A Weepy Drama That Stuck with Me for Life

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The film “Somewhere in Time,” directed by Jeannot Szwarc and released in 1980, has consistently remained a significant part of my life due to its unique ability to move my mother deeply, resulting in her tears every time she watches it.

To put it another way, simply bringing up that film in conversation would set things off. I used to playfully poke fun at my mom about this movie all the time. However, now I’ve become a fan, just like the main character played by Christopher Reeve, it took me quite some years to develop this affection for it.

1972 sets the scene for “Somewhere in Time,” with Richard Collier, a playwright, basking in the triumph of his newest play’s premiere. An older woman, captivated by him, enters the stage.

She goes right up to him and says, “Come back to me.” It’s quite the opener.

Later on, Richard visits the Grand Hotel situated on Mackinac Island, Michigan – a location I’ll elaborate on later. During his research for an ongoing project, he discovers a striking image of a woman who had passed away long ago. This captivating lady was none other than Elise McKenna.

In simpler terms, during the early 1900s, Elise shone as a well-known theater actress. Meanwhile, Richard finds himself constantly drawn to her photograph, which is framed, hanging in the Grand Hotel Museum.

We get it: Elise is played by a luminous Jane Seymour.

Richard’s diligent studies evolve into a consuming fascination. A casual chat about time travel and certain events lending credence to the concept lead him to surmise that the elderly woman in the movie’s opening scene might not have been just a fan.

Through meticulous hypnosis, Richard journeys back through time, meeting Elise before the crucial moment captured in the photograph. However, Richard faces two genuine challenges: he must avoid anything contemporary lest it disrupts his timely return, and he’s unwillingly caught between Elise and her boss, a demanding Christopher Plummer who harbors jealousy and control.

In a fresh and appealing manner (this is following his first stint as “Superman”), Reeve’s youthful charm is the primary factor keeping this seemingly unreasonable love tale engaging. Additionally, John Barry’s score plays a significant role – long before it reaches its iconic theme, Barry’s music is captivating.

The movie seems overwhelmed by numerous close-ups of Reeve gazing at Seymour’s portrait, yet Barry’s impactful music manages to maintain Swarzoc’s film as heartfelt rather than accidentally humorous.

In ‘Somewhere in Time’, the story offers a dual perspective: it serves as a warning against an excessive infatuation with the past, yet simultaneously functions as a heartfelt dream scenario where Collier eventually understands that time would inevitably reunite him with his soulmate.

Szwarc’s movie has a leisurely pace yet it’s delightfully sweet, skillfully amplifying both Barry’s influence and the melody of Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.” The film is an absolute joy to hear.

This movie is heartwarmingly sincere and charming, with a straightforward and uncluttered narrative. It’s also one of the most eccentric films to explore the idea of time travel. The script was adapted from Richard Matheson’s 1975 novel “Bid Time Return.

The emotion of the film is easy to connect with, while the sci-fi is featherweight at best.

As a movie enthusiast, the close-up of Christopher Reeve’s face mirrored on Seymour’s portrait holds significant weight for me. On one hand, it serves as a powerful metaphor, connecting us emotionally with those we’ve lost (it’s almost like they’re still there). However, when viewed literally, it can seem far-fetched and incomplete. In this case, remember that Richard is employing a tape recorder and repeating phrases to journey back through time.

By comparison, a plutonium-fueled sports car makes far more sense.

It turns out that Richard is not employing time travel for purposes such as halting world wars, alleviating human pain, or investing in advanced technologies. Instead, his fascination lies with simply admiring Jane Seymour.

If you were raised on the TV show “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”, you’ll undoubtedly recognize it. For those less acquainted, this film might seem a bit idealistic to your current perspective.

John Barry’s score remains as charming as recalled, yet it contrasts the absurdity. The repeated shots of Reeve staring at Seymour’s portrait are accompanied by swelling music, indicating a deep, romantic yearning rather than an unsettling creepiness.

