Bette Greene, the author of "Summer of my German Soldier" just recently passed away, may she rest in peace. What a wonderful and special lady and writer. 💓
I am now 60 years old, I first saw this when the movie first came out, many years ago. It impacted me deeply then, as I was a emotional, intense girl much like Patty. The film still leaves me with a similar deep impact.
I also related very strongly to Patty when I was growing up. Had a younger sister as well who had received my share of my mothers love. I was so moved by this movie/ book and it’s message never left me to this very day.
Thank you, I was wondering who the actor who played the housekeeper was - a very fine performance. Her character in this film reminds me of my own dear mum's strength of character and fortitude - beautiful people who make a cold hard world warmer and humane 💖
I read this book when I was in the 8th grade and although I loved the book, I was broken apart by the ending. The story is so beautiful, and the movie is wonderful. I actually lived a small part of this, my husband is German and I grew up in the south, but now I live in Germany. I went through all kinds of grief when I decided to move here, but it did not shake my determination. I think that this book actually enhanced my interest in Europe and what eventually happened to me after I grew up. My husband and I celebrated our silver anniversary last year.
Belated Congratulations of your Silver Anniversary. I've always heard that Germany was a beautiful country, and very clean. I've always wanted to visit Germany, and all the European countries. Never was able too.
OMG it's on here!!!! Thank you so much!!! I have only ever watched this film once in my life, as a child. It never left me. Now at 51 yrs, I don't know if I'm ready to watch it again as it impacted so much emotionally. I remember crying so much. But at least now I know that when I do feel ready to watch it again, it's here. Thank you 🙏🏻
" I want it to remind you that you are a person of value in this world and that you have a friend, always"....OMG....I fell in love with Anton the same way that Patty did!
I found this movie by going to IMDB & doing a search for Robyn Lively, to see what she's been in, before she made it famous. . She's my favorite actress
I cried my eyes out when I first saw it many years ago. Watched it recently and cried just as hard. Still love this movie just as much as when I first saw it! Loved Esther Rolle in this movie, she was like the mother that Patty deserved to have but never had
I loved this movie when I was younger. Tried to find it when I was older & didn’t have any luck. Came across this tonight & I about lost it! So happy to find the whole movie!!!
@@stevestults1111 I paid a small fortune for a VHS of the movie from USA and had it delivered to the UK. I then had it converted on to DVD. It was my grandmother’s favourite movie, we’d watch it together and I wanted to treasure it forever after her passing. Worth every penny!
Wonderful story at a time when the world was in deep turmoil. This story shows that kindness and friendship can form in the most peculiar situations when the norm was to look upon each other as enemies. On the other side of the coin, the norm would've been for the natural love to dwell in the heart of the one who gave you life. Sadly, there was no love in that heart for Patty; only contempt for the offspring whom he not only didn't want but also despised. Life is strange...very strange indeed. 😢
I wrote to Bette Greene author of "Summer of My German Soldier" shortly after watching the tv movie and reading her book and she was kind enough to send me a hand written letter and autographed photo for my collection. I told her how much I loved the book and the movie. She was very gracious and kind. Esther Rolle, Kristy McNichol & Bruce Davison were all excellent as well as all the other cast members in their roles in the movie. I have some still photos from the movie and autographs from some of the cast members. This will always be one of my favorite movies.
Bette was my cousin. She was a very special woman. An archive for Bette's writings is at the University of Minnesota. Should you decide to donate your letter and photo, contact: University of Minnesota Archives and Special Collections Elmer L. Andersen Library 222 - 21st Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55455
My father verbally abused me for years, he always compared me to my athletic cousins and peers. I hate my birth dad. My stepdad doesn’t do that, I call my stepdad Papa for a reason.
What a wonderful story, both book and film It's horrifying that this book was one of the most challenged books for banning in so many American venues: it presents a wonderfully nuanced complex of moral issues presented with an underlying belief in the possibility of reconciliation. This is exactly the book or movie that I would want to present to middle schoolers, so they can discuss race, class, political bias, religious intolerance, and the possibilities of reconciliation. These kinds of discussions are so badly needed today, so this story is timeless.. I think this TV movie represented the book so well, and added even more depth by including racial harm in our history. Even 50+ years later, we still need to talk about this and learn from it.
As much as I'm grateful for this film adaptation, it falls so so short of the book. It fails to capture the beauty, nuance, and agony of Patty's experience. This book was the first I cried over. The number of books I've wept over can be counted on one hand. And Summer of My German Soldier is one of them.
Wasn't the book completely different from the movie. I seem to remember from the book that the father's character was not a bad father. However, that was a long, long time ago so I could be mistaken.
@@scootergurl48 Haven't watched the film adaption, but if I recall correctly in the book her Dad was a rather hard man with a streak of cruelty towards select persons.
I really loved Ruth in this story. She was more of a mother for Patty other than her real mom. Her real mom didn’t care one bit about Patty. Father was a real bastard. Both parents were messed up. I did love Anton. He was very kind and understanding. He was very handsome. I wish he had lived so he and Patty could run away together and possibly elope. And Ruth could cover for them. Maybe leave the country for a while. I don’t know. I’m just rambling.
Like a lot of people, I read this book in 8th Grade English. It's been nearly 20 years and I still think about this book/movie from time to time. It really got me into reading. I was so interested I got all A's in my exam questions 😁
I had such a crush on Kristy as a kid. Always thought she was adorable. I saw this TV movie when it first aired...and I feel just as bad NOW, over 40 years later, for the way she was treated by her father!
Hey, join the club! I was 12 or 13 when this first was shown, and very excited to see it because I just finished reading the book for school. At least Bruce Davison is still acting. RIP, Michael Constantine!
