That Certain Summer

Very post Stonewall, That Certain Summer is a sensitive treatment of a story where teem Scott Jacoby discovers that the reason for his parents divorce is that he left mother Hope Lange for a man. Hal Holbrook plays the father and the other man is Martin Sheen.

This four character drama goes in equal measure to Holbrook, Sheen, Jacoby, and Lange. The three adults are figuring that it's time for Jacoby to learn the truth of things and are figuring the best way to go about it.

Sheen's character is an interesting one and less discussed. As he points out up to now when Jacoby visits his dad, Sheen clears out of the home of the home he and Holbrook have made for themselves. Naturally he resents this as if he and Holbrook are doing something wrong. We get a thoughtful presentation from Lange from the view of the wronged woman as to what she could have done to save her marriage.

Sadly there are still too many places on this earth that the worst thing in the world to be thought of is being gay. Some of the best television drama you'll ever see is the moment of truth when Holbrook confesses to Jacoby his sexual orientation.

That Certain Summer is one of the best made for TV dramas out there. Hopefully we'll get to see it again and soon.