I remember seeing this movie 20 years ago this summer when I was living in Los Angeles and being so taken by it that I sat through it three more timesthat night.The soundtrack haunted me and like Richard Collier in themovie after he discovers Elise McKenna's picture in the Hall of History, Icould not sleep.Before the movie left circulation, I'll bet I saw it 30times.Everything about this small film grabbed and held me.There wasthe unforgettable story of a love so strong that it transcended time andplace, there was the beautiful setting and there was the evocative andhaunting score by John Barry.Finally, there was my favorite piece ofclassical music;Variation 18 of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Themeof Paganini, which is probably one of the most romantic pieces of pianomusic written in modern times.This is a magical movie and one thatwas maligned by critics at the time of its release.Because it was fantasyand because the requirement to suspend disbelief was so demanding, it wasdismissed as a four hankie tearjerker.It wasn't for me and I was a 26year old single guy hoping that I would experience a love so complete andso fulfilling.This movie proved beyond a doubt that such love is possibleand that everyone should seek it and hopefully, find it.
This moviewas made on a small budget and yet, it was produced and directed in thegrand tradition of the old Hollywood.Quality was paramount and theyincluded great costumes and a wonderful locale to enhance the mood of thefilm.Lighting, music, soft shading all were used to give the viewer thesense that this was something to be remembered.
Very few people sawthis movie in 1980; it was discovered and developed its following on cableand on video.I consider myself very fortunate to have seen it when new onthe large screen.Every penny I paid for admission and all of the hours Isat hunkered in my seat marveling at Jane Seymour's beauty were aspects ofthe movie that only make me love it more.
There are so many treats tothis movie that one doesn't know where to begin.Of all the movies evermade though, it is one of only two that has a fan club dedicated to itspreservation and enjoyment.The fan club, which is known as INSITE (forInternational Network of Somewhere In Time Enthusiasts) publishes anextremely high quality quarterly journal and holds several events duringthe year to commemorate the members' love for the movie and its cast.Theeditor of the journal, Jo Addie, even appeared as an extra in the movie andhas written eloquently and lovingly of her time as a member of the castfamily.Through her articles, other members have come to know more aboutJane and Christopher and Elise and Richard and her words have addedimmeasurably more to our enjoyment.
This is a very special movie andothers have said that.It is not a perfect movie, but then, none are.Iam not here to discuss its flaws because whatever they might be, I chooseto overlook them.This movie grabbed me like few others ever have.Idoubt many to come ever will again. Somewhere In Time is a timelessstory because men and women will continue to fall in love long after all ofus here now are gone.In 500 years, if someone opens a vault and finds aDVD copy of this movie, they will surely know what it was like to find alove so all encompassing, so true that one would willingly give up life inthe present to find love in the past.
Some would say that RichardCollier became obsessed with a portrait and perhaps they would be right. But that doesn't explain the obsession of thousands of fans here and aroundthe world who have adopted this movie and given it a special place in theirhearts.It is a credit to the writer Richard Matheson, who adapted hisnovel BID TIME RETURN so well that 20 years later, members of INSITE wouldlaunch a campaign to re-release Somewhere In Time.It is a credit to Reeveand Seymour that they made their characters so alive that INSITE membersportray them at the annual Somewhere In Time weekend held at the GrandHotel on Mackinac Island each Fall.
Some have called this the ultimateChick Flick.Well, I'm here to say it's not. This is the kind of moviethat a man, if he is unafraid to admit it, couldsit down alone with andunderstand that a relationship, even of short duration could be so allconsuming as to replace the need for anything else.All throughout thismovie, whenever Reeve and Seymour look at each other, there is a chemistryand magic that we don't see in the movies made today.That magic growsstronger with every viewing for me and I'll bet for all lovers of this filmand its poignant story.
Lest you think it's nothing more than romance,this movie also has some very humorous scenes that creep up on the viewer. There are very cute scenes where Richard Collier (Reeve) practices what hewill say when he meets Elise McKenna.There is the scene by the lake whereRichard and Elise first meet and they are both somewhat taken aback beforeshe says, "Is it you...?" Then, there is the scene whereElise McKenna changes the lines she is to say in the play being shown atthe hotel's theater.She stares dreamily off into the audience and says, "the man of my dreams has almost faded now..."Her soliloquy isprobably one of the most well written speeches ever delivered by acinematic character.It is another reason so many fans love this moviebecause it is Elise McKenna's confession, her public soul-baring that shehas found the man of her dreams and finally recognized him.From themoment Elise finishes her monologue, the viewer knows that Richard andElise were meant to be together and nothing will ever keep them apart. Notdistance, not place, not time. They will be together, always.
Thereis magic and music and a simple wonder to this movie and its timelessstory.But you know what, don't take my word for it.Rent it or buy itand find out why it is one of Universal's best sellers in video.It wasmade 20 years ago and yet, new fans continue to find it.See it, open yourheart to it and discover yourself why so many people around the world callit their favorite movie of all time.
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Product Description:
YOUNG WRITER RICHARD COLLIER IS MET ON THE OPENING NIGHT OF HIS FIRST PLAY BY AN OLD LADY WHO BEGS HIM TO COME BACK TO ME.MYSTIFIED, HE TRIES TO FIND OUT ABOUT HER, AND LEARNS THAT SHEIS A FAMOUS STAGE ACTRESS FROM THE EARLY 1900S, ELISE MCKENNA.....
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