THANKS for sharing this! It'll be my first time seeing it. Not sure why I missed it? Well yes I do. It was 1978 I was 20 disco had invaded need I say more. LOL.
Fantastic film. Constantine was great never saw him play so mean. Kristy Mcnichol always gives a great performance. Esther Rolle wonderful. Glad I watched this one
*Spoilers alert* Good movie but so much better in the book. You can actually see why Patty fell for Anton in the book as he doesn't treat her like a child or use her. He cares for her here too, but it doesn't feel as strong as it does in the book.
I am glad that this wonderful movie is still available on YT. I first saw this TV movie in late 1978 when I was almost 14. But I never have forgotten this movie. Movies like this take us all back to when we were young.
@ Marienette P----I'm with you. Once Hollywood massages it, most books-to-movies suffer greatly in the character development department. They suffer from Hollywood directors' "homogenization", to fit into the 'mainstream'. The good book turns B-Movie real quick like. Case in point,....that last sentence sounds like I'm a southerner huh, I'm not....
@@greg4673 Very true. This film has its own charm and is very bittersweet. But I was really disappointed when they cut the important conversation that Ruth has with Anton in the book and how they also develop a short-lived friendship. I know they do it for sake of time, but some things are worth hanging onto from the original source. There is also a musical to Summer of My German Soldier and it does a good job of following along with the original story line with song.
The movie may have watered down the affection and friendship between Patty and Anton because of the difference in their ages. Anton was grown man and Patty a 14 or 15 year old girl? There was nothing romantic between them. Still, it would have sent censors in a panic if Anton had done more than give her a chaste kiss on the forehead. For me the most touching scene is when Anton saw Patty slung to the ground and being beaten like a dog. Yet not fearing for his safety and capture, Anton's first instinct was to rush to Patty's aid.
@@jonwiley2592 Yeah that is a very logical reasoning to why they portrayed the friendship the way they did in the film. So he doesn't come across as a pedophile. And you're right about the scene where Anton rushes to save Patty from her father: that was captured so beautifully and perfectly from both adaptations! Upon reading the book i didn't really get a pedophilic feeling from their relationship, but more of a teacher-student relationship where he cares for her and wants to protect her as a big brother seeing as he felt guilty for not spending enough time with his own sister back in Germany. He also sees the potential in Patty and the woman she is capable of becoming while everybody else underestimates her. The one thing i can see as being pedophilic in the book was the farewell kiss on the lips- to me, that actually seemed to be more of a fantasy written out by the author to create more of a climax of a romance that could have been/could have happened had Anton not died.Throughout the book Anton never touched Patty inappropriately and he knew her coming with him was dangerous and inappropriate as it was.
I would pay serious money for an authorized copy on DVD but until then I am grateful for this link. Barbara Barrie is one day older than my own mother.
Possibly one of the worst fathers in literature and cinema. He hated his daughter because she looked like his mother? And then accused his daughter of hating him and that’s why his life is terrible? Poor Patty for having to deal with those disgusting excuses for parents.
Wow, this was an incredibly hard movie to watch. I am glad I stuck with it and watched through to the end. It hit me deeply on so many levels. Through the majority I kept thinking what kind of a sicko would like this movie ? Why am I watching this garbage? I had watched a documentary on Kristy Mcnichol and this movie was mentioned in the comments. I decided to give it a shot only because of her. It said a lot about abuse & hatred of other human beings for the most idiotic reasons. There was a parallel between the father and a true Nazi. He hated her from birth for her looks just like a nazi would hate a jew. Yet a nazi showed her she was a human being and worthy of so much. Really excellent film. I would think this would be very difficult for a holocaust survivor though with good reason. So very complicated and sad.
Yes it was a nazi that showed patty that she was valued and showed her more love than her own father did anton should have lived and took patty and ran off with her and he showed her his feelings by almost coming out off the safe hiding place when her father was beating her he loved her
You know when we read this book in school students should have gotten to write our own version of how the book ended like when anton lived and he and patty ran off together and got married and had a happy ending
Poor Patricia. Such a special and wonderful and special girl. What the hell was the deal with her parents? What awful people! They were much worse that just "irregular" like Ruth said. They're downright cruel and abusive. I loved Kristy McNichol in this and I thought she was so pretty here.
Her parents are more like “discontinued.” No longer useful as parents. If Anton lived, (as I speak for not only myself, but many others too) I wish they could have fled somewhere, got married and lived happily ever after. Or she could have lived with Ruth. In any alternate ending, she can’t continue living with her parents. It’s a living hell. No child should live like that.
Had never seen this movie before now! Although the effects are low budget and dated, it is actually a VERY good movie. Most of the acting is outstanding, and McNichol and Rolle are at the top of the list. Their abilities elevated the performance of the entire cast!
There weren’t many occasions in the film for effects. It’s from a time not too long ago when conversations were valued more in film than special effects. Yes the acting is superb in this film.
The first time I ever saw this film was 30 years ago this month (5/1993) I was 15 and my 8th grade English teacher showed it to us. I was sad that whole summer because of the way that idiot father treated Patricia and then how the entire town looked down on her. Bless her heart. In addition it always made me mad that the father made himself look like a complete victim he was truly a piece of s***
My mom was very abusive towards me when my dad passed over 46 yrs ago the hatred and abuse got worse after he died I tried showing my mom love and respect all I got was beating but she is long gone and i forgave her and still love her and I hold no grudges .
@@ratdog6317she was exactly like the father she was always saying I reminded her of his mother and it made her six to her sick to her stomach so before you open your rude mouth understand the abuse I and Patty went through…
I am quite lonely also. And I have decided that PB is my best friend, 😌 and that I will help her to keep the memory and love 💘❤💕 of Anton Friedrich Reicher forever!