The movie “Somewhere in Time” seems to be missing around 10 minutes, as it lacks development in the third act for Christopher Plummer’s character and insufficient exploration of how the past affects the present beyond what was shown in the initial act.

One significant reason why this tearjerking drama is so effective is due to Reeve’s performance. When his character comes back from the past, he’s deeply heartbroken and terminally ill. Reeve delivers this emotion with such sincerity that even my skepticism was overcome.

The actor is as passionately committed to the role as he once was to Superman.

In a subtle yet significant manner, Seymour gives depth to her character, moving beyond being simply a narrative tool; however, the intricacies of her Machiavellian agreement with Plummer’s character remain somewhat unexplored.

In essence, Plummer’s portrayal, resembling both Rasputin and Salieri, possesses an extraordinary ability to convey menace through subtle expressions or minor changes in tone. His character often evokes fear, a trait typically associated with outright villains or when Captain Von Trapp called the children using his whistle.

In my view, Plummer’s intensity is palpable through his unwavering stillness, much like he demonstrated in the 1978 film “The Silent Partner.” His chilling, disdainful speech towards Reeve is so profoundly cold and condescending that it makes one instinctively recoil.

The connection between Reeve and Seymour is strong enough to overlook the overly sweet nature of their relationship. A detailed account of their first date, featuring a rowboat and horse-drawn carriage, seems almost comical, reminiscent of a similar scene in “The Naked Gun” (1988).

Afterward, numerous questions arise, such as: Why does Elise take a prolonged period to locate Richard later, and isn’t it challenging for one to dwell solely on the past while time traveling (won’t a ’70s tune eventually get stuck in Richard’s mind at some point?).

Matheson’s portrayal of Richards’ voyage serves as a means for contemplation about the agony of detaching oneself from the past.

The movie ‘Somewhere in Time’ revolves around the theme of loss. Unlike films like ‘Back to the Future’ (1985) and ‘Tenet’ (2020), which involve time-travel as a means of fulfilling desires or espionage, ‘Somewhere in Time’ suggests that traveling through time would merely amplify the pain of losing someone, as it would result in reliving the loss twice.

Similarly, like the movie “12 Monkeys” (1995), we often find ourselves encountering our fate without realizing it, only to discover that we’ve missed our chance to change course once it’s already passed.

While Nick Cassavetes’ “The Notebook” (2004) ends with an optimistic conclusion, the most favorable outcome achievable within its timeframe, Szwarc’s movie wraps up in a more somber tone instead.

In 2012, though I hadn’t visited Mackinac Island yet (where the movie is primarily set), I did contact one of the hotel representatives as part of my research for a college project. The person I spoke with was pleasant and informed me that the tourism generated by the film was still quite strong.

Additionally, I discovered a group called ENTISE (Everywhere Network of International Somewhere in Time Supporters), which stands for the International Network of Somewhere in Time Entusiasts.

currently, the elements of “Somewhere in Time” that I found accidentally humorous in my younger years now deeply resonate with me. Instead of spending endless hours gazing at old portraits like Reeve’s character, I find myself moved by photographs and memorabilia that whisk me away to a time I can no longer revisit.

Today, conversing with my mom about this topic offers a unique perspective. To be honest, when she discusses the movie now, it stirs up emotions within me and brings tears to my eyes.

My mother often reminisces vividly about past times, immersing herself in memories that Arthur C. Clarke referred to as the “mental fogs of our memories.” She expresses deep feelings for someone who has been deceased for several decades.

I understand, because I find myself doing the same thing when I share stories about people from my past with my daughter, my wife, or anyone who cares to listen. In some sense, by remembering and sharing details about those long-gone individuals, we keep their spirits alive in our hearts.

That’s what “Somewhere in Time” is truly about.

It seems that the poignant themes and deep feelings portrayed in the movie have taken a toll on me, so perhaps now is the right moment for me to apply for an I.N.S.I.T.E. membership.

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2025-03-23 23:03