| 'Somewhere in Time': Christopher Reeve & Jane Seymour are at the height of their youth and beauty in this 1980 time travel romance. |
Somewhere
was a rare movie that was filmed totally on location in the summer of 1979 on
Mackinac Island, MI and Chicago. I had just moved to Traverse City, MI from
Upper Michigan and everyone agog that Superman
himself was making a movie on the popular summer resort island. I heard a few
stories about girls going up to the island to catch a glimpse of Christopher
Reeve, and maybe more! Traverse City TV movie host Don Melvoin talked about Somewhere in Time non-stop on his show
since he had a bit part in a dining room scene as Diamond Jim Brady. This was
the biggest movie made in Michigan since 1959’s Anatomy of a Murder, also filmed entirely on location, in Upper MI.
| Mackinac Island and its beautiful Grand Hotel provide a dramatic backdrop for 'Somewhere in Time.' |
Without
spoiling the story, Somewhere in Time
begins with college grad Richard Collier (Reeve) celebrating the performance of
his first play. At the after party, an aged woman approaches him, and clasps a
watch into his hand, saying, “Come back to me.” Eight years later, Collier is a
playwright living and working in Chicago. Suffering through a breakup and
writer’s block, Richard goes to a Michigan summer island getaway. Feeling a
connection there, he sees a photo of a long ago actress that fascinates him.
There seems to be clues of a strong connection between him and the mystery woman.
With the help of a professor who’s believes in time-travel, Richard seeks to
self-hypnotize, to go back in time, and meet his dream girl. Once he goes back
to the island circa 1912, Richard indeed meets the actress, Elise McKenna, but
finds more than he bargained for.
| Christopher Reeve as love-struck Richard travels back in time and finds himself in a romantic triangle. |
The
first thing I noticed watching Somewhere
in Time is how the overall scenario resembles 1997’s Titanic. Think about it: The year is 1912. A struggling artist
falls in love with rich dream girl, thwarted by the villainous other man. The
leading lady is first presented as aged version of herself, with a plot device
piece of jewelry. The love-struck young man dies, but meets the woman in the
afterlife. Apparently, I’m not the only one who noticed, because a Google check
found many writers who felt the same. Here’s the best Time/Titanic comparison I found: https://dejareviewer.com/2011/09/27/movie-matchups-titanic-vs-somewhere-in-time/
| Christopher Reeve's playwright finds himself drawn to a portrait of a long-ago actress, Jane Seymour. |
The
story is from the novel Bid Time Return,
by sci fi/fantasy legend Richard Matheson, whose many stories that were turned
into films include I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and Duel. Matheson was inspired by his
haunted reaction to a photo of famed stage actress Maude Adams at a museum,
while on a family vacation. Matheson used his feelings toward the photo and
Adams situation, an actress who had a Svengali-type manager and later became a
recluse, as the basis for his novel. The author’s version sounds more in-depth
than the film’s story; Matheson also wrote the screenplay to the film.
| Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour between scenes, on location at Mackinac Island, MI. |
Director
Jeannot Szwarc wanted to do this project, and it was his reward for doing such
a good job in continuing the Jaws
franchise while Steven Spielberg went on to other projects. A solid utility
director for Universal, he was disappointed when they allotted Szwarc a smaller
budget than originally promised. The upside was that it required some creative
thinking, which turned out to work for the film’s advantage.
The
realism of the ‘70s filmmaking was still powerful, though waning. Yet,
Spielberg/Lucas type blockbusters were taking over. And sleeper films like Somewhere in Time got lost in the
shuffle. However, with cable TV gaining prominence in the ‘80s, Somewhere in Time became a staple. This
led to its popularity at video stores as a perennial favorite. Today, it is
considered a genuine cult classic, with a fan club that meets each year.
| Composer John Barry's score made the 'Somewhere in Time' soundtrack an unexpected hit. |
An
added bonus was the great composer John Barry (of James Bond fame) agreed to compose the score for the small budget
film at the behest of friend Jane Seymour. In exchange, Barry took a small fee
and a cut of the soundtrack profits. With his original score and use of
Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody of a Theme of Paganini,” the soundtrack became a
surprise hit and backdrop to many a wedding for at least a decade. While not a
success at first, Somewhere in Time later
reaped dividends for Universal and the makers of the film for decades to come.
