Almost Summer

Almost Summer

Year: 1978

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Martin Davidson

Comedy

Aren’t you glad it’s Almost Summer? A high-school election gets nasty.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Almost Summer (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Almost Summer (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1970s

Set during the late 1970s, the film captures the era's casual teen style, school spirit, and social dynamics. Teen life revolves around prom, sports aspirations, and the politics of student government, reflecting the period's cultural sensibilities.

Location

California

The story unfolds in a coastal California community, anchored by a sun-soaked beach gathering and a busy high school campus. Much of the action moves between the attendance office, the assembly hall, and the prom, all set against the backdrop of a beach town culture.

🏖️ Beach setting 🏫 Suburban high school

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

Main Characters – Almost Summer (1978)

Meet the key characters of Almost Summer (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Kevin Hawkins (Tim Matheson)

The popular senior class president and Christine's boyfriend, who dreams of a college football scholarship. He becomes a focal point of the campaign drama as alliances shift and loyalties are tested. Despite confidence, he faces the practical limits of his ambitions when scholarship prospects fade.

🗳️ Ambitious 🏈 Athlete 💬 Charismatic

Christine Alexander (Lee Purcell)

Grant Michelson's former opponent turned girlfriend of Kevin, Christine drives events by challenging Darryl and maneuvering the debate. She embodies competitive intelligence and concern with status among peers, even as she faces the consequences of her actions.

🎯 Ambitious 🎭 Calculated 💬 Persuasive

Darryl Fitzgerald (John Friedrich)

A quiet junior who is convinced to run for student body president as a way to gain attention from the popular crowd. He grows into an independent voice, ultimately choosing honesty over victory and revealing the truth behind the staged bust.

🧭 Honest 🌟 Underdog 🕊️ Genuine

Bobby DeVito (Bruno Kirby)

A schemer who bets heavily on Christine's opponent and trains Darryl for campaign life. He manipulates situations to his advantage, but an ongoing arc of honesty and reconciliation reveals his more complex loyalties.

🎲 Gambler 🎭 Mischievous 💬 Persuasive

Dean Hampton (Thomas Carter)

Kevin's friend who balances campaign drama with his own relationship issues, including a singer girlfriend and the pressures of status and popularity on campus. He acts as a foil to the more calculating personalities and provides social throughline for the group.

🎵 Music lover 🧭 Loyal friend 🎭 Supportive

Meredith (Donna Wilkes)

Bobby's sister who admires Darryl and is quick to reveal feelings in the heat of the moment. Her expectations for prom and romance add emotional stakes to the campaign and relationships on campus.

💖 Sisterly 🥂 Prom-lover 👯‍♀️ Supportive

Duane Jackson (David Wilson)

A junior whose arrest during a campus incident triggers the debate and exposes legal overreach. His presence raises questions about law, authority, and the consequences of campus actions.

🚓 Troubled teen ⚖️ Involved in controversy 🕵️‍♂️ Catalyst

Nicole Henderson (Petronia Paley)

Dean's aspiring singer girlfriend who navigates dating, romance, and the music industry tropes that echo through campus life. Her ambitions intersect with the other plotlines, adding a layer of music culture to the film.

🎤 Singer 🎶 Ambitious 💬 Social

Dobba DeVito (Didi Conn)

A quirky DeVito family member whose presence provides comic relief in the school setting. Her moments lighten the film's tensions while reinforcing family ties.

🍳 Funny 👪 Family 😄 Light-hearted

Felicia (Karen Lamm)

A classmate who contributes to the social dynamic around the campaign, playing into the social club and peer pressure among students. She embodies the social surface of prom culture.

🎀 Socialite 🫶 Peer pressure 🗨️ Charisma

Lori Ottinger (Sherry Hursey)

A classmate who witnesses the escalation of the campaign and adds to the social network of the high school. Her perspective helps highlight the teen social environment surrounding the candidate drama.

🤝 Ally 👭 Friend 🗯️ Observant

Mr. Albrecht (William Bogert)

The school administrator who sits at the center of the high school machinery and interacts with the drama surrounding the student body election. He provides a tempered counterpoint to student schemes.

🏫 Principal 🧭 Authority 🗂️ Administrator

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

Major Themes – Almost Summer (1978)

Explore the central themes of Almost Summer (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗳️ Power & Politics

The student election becomes a microcosm of influence, with Bobby maneuvering Darryl into the spotlight and Christine using the race to bolster her status. The plot explores how appearances and scheming can override merit, culminating in a controversy that tests friendships.

💬 Honesty & Integrity

Darryl's honesty and ultimate decision to reveal the truth about the staged bust highlight the value of integrity over spectacle. The story shows how truth can realign loyalties and reshape relationships on campus.

👥 Youth & Social Pressure

Teenagers juggle crushes, rivalries, and the pressure to fit in with the popular crowd. The campaign drama amplifies peer expectations, forcing characters to choose between personal ideals and social acceptance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

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Unlock the Full Story of Almost Summer

Don't stop at just watching — explore Almost Summer in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Almost Summer is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Almost Summer Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Almost Summer, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Almost Summer Summary

Almost Summer Timeline

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Almost Summer Timeline

More About Almost Summer

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More About Almost Summer

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