I found filming locations from Kristy’s 1978 movie. Patty’s house is at 364 Porter St., in Madison, Georgia. There is now a white picket fence around the property. Behind her house are 2 garages visible from Third St., the dark brown garage could be Patty’s hideout. It looks like it was rebuilt since the movie was filmed. The railroad bridge is a half mile West of her house, near the intersection of Walton St. and Jasper St., and is visible using Google satellite view. I noticed how close Kristy is standing next to the edge of the bridge, watching the authorities search the train for Anton. The producers of “Family” were probably not happy with the movie director after they saw this scene. Maybe it was Kristy’s stand-in filmed in the camera shot taken from over her right shoulder, looking down. The train station is a half mile Northeast of her house, where the railroad crosses West Jefferson St. The brick building in the the background when the Germans are exiting the train is still there, along with the fading McDowell Grocery Co. sign. The Bergen retail store is in Crawfordville, Georgia at 117 Broad St., and has a sign above the entrance, Holden Block 1910. The movie theatre Patty walks by twice in the movie has been torn down.
I remember the first time i saw this when i was a little girl. Even though i loved the movie it still really upset me. Im not sure what bothered me more. Abtons death or patty having to not only lose him butalso being up against a long and hard journey after his death. I only remember that i cried and cried.
Not all Germans were Nazis, and in fact some were even Jewish. I have an aunt who is German (married my father's brother after the war). She wasn't a Nazi either-in fact, as a Catholic, she was almost as hated as the Jews.
We all know German Jews existed. We also know no German admitted to being a Nazi after the War, yet Hitler filled stadiums and streets with maniacal followers. Who were all those people kissing his arse? Were they computer generated? Wait... No German said shit when the German Jews began to be exterminated. None of them said shit about the camps. Everyone knows that some German Troops were in elite Nazi units and others were Wehrmacht. So what? They all fought for Hitler and the Third Reich and they all fought under the Nazi flag. They would have all benefited from a German victory. Smalltown USA didn't care to distinguish between Nazis and mythical "regular Germans" when most of their men and boys were shipped off to fight and die trying to stop Hitler and his forces. I had a friend who was a little Jewish girl during Hitler's reign; she and her mother fled to England before he and his lunatics had a chance to murder them. Her father sacrificed his physical and mental health working with the French Underground. Stop apologizing for Germany. They started the shit again and The Allies ended it again. They don't deserve sympathy or understanding.
@@deaconsmom2000 My mom knew a young German woman, whose family fled. Not everybody was lucky enough to be able to leave the country. You either feigned patriotism, or risked being persecuted like the Jews. It's easy for you to sit and judge the German people, from your cozy home. But it was very different for those who had to live there. Sure, Hitler had his followers, but there were a lot of people who secretly hated him and everything he stood for. And just FYI, most of the attempts on Hitler's life were made by the Wehrmacht. Did anyone in your family try to stop Hitler? I didn't think so. Get off your high horse.
My own mother was born in Germany, lived through the war. She and her family were not Nazis. In fact, they hated the Nazis. My mom was the sweetest person. She fled Germany after the war with two of her brothers, to America. My mom met my Dad in the states. She had 3 brothers. The youngest stayed in Germany where he remains till this day. My mom and my Uncles had many stories to tell. Her father, my maternal grandfather had seen Hitler from a distance.
Poor Patty! What awful parents to have, and then to lose Anton, too. How sad what she already went through and how much more she'll have to endure by being stuck in that house until she's old enough to leave.
What about living in the shadow of her baby sister? Talk about a Rachel and Leah story! What a wonderfully told story. I wish I could find more like these!
Kristy McNichol must have been "moonlighting" from the ABC TV Series "Family" to film this ..She made a great choice and was everywhere in the late 70's! This movie originally aired on the NBC Network back on October 30, 1978.💜📺📼📀💜
@jujubegold In addition to him having been pressured to getting married before he was ready, he hated Patty because she reminded him of his mother whom he claimed was "stingy and selfish." He saw Patty as a curse set out to destroy his life. What a terrible thing he did to his child. This girl was seeking the friendship, kindness and attention from Antoine that she never received from her parents, especially her father. What a terrible tragedy.
Filmed in Crawfordville ga, Madison Ga and Hard Labor Creek State park. Sweet Home Alabama was filmed in Crawfordsville as well as Coward of the County, Gorp, and a few others
Michael Constantine's character was despicable and he didn't realize that his character was just as much a minority as Esther Roll's character but yet he treated her like dirt too.
That man was a piece of work anton had more character and respect for patty than her own father just imagine hating your own daughter since the day she was born because she looks like his mother that's just a despicable excuse for a father anton should have lived and took patty and ran and also ruth was more of a mother to patty than pearl ever was such shameful parents just shameful
For those of you who would like to know more about Bette Greene, she was the subject of a thorough and well-written obituary in The Washington Post written by Harrison Smith. Click on: www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/bette-greene-novelist-whose-summer-of-my-german-soldier-became-a-young-adult-hit-dies-at-86/2020/10/08/6e3dfe62-0975-11eb-859b-f9c27abe638d_story.html Obituaries also appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Memphis Hebrew Watchman, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the Wynne (AR) Progress. In addition, there are a number of other on-line obituaries.
...Kristy McNichol was fortunate enough to work with Emmy Award winning actresses Esther Rolle (Ruth); & Sada Thompson, (Kate Lawrence) on Family. Rolle & Thompson were two of the most talented actresses in the business. McNichol was also very talented actress...though in my own opinion; albeit adequate, this wasn't her shining moment on screen. She was however, excellent portraying Buddy on Family & in numerous roles.
Patty’s family treated her like dirt; her family should treat her with kindness and love like her sister Sharon, no matter how her Grandmother treated her father and mother. He shouldn’t hold a grudge against Patty. It’s a wonder why she confided in Ruth and Anton, she was searching for the love her family didn’t give her.
