MovieChat Forums > Summertime (1955) Discussion > Kate's fall into the canal

Kate's fall into the canal

posted 15 years ago by rogerneon
8 replies | jump to latest

It was well known that the canals of Venice were terribly polluted. Before doing the scene where she fell into the canal, she covered herself with lotion, and put antiseptic cream on a small cut in her finger. Immediately afterwards, she bathed and gargled with antiseptic mouthwash. However, she didn't think to flush her eyes out, and the next morning her eyes were red. It turned out to be a staph infection that gave her trouble for almost the rest of her life.

I have heard that proper sewers have been constructed in Venice since then, but I don't know if the canals are any less polluted.

[–] artsy_fartsy 15 years ago

Let;s just say that I don't think you would want to fall in one any time soon. I was there in November, and they were green-ish, and sometimes you can catch a whiff of them and it is not pleasent. That being said, one must go to Venice! It's such a beautiful city! Just be careful around the canals, that's all.

No, father, the moon's reaching for me!

[–] ingridwinter-31613 8 years ago

I was in Venice in October 2015, the water smelled like sea water, not bad, I saw people let their dogs play in the water. It didn't smell "bad".

[–] Maaaja 14 years ago

I was in Venice c. 5 times. Once I went with the train and arrived at 7:30 in the morning when everyone is just about waking up. I saw boats that colect sewage (I also saw an ambulance boat, police boat and firedepo boat:D..), they are not letting the sewage into the water directly. But still you can not control everyone. And I never caught a bad smell there yet...maybe I was just lucky.

I think Katharine was just a little too brave to fall into the canal back then..really, I wouldn't!

[–] topkapi56 14 years ago

Hepburn was famous for doing many of her own stunts. She was very athletic so I am not surprised at anything she does in a movie. Look at what she did in On Golden Pond at her advanced age.

With people living in such close quarters to the canals, you cannot prevent some amount of pollution. I would not want to jump into one of the canals but I never noticed a bad smell or saw anything anything disgusting. Venice is a must-see before you die.

[–] BlueGreen 14 years ago

but I never noticed a bad smell

I have - literally - sniffed around Venice on more than twenty occasions, befuddled by the constant allusions of people to "that smell".

I still have no idea what they are/were referring to - unless they mean that unique aroma of stale lagoon water and ancient soaked brick that makes my heart leap with joy.

Ah well, to each their own...

[–] bruno-32 14 years ago

Robert Osborn of TCM said that Kate practiced that fall a few times before it was filmed. Also, lets not forget the man who was imitating her fall to the crowd how it happened...i thought that was really funny.

[–] bootblack987 11 years ago

TCM just re-aired this movie and Osborne mentioned how Kate had a problem with one of her eyes for the rest of her life, but added that Kate was big on staying fit, so she swam the canal somewhat regularly for exercise even though time after time people told her that it was not right (health-wise) to do so.

[–] tommary1962 14 years ago

A number memos in the file for this film state that they told Hepburn NOT to keep her eyes open during the stunt, AND that she went swimming in the canals on quite a few nights.