| Christopher Reeve wanted his post-Superman movie to be deliberately smaller in scale. |
Christopher
Reeve was keen on making this movie as he wanted a departure from the Superman series, and liked the old-fashioned
love story and the chance to be a leading man. Reeve performed at reduced pay,
against his handlers’ advice, as they had their eyes on post-Superman salaries.
| Well, who wouldn't feel that way looking at Jane Seymour closeup for the first time? |
Jane
Seymour later commented that no one seemed to believe in Somewhere in Time except the people actually making the movie. The
studio and critics gave scant attention and initially Somewhere came and went, and an actors’ strike prevented the stars
from even promoting the film.
| Christopher Reeve, as Richard, in his modern day life. |
Aside
from the fanciful romantic story and the lovely location, the cast gives Somewhere in Time its suspension of disbelief.
Christopher
Reeve is a bit much as the boyishly enthusiastic playwright besotted with the
memory of Jane Seymour's Elise. Reeve's actually better in the dramatic
sections, as his character becomes desperate to make the fantasy a reality.
| Jane Seymour, as Elise McKenna, star of stage and gilded cage. |
However,
Jane Seymour is quite good as Elise McKenna, the star in a gilded cage. If
Seymour didn’t live up to the reality of Reeve’s fantasy, this film would fall
apart. Jane Seymour is a more capable actress than I remember. The fact that
Jane is a classic beauty also helps a great deal. In another era, Seymour would
fall somewhere between Gene Tierney and Vivien Leigh in their period films. I forgot
how lovely Jane was, as opposed to later; while still attractive, Seymour
became fashionably thin and a bit overdone style-wise, a bit like Susan Lucci.
In Somewhere in Time, Seymour radiates
old-time movie glamour, warmth, intelligence, and charisma.
| Christopher Plummer as the supercilious villain, Robinson. |
Though
Somewhere focuses almost exclusively
on Reeve and Seymour, and their characters’ romance, they get able support. As
Elise’s manager, Robinson, Christopher Plummer always made a better villain
than leading man, and he’s perfectly cast here. While you hate him, Plummer
skillfully creates empathy for losing his prized possession to young upstart
Reeve.
| Teresa Wright, '40s favorite from 'Mrs. Miniver,' 'The Little Foxes,' and more, as the housekeeper of the secrets. |
There
is also ‘40s star Teresa Wright as the older Elise’s faithful housekeeper. As Arthur,
the bellhop, Bill Erwin is a familiar face who has appeared in over 250 movies
and TV shows. Susan French, as the elderly Elise, was a stage actress who got
into films in her ’50s! And Fargo’s William
H. Macy made his film debut as the theatre critic in Somewhere’s opening scenes.
| Susan French and Jane Seymour as the older and younger Elise McKenna in 'Somewhere in Time.' |
Somewhere in Time
was special for Christopher Reeve. Aside from Reeve’s belief in the film, which
was validated by its belated success, during filming the actor found out that he
was going to be a father for the first time. Also, Reeve loved his time on
Mackinac Island. From his 1998 biography, Still Me: "The location quickly cast a spell on our entire
company. The real world fell away as the story and the setting took hold of us.
I've rarely worked on a production that was so relaxed and harmonious. Even the
hard-boiled Teamsters and grips from Chicago succumbed to the charms of the
island and the mellow atmosphere on the set."
| Jane Seymour recalls Christopher Reeve, a licensed pilot, kept a plane and planned day trips from Mackinac Island. |
The
Somewhere in Time fan club meets
annually for a convention each October on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel.
Fans dress like the characters or the period, special events are held, and of
course, a big-screen showing of the film. Jane Seymour has made several
appearances there, as did Christopher Reeve. One touching visit came after his
horse riding accident. From his wheelchair, Reeve acknowledged what the film’s
lasting legacy meant to him, while not living in the past. Reeve’s speech was
touching then, but since he passed away in 2004 at age 52, Christopher’s
comments are especially moving now.
| Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour are pretty lovely young lovers! |
Somewhere in Time
isn't a classic by any means, but a deliberately old-fashioned movie that's genuinely
sweet, bolstered by a skilled cast, led by two gorgeous young stars at the
start of their fame. A love story with Michigan’s beautiful Mackinac Island as
backdrop, Somewhere in Time is place
you will want to stay forever should you ever visit.
| "Come back to me." |