Her family may want to take inventory that she was more loved and thought of by a Naz! - her father was a failure as a father and more a failure as a human. How ironic he’s no different than the soldier
Yes I have German ancestry and don't like them being called krauts my great grandfather was German he didn't believe in what Hitler was doing hitler was disgusting and despicable
It was a nazi that treated patty with more love and respect than her father did in her whole life in the short time she knew anton he risk coming out of the safe hiding place to protect her from her father beating her that was love
20:08 if that was my father I would told him, “if I bring so much disgrace to him and the family then kick me out. I know you hate me and I’m your scapegoat to verbally beat up on. You don’t deserve me for an offspring. You shouldn’t be a father.”
I can relate to patty she had low self esteem and so do I sometimes you realize your value in this world but I think anton showed her her worth and value more than her parents did and so did ruth
This is textbook example of generational bad parenting. He talks about his mother giving him no love growing up. He was emotionally abused so he emotionally abuses. Stop the cycle...if you can't love your own child, give them to someone who will love them.
Bette Greene, the author of "Summer of my German Soldier" just recently passed away, may she rest in peace. What a wonderful and special lady and writer. 💓
Good movie
Yes, she was RIP
I am now 60 years old, I first saw this when the movie first came out, many years ago. It impacted me deeply then, as I was a emotional, intense girl much like Patty. The film still leaves me with a similar deep impact.
Same.
Same, estuve llorando meses.
Yo también la Vi muy joven , pero está versión le cortaron varias partes d ella película.
I also related very strongly to Patty when I was growing up. Had a younger sister as well who had received my share of my mothers love. I was so moved by this movie/ book and it’s message never left me to this very day.
Esther Rolle won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Ruth. R.I.P.
Yep I never heard of this movie until I saw that, but great movie she deserved it
@@erickanew Agreed
Thank you, I was wondering who the actor who played the housekeeper was - a very fine performance.
Her character in this film reminds me of my own dear mum's strength of character and fortitude - beautiful people who make a cold hard world warmer and humane 💖
@@TheRozberry To y’all she’s Esther Rolle, but to me she will forever be Florida Evans! “Good Times” man I miss those days.
Esther Rolle was such a wonderful actress! I loved her in everything she was in. I always wanted to meet her.
I read this book when I was in the 8th grade and although I loved the book, I was broken apart by the ending. The story is so beautiful, and the movie is wonderful. I actually lived a small part of this, my husband is German and I grew up in the south, but now I live in Germany. I went through all kinds of grief when I decided to move here, but it did not shake my determination. I think that this book actually enhanced my interest in Europe and what eventually happened to me after I grew up. My husband and I celebrated our silver anniversary last year.
Belated Congratulations of your Silver Anniversary. I've always heard that Germany was a beautiful country, and very clean. I've always wanted to visit Germany, and all the European countries. Never was able too.
CONGRATULATIONS on your wonderful marriage and anniversary!
Happy for you both! My mother was born in Germany too. Lived through the war. They hated the Nazi’s.
I love a happy ending🥰 Congratulations!
I read this when I was 14 and it hit me pretty hard. That poor little girl! At least she had Ruth.
mammy
I hope that, one day, this excellent TV movie will be available on DVD or Blu-ray.
I saw this back in the 80's I loved it now watching it again at 56 years of age it still made me cry so many great actors thank you for sharing ❤️
Your welcome
OMG it's on here!!!! Thank you so much!!!
I have only ever watched this film once in my life, as a child. It never left me.
Now at 51 yrs, I don't know if I'm ready to watch it again as it impacted so much emotionally. I remember crying so much. But at least now I know that when I do feel ready to watch it again, it's here.
Thank you 🙏🏻
Welcome
@@pressmin 🙏🏻
" I want it to remind you that you are a person of value in this world and that you have a friend, always"....OMG....I fell in love with Anton the same way that Patty did!
Never thought I would get to see this lovely film again. Thanks for sharing!
I was an extra and Bruce Davison's stand in in this movie.
I found this movie by going to IMDB & doing a search
for Robyn Lively, to see what she's been in, before
she made it famous.
.
She's my favorite actress
Hey!......Keep Dream'in....
@@willomina1990 no dreams all facts!
Wonderful experience I would imagine.
Were you an extra on any other movies?
I CRIED SO HARD AS A KID WATCHING THIS MOVIE!!! So happy to have found it again!! .....wheres the Kleenex
I cried my eyes out when I first saw it many years ago. Watched it recently and cried just as hard. Still love this movie just as much as when I first saw it! Loved Esther Rolle in this movie, she was like the mother that Patty deserved to have but never had
I loved this movie when I was younger. Tried to find it when I was older & didn’t have any luck. Came across this tonight & I about lost it! So happy to find the whole movie!!!
Davison and McNichol were both superb in this. Very touching and unusual film, from a truly excellent book.
Almost 30 years ago I would read the book aloud to my 7th grade classes, then show them the film. Too bad. Looks like it never made it to DVD.
I agree
Wasn't Bruce Davison cute ?
@@stevestults1111 I paid a small fortune for a VHS of the movie from USA and had it delivered to the UK. I then had it converted on to DVD. It was my grandmother’s favourite movie, we’d watch it together and I wanted to treasure it forever after her passing. Worth every penny!
fad
Esther Rolle brought me here. 1st black woman to win an Emmy in this role. She was a great actress here & good movie. Totally different from today
Viola Davis was the first black actress to win an emmy.
