Summer City (1977) – Nostalgia Central

Set in Australia in the 1960s, Summer City follows four Sydney youths who go on a stag weekend to commemorate the coming marriage of one of the group with drinking, dancing, surfing and “one last fling”.

Sandy (John Jarratt) is the quiet, university-educated young man whose upcoming marriage triggers the road trip.

He is accompanied for the weekend by his mates Robbie (Phil Avalon, who also wrote and produced the movie), Scollop (a 19-year-old Mel Gibson in his screen debut), and the obnoxious, womanising Boo (Steve Bisley, also in his film debut).

Tragedy stalks the group after Boo seduces a teenager named Caroline (Deborah Forman) at a local caravan park and her psychotic war veteran father (James Elliot) pursues the boys with a shotgun to make amends for his daughter’s conquest.

The lighthearted road trip ends in a tense, fatal confrontation.

The low-budget independent film was shot on 16mm and blown up to 35mm for its theatrical release.

Look out for a brief cameo from Australia’s undisputed #1 sex symbol of the day, Abigail.

Sandy
John Jarratt
Robbie
Phil Avalon
Boo
Steve Bisley
Scollop
Mel Gibson
Caroline
Deborah Forman
Ward ‘Pally’ Austin
Himself
Giuseppe
Carl Rorke
Nail
Ross Bailey
Caveman
Hank Tick
Donna
Vicki Hekimian
Gloria
Karen Williams
Caroline’s Father
James Elliott
Woman in Pub
Abigail
Waitress
Judith Woodroffe

Director
Christopher Fraser

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