User Reviews

I remember seeing this film as a 12-year-old and being blown away by it. I probably haven't seen it for 20 - 25 years, but I can still recall much of it and would love to see it again. I'm a bit hesitant to call it a "forgotten masterpiece", but it sure was a good piece of entertainment, with shades of James Bond and 1984. See it if you can!

Robert Wagner is very good portraying directionless young American, living abroad and working as a bartender, who chances to run into Jill St. John, a former girlfriend from college. She invites him to vacation with her family in Monte Carlo, which begins a series of oneupmanship games with Jill's father, a fanatic for competitive sports. Once Wagner realizes the wealthy titan is only vulnerable against one other person, he turns amateur sleuth in the hopes of exposing his host and his weakness. TV-made film with an apparently large budget, imaginative visual tricks and gorgeous locations. Though quite necessarily told in flashback, it is too bad the script and story are so ritzy that they occasionally confound the viewer, with a nervous breakdown/brainwashing midsection which seems an abstraction. Still good, however, and Wagner is more animated than usual (he often looks wounded or confused, which suits his handsome stoicism). Jill St. John is once again a curvy, haughty dish (in a variety of wacky sunglasses) and Peter Lawford is amazingly controlled and enigmatic as Wagner's adversary.

I was looking at another post. Saw Wagner's name and suddenly remembered this movie.

And here I thought I was the only one. This came out in 1968. So I probable saw if between then and 1973 when I went to college. That is forty years! And I can still remember scenes from it. Compiling the dossier on the people on the yacht. Wagner leaving on the helicopter. His humiliations by Peter Lawford.

So why does this film stick with people? It is fun and kinda cool. Wagner doesn't start out on top. But eventually ends up their. Great locations. I would certainly pick it up.

BTW-I saw Robert Wagners name when doing research on Clark Gable. Clark Gable's golf caddy at one time was------Robert Wagner. Small town Hollywood.

A chic, smart thrill ride of a flick full of cat and mouse, cross and double-cross with a clever and satisfying ending. I was 15 when I first saw this film and until today remembered it as a theatrical release--it was that good. It was a major topic of conversation at school the day after it aired.

Looking back, it puts me in mind of "The List of Adrian Messenger", another underrated, forgotten masterpiece. Hope springs eternal that it might be discovered and aired again but I'm doubtful. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the 1997 film of the same name (but entirely different story) listed on my satellite guide but quickly learned it was a completely different movie. I'd LOVE to see the 1967 flick again.

This was a true classic and it's a pity it isn't shown on tv anymore. I used to see it all the time before VCR's were in vogue or I'd have it now. I don't know which movie studio owns the rights to this film but they are missing a huge bet not putting it out. If this film were released to the theatres now it would still be huge.

This movie is a very different movie than almost anything you'll ever see. It begins with the young protagonist, played by Robert Wagner, involved with a young woman who is actually a non-entity in the movie. The only entities become the hero and two others, both of whom are ominous characters. The first, played by Peter Lawford, seems ominous at first, only to become a "moderate" sort who keeps the third man from murdering the young hero.

The third man (makes one think of the movie by that title, ironically), eventually sets his evil hooks out to kill the hero.

The movie becomes a fight from a very little guy against incredible odds, against a demonic presence.

There are drawbacks. The hero doesn't really have the affability and "Everyman" attributes that a character in his position would have, and we neither pull for or against him. His struggle for survival isn't convincing, nor are his solutions. But then, the demonic third character also isn't convincing, being too much a myth, but one which the mob needs to confirm its power among the public.

Still, it isn't a bad flick, and it doesn't plod as much as one would think.

I'm so glad to see that others agree with me that this may well be one of the greatest films ever made. It is absolutely brilliant as an unwinding tale of suspense and intrigue. I think that I've seen this movie 5 times over the years on TV, but have never caught it on tape. Most of the times, I saw it was before I had a VCR about 1980. Maybe, we could get AMC to show this true classic. The casino scene was one of the most chilling scenes that I've ever seen. So many great scenes in this film.

A mediocre and somewhat tame thriller. Jack Washington a lower class dropout, just out of the army, is working as a bartender in Paris. He runs into an old flame. Five years before, he spend 4 days with her and her rich parents. Her father, Ned Pine, systematically humiliated him because he thought Jack was not socially prominent enough for his daughter. She has married and divorced and invites Jack to spend 10 days with her family on their yacht. Jack agrees in hopes of beating her father at some sport, any sport will do. But her father beats him at everything all over again.

