
- - A customer from Leicester
  - Posted 05 Feb 2009 09:28

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

An Innocent Abroad

When Molly Pargeter rents a villa in the Tuscan hills, what should be a carefree holiday isn't quite as expected. Her raffish father finagles his way along for the ride, her priggish husband is sending secret postcards to his mistress, and when Molly finds a cryptic note hidden in the villa, she begins to question the whereabouts of the villa's owners. Nothing is quite what it seems amongst the locals and ex-pat's... and then a body is found.

Wonderful adaptation of John Mortimer's novel, full of brilliantly captured performances by a host of British and Italian character actors (Treves and Leach are standout) and a star turn by an apparently ailing Gielgud, all mischievious twinkle and cunning. Against this backdrop, Fleetwood cleverly underplays throughout as Molly, a delightful study in self-effacement and quiet tenacity.

A little leisurely-paced perhaps, but a minor British tv classic never-the-less.
- - robertconnor from Gloucestershire
  - Posted 02 Dec 2007 11:22
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Summer's Lease

Great story, great acting, (especially John Gielgud), very relaxing.
- - A customer from Cambridge
  - Posted 15 Jan 2007 14:08
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

FABULOUS

Fabulous! Watch this at least once in your life, if nothing else. The most sublime evocation of time and place. Superb and faithful filmic portrayal of the original book. Utterly stellar cast make this a mesmerising experience. Well done, John Mortimer!
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 19 Apr 2008 20:03
A Summers Lease

I saw this series from about 20 years ago. Could not remember much about it, however,

on seeing it again I really enjoyed it. Nice Italian scenery plus a mystery too.
- - nesfield from Hull
  - Posted 15 Oct 2008 17:11
Summer's Lease

I enjoyed it, but it might be a bit slow moving for some. Lovely to see Italy if nothing else.
- - A customer from Sussex
  - Posted 05 Dec 2008 13:14
Summers Lease

Gripping in that all seems fairly normal until a mystery begins to unfold.
- - A customer from Leicester
  - Posted 05 Feb 2009 09:28
Awful

Really looked forward to this. Watched 30 minutes, could stand no more. Splendid cast but they couldn't do much with dull script and hackneyed incidental music. Honestly , if you're going to employ John Gielgud you should give him more to do than just chortle and twinkle.
- - A customer from W.Midlands
  - Posted 18 Aug 2009 16:40
Summers Lease

I enjoyed this series very much and would recommend it o anyone.
- - A customer from Milton Keynes, England
  - Posted 12 Sep 2006 10:13
Summer Lease

A excellent cast and a very entertaining film. Well worthy of watching
- - A customer from Lymington England
  - Posted 04 Nov 2006 09:05
Bored

John Gielgud made the series. Otherwise, it was too slow paced and boring.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 07 Nov 2006 12:45