USA, 1980
103m
35mm film, Technicolor, 1.85:1
mono, English
An American science fiction film directed by Jeannot Szwarc.
Plot Summary
Writer Richard Collier is basking in the glow of the opening night of his first play when he’s approached by an elderly woman who claims asks him to “Come back to me” and leaves him an old pocket watch. Years later, he finds himself at the Grand Hotel where he sees an old photograph of an actress from the early years of the 20th century, Elise McKenna, who he recognises as the younger version of the old woman. Collier becomes increasingly obsessed with her and, through self-hypnosis, he travels back in time where they fall in love. But can Collier stay in the past forever?
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
© MCMLXXX [1980] by Universal City Studios, Inc.
Universal [opening logo]. A Rastar/Stephen Deutsch production. A Jeannot Szwarc film
Produced by: Stephen Deutsch
Screenplay by: Richard Matheson based on his novel “Bid Time Return”
Director of Photography: Isidore Mankofsky
Film Editor: Jeff Gourson
Original Music Composed and Conducted by: John Barry
Sound: Charles L. King III
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Make-Up: Jack Wilson, Paul Sanchez
Hair Stylists: Gregg Mitchell, Sandra Henderson
Special Effects: Jack Faggard
Production Designer: Seymour Klate
Cast
Christopher Reeve (Richard Collier)
Jane Seymour (Elise McKenna)
Christopher Plummer (W.F. Robinson)
Teresa Wright (Laura Roberts)
Bill Erwin (Arthur Biehl)
George Voskovec (Dr Gerald Finney)
Susan French (older Elise)
John Alvin (Arthur’s father)
Eddra Gale (Genevieve)
Audrey Bennett (Shelley)
W. H. Macy, Laurence Coven (critics)
Susan Bugg (Penelope)
Christy Michaels (Beverly)
Ali Matheson, George Wendt (students)
Steve Boomer (hippie)
Pat Billingsley (professor)
Ted Liss (agent)
Francis X. Keefe (desk clerk at the Grand Hotel (1972))
Taylor Williams (maitre d’ at the Grand Hotel (1972))
Noreen Walker (librarian)
Alternative Titles
En algún lugar del tiempo – Spain
Gdzies w czasie – Poland
Kerran jossakin – Finland
Ovunque nel tempo – Italy
Quelque part dans le temps – France
Ein Tödlicher Traum – West Germany
References
Periodicals
- Classic Images no.305 (November 2000) pp.13-14, 63-66 – interview with John Alvin (John Alvin: Warners Contractee by Tom Weaver)
- New Musical Express 17 January 1981 p.24 – review (by Andy Gill)
- Starburst no.268 (December 2000) p.54-57 – illustrated interview with Richard Matheson (Richard Matheson by James E. Brooks)
Books
- The Films of the Eighties by Robert A. Nowlan and Gwendolyn Wright Nowlan p.532
- Horror and Science Fiction Films II by Donald C. Willis p.361 pp.225-243
- Matheson on Screen by Matthew R. Bradley pp.219-228
- The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy by David Pringle (general ed.) p.73 – credits, review
- Variety Science-Fiction Movies by Julian Brown (ed.) p.100 – credits, review