Jack notices that Pine sometimes gets notes and phone calls from someone he is obviously afraid of. Intrigued, Jack begins compiling a dossier on Pine and his associates. None of them seem to notice this, which is one of the unbelievable parts of this movie, since he walks around the yacht writing in his notebook in plain sight. Near the end, Pine arranges to have Jack killed, but Jack escapes. At the end, he is telling his story to a man that he comes to realize is the very man that Pine was afraid of and who is an even bigger and meaner criminal than Pine. I won't say how it ends, but the ending is ridiculous and makes no sense. Nor does it tie into the main plot involving Pine.

Nearly everyone in this is miscast. The handsome and aristocratic Wagner is cast as a loser bartender and he cannot play the character believably. Moreover, the Jill St John character is so vapid and mercenary, its a mystery what he sees in her. But the movie is really ruined by the ending which makes no sense and is entirely unconnected with the rest of the plot.

Hey everyone. Its me! The guy who wrote comments on this movie over 5 years ago as the "Brain-8, mysurf@msn.com" back in September 1999. Well, guess what....I STILL NEED THIS MOVIE! Yes, sad but true, no luck in getting my hands on ANYTHING (except movie stills) relating to this movie. This movie is harder to find than Osama Bin Ladin, for cryin' out loud. Yes, I feel the grim reaper tappin' on my shoulders and all I want is a stinking copy of this flick. No, I don't want to win the lottery or fall in love with a Victoria Secrets super-model...just one flippin' copy of this movie! How hard can that be, right? Pretty hard, i guess...no one has it. But please let me know if you can help (post a message).

I leave you with a quote from the film (as best i can recall):

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jack Washington:

"All I wanted to do was win".

Ned Pine:

"You wanted me to jump over the net and shake your hand? Well, you can forget it! Look at you...you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Are we really having this conversation? Do you really think for one minute you have the upper hand? Well...do you?!

<Ned Pine pulls a small knife hidden in his racket ball handle, and holds to Jack Washingtons throat>

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh, man. What a great movie. Forever lost? You tell me.

PS: I NEED THIS MOVIE!! (smiles)

When me and my friends first watched this on TV in '67, we were amazed by it--saying it was ahead of its time, a whole new way of making movies, ... the way Wagner secretly took photos, the camera angles....But when I saw it again 3 years later, all that special feeling vanished and I wondered why I was so amazed by it in '67. So I'm curious how a third viewing would turn out. I haven't seen it for sale at any store.

This movies was so very cool, wry, challenging, ahead of it's time. Young man gets into a escalating war of nerves/ competition with the haughty, ubber mench father of his summer girlfriend, Things get very out of hand. It's a shame this is not out on a loaded DVD; maybe with Robert Wagner's star glistening on high someone will pop it out. Hope so- it's BRILLIANT. I would cast Tobey MaGuire and Dennis Farina in the remake. Chris Browne

From "With A Song In My Heart", in the 1950s, to the present day the performances of Robert Wagner have always been believable. This actor's body of work represents a person who takes pride in their craft and does not take themselves too seriously.

This "small" movie afforded Robert Wagner the opportunity to present the scope of his acting chops. As the story unfolded, it became more compelling to watch. I found myself reacting to the slowly mounting tension. The locale was most beautiful. A decision to use a yacht as a focal point of the setting seemed ingenious. Peter Lawford provided a character with an appearance of urbanity that concealed something rather evil. It would be a mistake to not mention the beautiful actress, Jill St, John. I've seen this movie quite a few times over the ensuing years, always with enjoyment. Seeing it in my mind's eye from a distance of 38 years it is still as clear as yesterday. A simple summer vacation slowly morphs into a cunning, chilling and thriller hunt presented as one of the most amazing chess games in a story environment.

I saw this movie as a teenager and have always hoped it would be released on VHS or DVD. I remembered it however as a movie, not as a made for TV movie. Robert Wagner and Jill St. John were quite young and this movie I believe was quite close to the beginning of their careers. Peter Lawford and Walter Pigeon were also in their prime. One of the other strengths of this movie was that the plot always left you guessing right to the very end, which was very different from most of the plots of the time, or now for that matter! Of all the movies I've seen over the years, this is one of the few of which I've always wanted a copy. I still hope that one of these days it will be released, there certainly have been enough other movies released that couldn't hold a candle to this one!

I can see that I am not alone in thinking that this was a superior story, handled very well (except for the very last shot!). The same spooked atmosphere of THE PRISONER pervades; I recommend FRAGMENT OF FEAR for the same what-is-reality take. Anyway, just wonderful. That scene on the yacht! Film noir lives!!

