Somewhere in Time: An Excellent Love Story

The 1980 Jeannot Szwarc-directed film "Somewhere in Time", to this day, remains a cult favorite, highly regarded as one of the best romantic films ever made. Personally, I'm one of those who agrees with that assessment. From the first time I saw it, when I was much younger than I am now, the very concept of this movie grabbed me, fascinated me, and still does even when I watch it today.

Based on the Richard Matheson novel "Bid Time Return", "Somewhere in Time" is the story of a writer named Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) who is approached one evening after the successful debut of one of his college plays by an elderly woman. Walking up to him, she puts an antique wristwatch in his hand and simply pleads with him to "come back to me". Several years later, Collier is a successful playwright who is now suffering from writer's block and decides to take a break from things. He ends up at the Grand Hotel and takes a walk through its Hall of History. Once there, he spots and becomes overwhelmed by the photograph of a beautiful woman who had once stayed there in 1912, Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour). Richard decides to do some research on this woman and discovers that in her later years, this is the very woman who had given him that wristwatch. Puzzled, he speaks with one of his former college teachers about the possibility of time travel.

So obsessed does Richard become at the idea of going back in time to be with this woman, that he purchases 1912-style clothing and spends hours in his room trying to hypnotize his mind into going back to 1912. From here on out, the story is of Richard successfully making it into the past, and trying to locate and develop a relationship with Elise while her manager, William Faucett Robinson (Christopher Plummer) does what he can to prevent the two from coming together.

As the young playwright smitten with her photograph, Christopher Reeve plays his role quite convincingly. Just the mere expressions on his face express how taken aback he is by her beauty, his determination to find and be with her, and then just how truly in love with her he really becomes. I couldn't find any real flaws in his performance at all, he obviously well understood his character's motivations and feelings. The chemistry between Reeve and Seymour was definitely there, which only helped the film that much more. Jane Seymour, too, was very good as the young actress unsure of how she should feel about Richard and then who likewise falls in love with him. As her manager, obsessed with crafting her into the huge star of the stage he knows she can become, Christopher Plummer puts a good deal of passion into the role of Robinson. He's absolutely dead-set against the two coming together romantically and distracting her from being the success he wants her to be.

Aside from the acting, the overall story is quite compelling, though first you have to be someone who can get involved in a story, not just staying on the outer edge, constantly thinking "oh it's only a movie". Just the idea of someone falling in love with a photograph and going to such lengths to find the person, to me is just a very intriguing idea. To get the whole romantic feel of the movie going, requires the audience to buy into the surroundings and emotions being portrayed. To that end, the musical score by John Barry fits this film perfectly. The score is absolutely beautiful, and compliments the love story to a T. The main theme to "Somewhere in Time" is played several times throughout and for some, it may seem like overkill, but because it's such a gentle, moving theme, I didn't mind it in the least.

Likewise, part of what makes this film so good is the attention to detail that went into it. The 1912 clothing on those in the past, the beauty and splendor of the Grand Hotel and its grounds (set on Mackinac Island, Michigan) helped create the overall feel of Richard's having travelled into another time quite successfully. The whole area is a perfect setting for a romantic film. It's no wonder that each year a group of devotees of this film make a trip to that very spot and discuss and re-enact moments from the movie.

For the most part, critics were always harsh on this film, calling it too syrupy, sappy, and unbelievable. I disagree, but will state again that you have to get involved in the movie, not simply watch it with a critical eye. You also have to be tolerant of films like this, not simply passing it off as a "chick flick", which it is, but that's beside the point. My only real critism of the film is that at some points, it does seem to drag just a little, and some of the dialogue is a bit stale. Otherwise, I just sit back and enjoy the story as its meant to be enjoyed.

***Final Thoughts***

If you're the type of person who enjoys a good, romantic, love story on occasion, you really can't and won't go wrong by picking up "Somewhere in Time". I own it on DVD and the soundtrack and am glad to have both. The acting is very good, I find the story to be engaging, and I love the music from it. Sure, it may be a "chick flick", but it's one that's worth watching. It really is a very good movie, and, as a word to the wise, be sure and have a box of kleenex around afterwards. Some people may need it.