@@FrankiesFancy Viola won for best actress in 2015 in drama but Esther won best supporting actress in 1978 in miniseries, different categories
Me too
Wonderful story at a time when the world was in deep turmoil. This story shows that kindness and friendship can form in the most peculiar situations when the norm was to look upon each other as enemies. On the other side of the coin, the norm would've been for the natural love to dwell in the heart of the one who gave you life. Sadly, there was no love in that heart for Patty; only contempt for the offspring whom he not only didn't want but also despised.
Life is strange...very strange indeed. 😢
I wrote to Bette Greene author of "Summer of My German Soldier" shortly after watching the tv movie and reading her book and she was kind enough to send me a hand written letter and autographed photo for my collection. I told her how much I loved the book and the movie. She was very gracious and kind. Esther Rolle, Kristy McNichol & Bruce Davison were all excellent as well as all the other cast members in their roles
in the movie. I have some still photos from the movie and autographs from some of the cast members. This will always be one of my favorite movies.
Bette was my cousin. She was a very special woman.
An archive for Bette's writings is at the University of Minnesota. Should you decide to donate your letter and photo, contact:
University of Minnesota
Archives and Special Collections
Elmer L. Andersen Library
222 - 21st Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55455
Top-knotch
Loved the movie, I saw it When I was teenager, thanks for the movie 🤗🤗🤗
Such a well done film.
This should be shown in schools- middle and high school.
I was 13 when this came out. It GUTTED me! Absolutely devastated me. I cried for days.
😢
Igual que yo, estuve llorando meses.
Just cried watching it again like i did the first time i watched it, when i was 14
One of my favorite movies as a child. Thank you for sharing so I could see it again.
Kristy did a wonderful job in this movie as well as Ester Rolle
classic
Still tugs at my heart strings....thank you for posting on youtube💗
"You gave my shirt to that Nazi". . .
Patricia is like so many children in this world hated and misunderstood by their very own parents.
The same shirt that he hated when Patty gave it to him for his birthday.
“You never even took the pins out.”
the gestapo stasi don’t like Ruth
My father verbally abused me for years, he always compared me to my athletic cousins and peers. I hate my birth dad. My stepdad doesn’t do that, I call my stepdad Papa for a reason.
I saw this film as a girl, it has always stuck in my mind.
Was nice to have the chance to watch it again. ☺️
What a wonderful story, both book and film It's horrifying that this book was one of the most challenged books for banning in so many American venues: it presents a wonderfully nuanced complex of moral issues presented with an underlying belief in the possibility of reconciliation. This is exactly the book or movie that I would want to present to middle schoolers, so they can discuss race, class, political bias, religious intolerance, and the possibilities of reconciliation. These kinds of discussions are so badly needed today, so this story is timeless.. I think this TV movie represented the book so well, and added even more depth by including racial harm in our history. Even 50+ years later, we still need to talk about this and learn from it.
As much as I'm grateful for this film adaptation, it falls so so short of the book. It fails to capture the beauty, nuance, and agony of Patty's experience. This book was the first I cried over. The number of books I've wept over can be counted on one hand. And Summer of My German Soldier is one of them.
Wasn't the book completely different from the movie. I seem to remember from the book that the father's character was not a bad father. However, that was a long, long time ago so I could be mistaken.
@@scootergurl48 Haven't watched the film adaption, but if I recall correctly in the book her Dad was a rather hard man with a streak of cruelty towards select persons.
@@scootergurl48 yes he was a cold unloving man towards Patty in the book too
Good to know I wasn't the only one that cried over this book
Trump fires Esther Rolle
Kristy looks so young here. Amazing actress.
she was young here it said 1978 when it was made well I was six years old not how time flys.
I meen how time flys
@Carolyn Rog3Rogers
'Flies'.
She was actually 16 years old in this movie and Bruce Davison looked younger than what he was
I was 13 when I read the book and my friends and I were very excited for the movie. It's always stuck with me. I'm glad I was able to see it again.
I read this book for school. It’s so beautifully interpreted in the book and I hope it’s the same for the movie.
Gracie Bug me too! I still remember it even though I never read it again
I did too. Baber even knew there was a movie til today.
I have never seen this movie in my 55 years of life! Very good movie.
I really loved Ruth in this story. She was more of a mother for Patty other than her real mom. Her real mom didn’t care one bit about Patty. Father was a real bastard. Both parents were messed up. I did love Anton. He was very kind and understanding. He was very handsome. I wish he had lived so he and Patty could run away together and possibly elope. And Ruth could cover for them. Maybe leave the country for a while. I don’t know. I’m just rambling.
He should have lived so they could have lived so they could have ran away together
@@tammymorris5898 true that 😊😉
"Irregular Folks"
When I was teaching middle school I taught this book. The kids really enjoyed it.
Man, Bruce Davison is so young in this!
And he's cute to
Bruce Davison was great in Willard-- his iconic role.
Esther Rolle deserved the Emmy that she received for this drama.
This was the first romantic book that I read as a kid, which showed me the heartbreak and misery of love-- yet I'm back here watching it once again :(
Like a lot of people, I read this book in 8th Grade English. It's been nearly 20 years and I still think about this book/movie from time to time. It really got me into reading. I was so interested I got all A's in my exam questions 😁
I had such a crush on Kristy as a kid. Always thought she was adorable. I saw this TV movie when it first aired...and I feel just as bad NOW, over 40 years later, for the way she was treated by her father!
Hey, join the club! I was 12 or 13 when this first was shown, and very excited to see it because I just finished reading the book for school. At least Bruce Davison is still acting. RIP, Michael Constantine!
80
If I was Pattie I'd leave as soon as I could and live with Ruth. Also Kristy should have won an Oscar for this role
Me too! Ruth was such a sweetheart! I love her character! If she was a real person, I’d love to give her a hug 🤗
J N. Made for TV movies aren't awarded Oscars. But Esther Rolle won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ruth.
the stasi gestapo doesn’t like Ruth Hughes
I second that for sure!!
