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 she is a famous stage actress from the early 1900s. Becoming more and more obsessed with her, by self-hypnosis he manages to travel back in time—where he meets her.
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Somewhere In Time - It is universally panned by the critics, but loved by the audience. I wonder if I, also, would pan the film, as a paid critic, because there are flaws, and I might not want to wear my heart on my sleeve, and possibly diminish myself in the eyes of my readers. I think there were some harsh critics, who secretly loved the movie, or grew to love it, over the years. This movie played out like 'The Matrix.' People didn't get it. When both went out in VHS format, a cult following ensued. To be fair, 'Somewhere In Time' opened during a writers strike, and saw one week in the theaters, with no opportunity to promote it, prior to opening. My dad, a big sci-fi and Richard Matheson fan, was disappointed. I loved it, and completely enveloped myself in this romantic fantasy. Everything was going great, and then the bottom dropped out, and you fell with Richard in such a tremendous loss, that he had worked so hard to get. It's no wonder he sat on that chair, like a stone...his eyes red from tears, and his complexion, ghost white. The ending is the reverse of 'The Ghost and Mrs Muir.' Ultimately, a happy ending, with a mixture of wistful sadness.
In Saturday Summer, 1982, when I was middle school student. I was waiting for the baseball game at home. But the game was postponed due to the rain, and I met this film which was the substitute of the baseball game. The mood of rainy Saturday and romantic story of beautiful youngsters gave me a deep impression. But the movie was not famous in Korea and nobody would have known anything about the movie, (even, I don't know it was released in Korea or not) and I forgot it as time went on. About a month ago, a friend of mine posted an article that introduced the Grand Hotel on Facebook, and it reminded me the movie that made me feel the feeling of love. So, I tried to find it, tried to get the movie, and I did it all at last. I saw the movie again.When I heard the theme of John Barry, I remembered the music, even I have never heard them after the two hours watching it on TV 35 years ago. The movie gave me the same feeling after 35 years.I hope I will be there, Grand Hotel in one day.
Closing in on another genre month, and looking for a good romance, I settled in for Somewhere in Time. I had also never seen Christopher Reeve in a film before, so I figured I was long overdue. Although this does fit into my time travel category this month, Somewhere in Time is unashamedly a romantic movie, tugging at the heartstrings and never letting go. Director Jeannot Szwarc weaves together a beautiful story of love at first sight, and just what one man will go through to be with the one he loves.We meet the first half of our story's romantic pair, Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve), in a playhouse just after a performance has finished. The strapping man is a young writer, who has just watched a play he has written close and is celebrating with the cast. Suddenly, an elderly woman approaches Richard begging him "come back to me". Richard has no idea who the woman is, and has no recollection of ever seeing her before. Perplexed, Richard emerges on a quest to find out the identity of this mystery woman. Eventually, Richard's journey leads him to uncovering that the woman is a famous actress from the early 1900's. When Richard first sees a portrait of the actress, Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), he is instantly smitten, and willing to go to any lengths to see her again. Remembering his philosophy classes in college, and his professors propensity toward believing time not to be a linear construct, Richard visits him to gain insight on the possibility of time traveling to be with Elise. The professor, Dr. Gerald Finney (George Voskovec), explains to Richard that his brand of time travel occurs through deep self- hypnosis, and one can be brought out of the hypnosis, and subsequently the time period they've traveled to by thoughts alone. Dr. Finney warns that even the smallest reminder that one is from a different time can bring them out of the hypnosis. Richard is committed to meeting his love, and devotes himself to a study of early 1900's history, exchanges his currency, and buys clothes that fit into the time period, in hopes of meeting his great love and leaving himself in 1910. When he believes to be fully prepared, Richard puts himself under the self-hypnosis, and successfully travels to 1910, the time in which Elise was active in theatre. Although he initially has struggles meeting the beauty, due to her overprotective manager/colleague William Fawcett Robinson (Christopher Plummer), Richards's persistence eventually pays off and he makes friends with Elise, eventually winning her heart. Things look promising for our lovers until Richard is suddenly brought out of his self-hypnosis and lands back in his modern day apartment. Devastated, Richard is willing to do anything to go back to Elise's time, but can he? Can their love survive their difference in era?I was pleasantly surprised by the acting in this romance. Not typically a fan of overly romantic story lines, I was pleased with Somewhere in Time. Christopher Reeve was thoroughly convincing as a love-struck playwright. Jane Seymour played the classy, regal, actress with ease. The chemistry between the two made for a convincing story line, and was also endearing to watch. Christopher Reeve's dialogue was the best of the movie. He was funny and acutely aware of his being out of place in 1910 in a charming way for the audience to enjoy. The score was a fantastic testimony to the love story unfolding before our eyes. The costumes in the film and the production design were gorgeous, living art that engulfed the actors on screen. The camera work, with the soft fuzzy look to the shots fit in perfectly for the deepening romance between the actors. Somewhere in Time was beautifully done and a pure joy for the audience.There is a certain sentiment to this film that "love will conquer all"; if you love someone enough the differences you have, no matter how insurmountable they seem, will be overcome by passion. Though that does come out in the film, the message I felt more clearly was that if you find love, you should do anything to experience it to the fullest possible extent. Believe in the power of the emotion of love, value it, and chase it. No matter how unexpectedly one comes across the flame of love, you should do whatever you can to not let it extinguish. A powerful message, Somewhere in Time does much to convey the power of love, and just what measures should be done to protect it.I would certainly recommend this film to any fans of deeply romantic films. I would also recommend this film to those who enjoy period pieces, as the majority of this film takes place in the early 1900's with beautiful believability. It must also be said that any fans of Christopher Reeve's must see this film, for his acting comes off so endearing it should not be missed. A beautiful romance perfect for a single or coupled person alike, Somewhere in Time is one for the ages.
a portrait of love. a fascinating meeting. a trip. delicate, precise, surrealistic, romantic. surprising in a manner who seduce because it is not only portrait of a meeting but portrait of few emotions who, in this case, becomes a wise translation. the science to explore the detail, the beauty of images, the skin of fairy tale who preserves old fashion manner to discover the another side of reality . Christopher Reeves does not only a great job but he seems expose the essence of a state of soul who reminds importance of self definition. because it is more than a love story. it is a beautiful film who gives only a point of start. nothing more.