I have been searching for this movie for 38 years! I saw this when I was a kid in Texas and I actually wrote to the network (I think it might have been ABC, but it could have been CBS) and offered to buy the script from them.

This movie is one fantastic neo-noir classic, and I just wish I could find a copy on video or DVD somehow. I too have searched around the entire United States (I travel a lot) and have actually seen the *listing* for a station that would play it, but I have never seen it since 1967, nor have I had access to any kind of media recording.

When I first saw this in 1967 I fell off my chair with how good the script was, and how well-made the film itself was at the time.

This movie would make money on DVD, and as a remake. Maybe Tarantino or David Fincher should hear about it.

This story was well produced, well cast, well directed, shot on location (good locations), with a solid script, story, direction and a strong memorability quotient.

The story is a well conceived plot that builds, from the perspective of a young man (Robert Wagner) who starts off just being along for the ride, following a beautiful girl (Jill St John), onto the yacht of her rich father (Peter Lawford), who turns out to be very competitive, extremely mysterious and involved in something that becomes fascinating to Wagner's character to understand.

As curiosity heightens, it becomes obvious what that what kills the cat could also kill a young man. And from there it keeps getting better. Just when you think it will end exactly as you'd thought, it doesn't.

Despite all these years, I have never seen this played on cable or Saturday afternoon matinées, yet I still remember the story. It would be nice if someone, somewhere, would pick up this title before it is completely forgotten by those few of us alive long enough to remember having seen it.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that even Robert Wagner was distressed that this title is not available on video. True or not, this title is worth consideration. It should be found and remastered for DVD.

This movie is a great mystery with good pacing and Robert Wagner in top form. It is definitely worthy of a DVD release! Perhaps it could be coupled with another movie to share the costs? The narration of Wagner together with the notes he makes in his little notebook really add to the story. The audience gets to feel like they are the Wagner character or at least right there with him on his trip of discovery as to who the Peter Lawford character really is and what he is up to. I didn't know this was a TV movie. I thought it was a theatrical release because the production quality was so high. I highly recommend this movie! And please, if anyone FINDS this movie on home video, let the rest of us know. We would be very grateful.

I never have to watch Silence of the Lambs again... Or, The Deerhunter... I hopefully will, of course, but so ingrained or embedded, or whatever words used to describe these kinds of unforgettable movies, I could survive... How I Spent.... and Theme From a Summer Place are near and dear to my heart... But, age creeps in, and I need a refresher viewing - because I don't recall each and every scene... (And, yes I cry like a child when I hear Al Di La).

Okay, this is the best movie ever! Its not on video, and i haven't seen it in 10-12 years. Every summer's end, I hope that my local TV stations will play it...BUT THEY NEVER *##(% DO! This movie is a lost treasure. I'm sure one day, critics and art house hags will be jonesing over 'discovering' another 'Carnival of Souls' or 'Henry - Portrait of a Serial Killer' (this movie isnt like either one, however). Or I just might end up seeing this under Taratinos' 'Rolling Thunder' video release label, as he gives his stamp of approval....but I digress.

This movie rocks. If I was a director, and had to remake a movie, I would do this in a heart beat. Robert Wagner is excellent. Peter Lawford is sooooo damn smug as a law breaking jet setter. Robert Wagners 60's beatnik vibe, matched against Peter Lawford's 50's swank is brilliantly played out for a "winner" take all. As Mr.Pine would say, "To the victor goes the spoils".

I just cant explain it in words, right up there with Mamets 'House of Games' or 'Glengary GlenRoss'.

I NEED THIS MOVIE!

To all the hunters of this great film please contact me as I will do the same when I find this gem. I will begin with Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee in North Hollywood and film clubs in Northern California. Thanks and good hunting Alan Lee Wong Stardust Productions

How I Spent My Summer Vacation with Robert Wagner is a fantastic movie from an earlier time.I have not seen this movie since I was a young teenager.I was able to watch the movie again last night and to me it has only gotten better.I am a huge Robert Wagner fan and I watch everything that I can that he as an actor has been in.I enjoy his work whether it be television movies,television series or movies that I am able to see on Turner Classic Movies.I have always been a huge fan of his movie Banning but I think How I Spent my Summer Vacation is a better film for many reasons.This movie has a terrific cast.I love the sets and the good writing.I recommend this movie to Robert Wagner fans.I have this movie.