THANKS for sharing this! It'll be my first time seeing it. Not sure why I missed it? Well yes I do. It was 1978 I was 20 disco had invaded need I say more. LOL.
Fantastic film. Constantine was great never saw him play so mean. Kristy Mcnichol always gives a great performance. Esther Rolle wonderful. Glad I watched this one
*Spoilers alert*
Good movie but so much better in the book. You can actually see why Patty fell for Anton in the book as he doesn't treat her like a child or use her. He cares for her here too, but it doesn't feel as strong as it does in the book.
I am glad that this wonderful movie is still available on YT. I first saw this TV movie in late 1978 when I was almost 14. But I never have forgotten this movie. Movies like this take us all back to when we were young.
@ Marienette P----I'm with you. Once Hollywood massages it, most books-to-movies suffer greatly in the character development department. They suffer from Hollywood directors' "homogenization", to fit into the 'mainstream'. The good book turns B-Movie real quick like. Case in point,....that last sentence sounds like I'm a southerner huh, I'm not....
@@greg4673 Very true. This film has its own charm and is very bittersweet. But I was really disappointed when they cut the important conversation that Ruth has with Anton in the book and how they also develop a short-lived friendship. I know they do it for sake of time, but some things are worth hanging onto from the original source. There is also a musical to Summer of My German Soldier and it does a good job of following along with the original story line with song.
The movie may have watered down the affection and friendship between Patty and Anton because of the difference in their ages. Anton was grown man and Patty a 14 or 15 year old girl? There was nothing romantic between them. Still, it would have sent censors in a panic if Anton had done more than give her a chaste kiss on the forehead. For me the most touching scene is when Anton saw Patty slung to the ground and being beaten like a dog. Yet not fearing for his safety and capture, Anton's first instinct was to rush to Patty's aid.
@@jonwiley2592 Yeah that is a very logical reasoning to why they portrayed the friendship the way they did in the film. So he doesn't come across as a pedophile. And you're right about the scene where Anton rushes to save Patty from her father: that was captured so beautifully and perfectly from both adaptations! Upon reading the book i didn't really get a pedophilic feeling from their relationship, but more of a teacher-student relationship where he cares for her and wants to protect her as a big brother seeing as he felt guilty for not spending enough time with his own sister back in Germany. He also sees the potential in Patty and the woman she is capable of becoming while everybody else underestimates her. The one thing i can see as being pedophilic in the book was the farewell kiss on the lips- to me, that actually seemed to be more of a fantasy written out by the author to create more of a climax of a romance that could have been/could have happened had Anton not died.Throughout the book Anton never touched Patty inappropriately and he knew her coming with him was dangerous and inappropriate as it was.
Kristy McNichol was awesome in this..Such a good actress.
I would pay serious money for an authorized copy on DVD but until then I am grateful for this link.
Barbara Barrie is one day older than my own mother.
Possibly one of the worst fathers in literature and cinema. He hated his daughter because she looked like his mother? And then accused his daughter of hating him and that’s why his life is terrible? Poor Patty for having to deal with those disgusting excuses for parents.
I thought Darth Vader was the worst father... lol
Faded Light Well, at least he loved his son and was on his side when he died.
@@zeeblue1220 true
I would have hauled off and punched the father in the nose for being an asshole and thinking he was so God damn tough.
@@michaelwebb8158 he was truly evil
I haven't seen this since it first came out....yeah...I guess I needed a good cry ♡
Watched this as a child brilliant thank you x
Wow, this was an incredibly hard movie to watch. I am glad I stuck with it and watched through to the end. It hit me deeply on so many levels. Through the majority I kept thinking what kind of a sicko would like this movie ? Why am I watching this garbage? I had watched a documentary on Kristy Mcnichol and this movie was mentioned in the comments. I decided to give it a shot only because of her. It said a lot about abuse & hatred of other human beings for the most idiotic reasons. There was a parallel between the father and a true Nazi. He hated her from birth for her looks just like a nazi would hate a jew. Yet a nazi showed her she was a human being and worthy of so much. Really excellent film. I would think this would be very difficult for a holocaust survivor though with good reason. So very complicated and sad.
Yes it was a nazi that showed patty that she was valued and showed her more love than her own father did anton should have lived and took patty and ran off with her and he showed her his feelings by almost coming out off the safe hiding place when her father was beating her he loved her
You know when we read this book in school students should have gotten to write our own version of how the book ended like when anton lived and he and patty ran off together and got married and had a happy ending
Poor Patricia. Such a special and wonderful and special girl. What the hell was the deal with her parents? What awful people! They were much worse that just "irregular" like Ruth said. They're downright cruel and abusive. I loved Kristy McNichol in this and I thought she was so pretty here.
Her parents are more like “discontinued.” No longer useful as parents. If Anton lived, (as I speak for not only myself, but many others too) I wish they could have fled somewhere, got married and lived happily ever after. Or she could have lived with Ruth. In any alternate ending, she can’t continue living with her parents. It’s a living hell. No child should live like that.
pedo
Esther Rolle Christian
Had never seen this movie before now! Although the effects are low budget and dated, it is actually a VERY good movie. Most of the acting is outstanding, and McNichol and Rolle are at the top of the list. Their abilities elevated the performance of the entire cast!
There weren’t many occasions in the film for effects. It’s from a time not too long ago when conversations were valued more in film than special effects. Yes the acting is superb in this film.
The first time I ever saw this film was 30 years ago this month (5/1993) I was 15 and my 8th grade English teacher showed it to us. I was sad that whole summer because of the way that idiot father treated Patricia and then how the entire town looked down on her. Bless her heart. In addition it always made me mad that the father made himself look like a complete victim he was truly a piece of s***
Mediterranean
I see why Mrs. Esther Rolle won the Academy Award for her role in this film👑 she is a #Legend👊🏿👑💪🏿
Esther Role actually won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress not the Academy Award.
