Written by Sally Benson based on a novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin Directed by James Neilson Cast HAYLEY MILLS as Nancy Carey BURL IVES as Osh Poppum DOROTHY McGUIRE as Mrs. Carey DEBORAH WALLEY as Julia Carey PETER BROWN as Tom Hamilton UNA MERKEL as Mariah Poppum EDDIE HODGES as Gilley Carey MICHAEL J. POLLARD as Digby Poppum JAMES STACY as Charles Bryant JIMMY MATHERS as Peter Carey WENDY TURNER as Lolly Joy Poppum HARRY HOLCOMB  OZ WHITEHEAD HILDA PLAYRIGHT

Summer Magic was a lightweight, light-hearted vehicle for Disney star Hayley Mills.  Based on Mother Carey's Chickens, a novel by the author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, the slight story was fleshed out with musical numbers, although it was not a musical per se.  In her previous movie, In Search of the Castaways, Hayley got her first on-screen kiss from Michael Anderson Jr.  In Summer Magic Hayley has a hint of adult romance when toward the end of the movie, Peter Brown enters as an unexpected Prince Charming.

The story begins in Boston [a convenient cover for Hayley's British accent] where the newly impecunious Widow Carey and her three children are being forced from their comfortable home.  Nancy [Hayley Mills] has written to Osh Poppum [Burl Ives] in Beulah, Maine where they once vacationed with their deceased father.  They end up in happy residence at The Yellow House which has been vacant since the Hamiltons went abroad many years earlier.  According to Digby Poppum [the always interesting Michael J. Pollard] it's too fancy for local folks.  The barn, which was converted for dancing, isn't suitable for livestock.  Osh gives them "carte blanche" to refurbish the house without consulting the Hamiltons.

HAYLEY MILLS, JIMMY MATHERS, EDDIE HODGES

DOROTHY McGUIRE with HAYLEY MILLS

BURL IVES

MICHAEL J. POLLARD

Osh's wife looks askance at his benevolence toward the Careys as she tends to look for the dark cloud, which in this case would be the Hamiltons wanting their house back.  Osh promises her that he's written to them for permission.  In the meantime, Lolly Joy is smitten with Gilley, Digby goes to seek his fortune in the city, Peter [played by Beaver's little brother Jimmy Mathers] acquires a haircut, overalls and a big dog and the family acquires a new member in the person of la-di-da Cousin Julia.  Julia had been living with the Fergusons after her father died penniless because of investments made by Mr. Ferguson, the banker who also left the Careys broke.

JIMMY MATHERS

JIMMY MATHERS with SAM

UNA MERKEL with HAYLEY MILLS

HAYLEY MILLS & DEBORAH WALLEY

Digby returns to Beulah after finding that city life isn't for him.   Julia and Nancy compete for the attention of the new schoolmaster, a competition the sophisticated Julia wins hands down.  When the Careys run short of money to pay the rent. Osh tells them Mr. Hamilton is so happy about the repairs they've been making that he doesn't want any rent if they will find a place of honor for the portrait of his honored late mother who was born on Halloween.  The Careys decide to hold a big housewarming/ open house/dance on Halloween at which they will unveil the portrait of Mrs. Hamilton.  Julia and Nancy fight then make up in time to whip up copies of Paris gowns for the open house.  On the day of the party, Julia and Nancy make over the shy Lolly Joy so that she can win Gilley's heart.  [They sing a lovely anachronistic song about utilizing femininity to catch a beau and hiding "the real you".]  While taking a box of decorations to the barn, Nancy, runs into a handsome young stranger who has driven up to the house in a horseless carriage.  She tells him that they're having an open house in honor of Mrs. Hamilton to thank Mr. Hamilton for letting them take over the yellow house.  As he starts up his car to leave, she assures him that the open house is open to everyone including perfect strangers.

JAMES STACY with DEBORAH WALLEY

WENDY TURNER with DEBORAH WALLEY

NANCY GETS HER FIRST LOOK AT TOM

NANCY INVITES TOM TO THE PARTY

The handsome stranger drives to Osh Poppum's store where he waits while Osh finishes a letter.  Without looking up, Osh brags that the letter is to an important property owner who has left him in complete charge of his affairs.  When Osh turns, the young man reaches out for the letter and Osh recognizes the young Tom Hamilton who has come back to claim his house and wants to know why people are living there.  Osh hands him a packet of unmailed letters, including several from Nancy Carey.  He asks Tom to read Nancy's letters, "written from a grateful young heart", before deciding what to do.

LISTENING TO OSH BRAG

LISTENING TO OSH EXPLAIN

Back at the Carey's Lolly Joy has been sufficiently feminized to wow young Gilley, Charles comes to call for Julia and Digby shows up escorting a nice country girl having had his fill of city women.  Nancy looks forlornly out the window, seeing the world in pairs with herself alone.  However, with chin up, humming the song about walking and talking feminine, she starts down the stairs alone to join the barn dance.  Half way down the stairs she stops short, startled at the sight at the bottom of the stairs -- the handsome young stranger, resplendent in a tux, smiling up at her.

EVERYONE IN PAIRS

SWEET NANCY ALONE

A WONDERFUL SURPRISE

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS

Nancy loses her shoe which tumbles down the stairs to her Prince Charming's feet.  He picks it up and insists on replacing it himself.  When Osh starts to introduce him, Tom cuts him short, telling Osh that he and Nancy have already met.  He turns to Nancy and tells her this is one party he decided he couldn't afford to miss.  He escorts Nancy to the barn where the others are impressed with her handsome escort.  Nancy leaves her prince with Osh which she goes to attend to the unveiling of the portrait.   Osh tries to convince Tom to go outside for a smoke but Tom is adamant that he wants to see "the ceremony".

THE CINDERELLA GESTURE

THE SOULFUL GAZE

SHOWING OFF HER PRIZE

THE GIRLS ADMIRE THE MAN DIGBY DISMISSES AS "A CITY FELLA"

Tom is rather startled to see the portrait that Osh has passed off as his beloved mother.  His mother is in fact is quite alive and having a whirl on the Riviera.  He is also surprised to hear Nancy joking about having referred to Mr. Hamilton as a yellow peril, a reference to their belief he was in the Orient and their fear he might return and take back the yellow house.  With trepidation Osh asks Tom what he intends to do.  Tom tells Osh he'll talk to him later as he walks off.   Things look bright for a happy ending when after identifying himself, Tom whirls Nancy onto the dance floor.

TOM LISTENS TO NANCY'S SPEECH

THE PORTRAINT UNVEILED

TOM GLARES AT  OSH

THE HAPPY ENDING