Summer of my German Soldier was made for TV.
Legend indeed. Esther Rolle was a wonderful actor and brilliant in this role.
Jerome Rohwer
Arkie
Okie
My mom was very abusive towards me when my dad passed over 46 yrs ago the hatred and abuse got worse after he died I tried showing my mom love and respect all I got was beating but she is long gone and i forgave her and still love her and I hold no grudges .
what does that have to do with the movie
personally heart touching
@@ratdog6317she was exactly like the father she was always saying I reminded her of his mother and it made her six to her sick to her stomach so before you open your rude mouth understand the abuse I and Patty went through…
I am quite lonely also. And I have decided that PB is my best friend, 😌 and that I will help her to keep the memory and love 💘❤💕 of Anton Friedrich Reicher forever!
I can't believe I haven't seen this movie before 😊Now I'm going to have to look up all of Esther Rolle movies 😀👍🏾👍🏾❤️
Didn't she do a version of 'Member of the Wedding'? I'll look it up.
I found filming locations from Kristy’s 1978 movie.
Patty’s house is at 364 Porter St., in Madison, Georgia.
There is now a white picket fence around the property.
Behind her house are 2 garages visible from Third St., the dark
brown garage could be Patty’s hideout. It looks like it was
rebuilt since the movie was filmed.
The railroad bridge is a half mile West of her house,
near the intersection of Walton St. and Jasper St., and
is visible using Google satellite view. I noticed how
close Kristy is standing next to the edge of the bridge, watching
the authorities search the train for Anton. The producers of
“Family” were probably not happy with the movie director after
they saw this scene. Maybe it was Kristy’s stand-in filmed in
the camera shot taken from over her right shoulder, looking down.
The train station is a half mile Northeast of her house, where
the railroad crosses West Jefferson St. The brick building in the
the background when the Germans are exiting the train is still there,
along with the fading McDowell Grocery Co. sign. The Bergen retail store
is in Crawfordville, Georgia at 117 Broad St., and has a sign above the
entrance, Holden Block 1910. The movie theatre Patty walks by twice
in the movie has been torn down.
Esther Rolle Miami
I remember the first time i saw this when i was a little girl. Even though i loved the movie it still really upset me. Im not sure what bothered me more. Abtons death or patty having to not only lose him butalso being up against a long and hard journey after his death. I only remember that i cried and cried.
Not all Germans were Nazis, and in fact some were even Jewish.
I have an aunt who is German (married my father's brother after the war). She wasn't a Nazi either-in fact, as a Catholic, she was almost as hated as the Jews.
We all know German Jews existed. We also know no German admitted to being a Nazi after the War, yet Hitler filled stadiums and streets with maniacal followers. Who were all those people kissing his arse? Were they computer generated? Wait... No German said shit when the German Jews began to be exterminated. None of them said shit about the camps. Everyone knows that some German Troops were in elite Nazi units and others were Wehrmacht. So what? They all fought for Hitler and the Third Reich and they all fought under the Nazi flag. They would have all benefited from a German victory. Smalltown USA didn't care to distinguish between Nazis and mythical "regular Germans" when most of their men and boys were shipped off to fight and die trying to stop Hitler and his forces. I had a friend who was a little Jewish girl during Hitler's reign; she and her mother fled to England before he and his lunatics had a chance to murder them. Her father sacrificed his physical and mental health working with the French Underground. Stop apologizing for Germany. They started the shit again and The Allies ended it again. They don't deserve sympathy or understanding.
@@deaconsmom2000 My mom knew a young German woman, whose family fled. Not everybody was lucky enough to be able to leave the country. You either feigned patriotism, or risked being persecuted like the Jews.
It's easy for you to sit and judge the German people, from your cozy home. But it was very different for those who had to live there. Sure, Hitler had his followers, but there were a lot of people who secretly hated him and everything he stood for.
And just FYI, most of the attempts on Hitler's life were made by the Wehrmacht. Did anyone in your family try to stop Hitler? I didn't think so.
Get off your high horse.
I have German in my back ground my great grandfather on my dads side was German and his wife was Cherokee
My own mother was born in Germany, lived through the war. She and her family were not Nazis. In fact, they hated the Nazis. My mom was the sweetest person. She fled Germany after the war with two of her brothers, to America. My mom met my Dad in the states. She had 3 brothers. The youngest stayed in Germany where he remains till this day. My mom and my Uncles had many stories to tell. Her father, my maternal grandfather had seen Hitler from a distance.
I have German ancestry on my father's side of my family his grandad was German and his grandmother was Cherokee
I’m not crying you are😭😭😭
No I'm not. I was cutting onions 😢😢😢
Poor Patty! What awful parents to have, and then to lose Anton, too. How sad what she already went through and how much more she'll have to endure by being stuck in that house until she's old enough to leave.
i just discovered a squel to the novel Morning Is a Long time coming.
What about living in the shadow of her baby sister? Talk about a Rachel and Leah story! What a wonderfully told story. I wish I could find more like these!
Her parents sucked in the book and movie. Sharon will grow up to be a brat.
Aw, this is Gus from " My big fat Greek wedding ".
It's hard to picture him being mean here.
Kristy McNichol must have been "moonlighting" from the ABC TV Series "Family" to film this ..She made a great choice and was everywhere in the late 70's! This movie originally aired on the NBC Network back on October 30, 1978.💜📺📼📀💜
Esther Rolle was a great actress!
Hughes
I felt really bad for the character Patricia, played by actress Kristy Mcnichol, on how poorly her father mistreated her in this movie.
The father blamed Patty because he got his wife pregnant and had to get married.It always amazed me on how men blamed the child because he messed up.
I always wondered why he hated her so much.
@jujubegold In addition to him having been pressured to getting married before he was ready, he hated Patty because she reminded him of his mother whom he claimed was "stingy and selfish." He saw Patty as a curse set out to destroy his life. What a terrible thing he did to his child. This girl was seeking the friendship, kindness and attention from Antoine that she never received from her parents, especially her father. What a terrible tragedy.
Seen many films when the men blame the women for getting pregnant... and the woman is always afraid to tell, and when she tells, apologetic ...
taboo
traditional
Ugggghhhh 😠 i hated patricia's dad- he was SO mean to her ! and for what?? What did she do to deserve that kind of treatment??
In memory of Bette Greene from Parkin, Arkansas.
Just watched this movie after seeing the life story of Esther Rolle. What a beautiful film.
hers
Anos tentando lembrar o nome desse filme e hoje bum como passe de mágica lembrei muito lindo choerei tanto
gostaria que tivesse legendas em inglês
Late 70’s or early 80’s?! Looks like the 70’s to me! Kristy is so young here!
Release date: 10/30/78.
Filmed in Crawfordville ga, Madison Ga and Hard Labor Creek State park. Sweet Home Alabama was filmed in Crawfordsville as well as Coward of the County, Gorp, and a few others
Dixie
RIP Bette Greene. She wrote this novel.
Parts of this movie was filmed in the same town as Sweet Home Alabama.
Aha Kristy , I still love you 40 years later.
Get in line!
@@kennethwayne6857 the male line or the female line?
@@irvhh143 True, she has many followers of both genders. We know what she prefers but we can still dream.
i loved this movie when i was a kid. it was so sad.
Kirsty mcnichol amazing actress xx
Patty's mom is alot more sympathetic in the movie than in the book.
The father was underrated in this movie, he did a great job, everyone hated him, which shows how convincing he was/
Michael Constantine's character was despicable and he didn't realize that his character was just as much a minority as Esther Roll's character but yet he treated her like dirt too.
Well-said.
That man was a piece of work anton had more character and respect for patty than her own father just imagine hating your own daughter since the day she was born because she looks like his mother that's just a despicable excuse for a father anton should have lived and took patty and ran and also ruth was more of a mother to patty than pearl ever was such shameful parents just shameful
ham
Schwartz
Herero
For those of you who would like to know more about Bette Greene, she was the subject of a thorough and well-written obituary in The Washington Post written by Harrison Smith. Click on:
www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/bette-greene-novelist-whose-summer-of-my-german-soldier-became-a-young-adult-hit-dies-at-86/2020/10/08/6e3dfe62-0975-11eb-859b-f9c27abe638d_story.html
Obituaries also appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Memphis Hebrew Watchman, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the Wynne (AR) Progress. In addition, there are a number of other on-line obituaries.
Wonderful book
...Kristy McNichol was fortunate enough to work with Emmy Award winning actresses Esther Rolle (Ruth); & Sada Thompson, (Kate Lawrence) on Family. Rolle & Thompson were two of the most talented actresses in the business. McNichol was also very talented actress...though in my own opinion; albeit adequate, this wasn't her shining moment on screen. She was however, excellent portraying Buddy on Family & in numerous roles.
another win for kristy
The book is wonderful.
Probably a pretty good bet that a lot of those people in that small town had some kind of German ancestry.
Appalachia
Patty’s family treated her like dirt; her family should treat her with kindness and love like her sister Sharon, no matter how her Grandmother treated her father and mother. He shouldn’t hold a grudge against Patty. It’s a wonder why she confided in Ruth and Anton, she was searching for the love her family didn’t give her.
Her family may want to take inventory that she was more loved and thought of by a Naz! - her father was a failure as a father and more a failure as a human. How ironic he’s no different than the soldier
Than the soldiers in Europe doing his people in
Rememerable movie.
this movie reminds me of snowdrop i finished watching i cried alot😞😞
I still feel bad for poor Freddie! The look of hurt on his face 😔
Another abused child by Patty's father, what happened to him was sick 😔
Crazy Canadian
Was Freddy the boy who tossed stones at the cars with her?
The actor for Freddie is my dad
Rename this town "Bigotville."
Yes I have German ancestry and don't like them being called krauts my great grandfather was German he didn't believe in what Hitler was doing hitler was disgusting and despicable
Angela Bassett on Main Street by post office
RIP Michael Constantine ❤️
Llegó a mi mente y la encontré!!
I found it
Gostaria muito de ver esse filme em português, ou legendado. Lindo filme.
It was a nazi that treated patty with more love and respect than her father did in her whole life in the short time she knew anton he risk coming out of the safe hiding place to protect her from her father beating her that was love
20:08 if that was my father I would told him, “if I bring so much disgrace to him and the family then kick me out. I know you hate me and I’m your scapegoat to verbally beat up on. You don’t deserve me for an offspring. You shouldn’t be a father.”
I hate that son of a bitch. The way he treated her after Anton died.
nowadays
I can relate to patty she had low self esteem and so do I sometimes you realize your value in this world but I think anton showed her her worth and value more than her parents did and so did ruth
When I was in the MPs we wore our armbands on the left arm.
Persian
From what I read, the story was autobiographical.
Florida is the best given award by Norman fell and jack tripper Mt Roper
Hey Mr. Bergen--You think you're tough? Go to Don's Diner and ask Rocky the truck driver to fight! Let's see how tough you are!
This is textbook example of generational bad parenting. He talks about his mother giving him no love growing up. He was emotionally abused so he emotionally abuses. Stop the cycle...if you can't love your own child, give them to someone who will love them.
advice timeless
Zionist
You know this is only a movie made way back in '78. Right? 😉