Somewhere in Time Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A playwright becomes obsessed with an old photo, wills himself into the past, and dies because he found a penny… peak romance!

🍿 Somewhere in Time: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Playwright’s Obsession

In 1972, Richard Collier, a college playwright, receives a haunting plea from an elderly woman. Eight years later, struggling with writer’s block, he finds himself drawn to a vintage photograph of actress Elise McKenna at the Grand Hotel. Intrigued, Richard delves into her history, discovering she was the same woman who gave him the pocket watch.

Journey Through Time

Driven by an intense infatuation, Richard researches self-hypnosis techniques, aiming to travel back to 1912 and meet Elise. After preparing a period-accurate environment and focusing intently, he successfully transports himself to the past. There, he seeks out Elise, encountering initial resistance from her overbearing manager, William Fawcett Robinson.

Love Across Eras

Richard and Elise connect, falling deeply in love despite Robinson’s interference, who sees Richard as a threat to her career. Their relationship blossoms until a modern-day object shatters Richard’s concentration, abruptly pulling him back to 1980. Stranded in his own time, Richard is devastated by the separation.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve): A playwright who uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time and find the woman in an old photograph he becomes obsessed with.
• Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour): A beautiful actress from the early 20th century who is the object of Richard’s time-traveling affection.
• W. F. Robinson (Christopher Plummer): Elise McKenna’s controlling manager who tries to keep Richard and Elise apart, fearing their relationship will ruin her career.
• Laura Roberts (Teresa Wright): Elise McKenna’s former housekeeper and companion who provides Richard with information about Elise’s past.
• Arthur Biehl (Bill Erwin): A kind-hearted and long-serving hotel employee who provides Richard with information about Elise and the hotel’s history.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Elise McKenna: “Is it you?” – Elise says this when she first meets Richard in 1912, hinting at a premonition of his arrival and their destined connection.
• Elise McKenna: “Forgive me. I have never known this feeling. I have lived without it all my life. Is it any wonder, then, I failed to recognise you? You, who brought it to me for the first time.” – Elise expresses her newfound love for Richard, acknowledging her past emotional emptiness and his transformative impact.
• Elise McKenna: “I love you.” – Elise passionately expresses her love during her theater monologue, solidifying their deep connection and defying societal expectations.
• Old Woman (Elise): “Come back to me.” – Spoken by the older Elise to Richard, setting in motion the film’s central theme of time travel and destined love.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $5,100,000
• Domestic Gross: $9,709,597
• Worldwide Gross: $9,709,597

💥 Somewhere in Time Reviews

Personal Review

I first watched ‘Somewhere in Time’ as a teenager, and the haunting melody and the dreamy atmosphere just captivated me. Reeve’s portrayal of a man so consumed by love was incredibly moving, and Seymour’s beauty was mesmerizing. The scene where they finally meet by the lake is just magical. I’ll admit the ending is a bit melodramatic, but it still gets me every time. It’s a timeless romance that really speaks to the power of love and longing.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of romantic dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in time travel stories”
  • “Those who appreciate historical settings and costumes”
  • “Lovers of classical music, especially Rachmaninoff”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild thematic elements involving obsession and despair.”
  • “The ending involves a character’s death from apparent heartbreak.”
  • “Brief moments of implied sensuality.”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While beautifully shot and featuring strong performances from Reeve and Seymour, ‘Somewhere in Time’ suffers from a convoluted plot and a sentimentality that can be overwhelming.
• IMDB: “Somewhere In Time is a movie any sensitive person with a heart will love, I guarantee you. From the opening at the theater to the unbelievably moving final scene, I have never seen a film so passionately and yet so innocently depict the power of absolute, all-encompassing, unconditional love. Jane Seymour looks radiant while on screen but this is Christopher Reeve’s movie.
• AllMovie: “Somewhere in Time relies on old-fashioned romanticism. Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour are well cast; the film is exquisitely beautiful to look at, and John Barry’s score provides the perfect lush and sentimental backdrop.

Audience Reactions

The beautiful soundtrack enhances every emotional beat, making the romance unforgettable.: Viewers praise the film’s lush visuals, costumes, and John Barry’s enchanting score.

Seymour and Reeve had undeniable chemistry. It made the fantasy so believable: It has beautiful and radiant actors that many praise as capturing the feelings of love, loss and timelessness in a unique way.

Overall Consensus: A visually stunning and emotionally resonant romance, ‘Somewhere in Time’ remains a beloved classic, though some find its plot convoluted and its sentimentality overbearing.

Awards

1. Saturn Award (Best Music)- 1981
2. Saturn Award (Best Costumes)- 1981

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, served as the primary filming location, and the movie’s popularity has boosted tourism to the island.”
• “Christopher Reeve considered this his favorite film and was proud of his performance, showcasing his versatility beyond the ‘Superman’ role.”
• “The musical score, composed by John Barry, heavily features Sergei Rachmaninoff’s ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,’ which became synonymous with the movie’s themes of love and longing.”
• “Richard Matheson, the author of the novel ‘Bid Time Return’ on which the film is based, makes a cameo appearance as an extra in the theater audience.”

🖥️ How to Watch Somewhere in Time?

As of today, ‘Somewhere in Time’ is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray are also widely available through online retailers like Amazon and at most major stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Somewhere in Time, you might like these similar films:

• The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009): Deals with a love story complicated by time travel, focusing on the emotional impact on the characters.
• Portrait of Jennie (1948): Features an artist who becomes obsessed with a woman from the past, with supernatural elements enhancing the romance.
• Kate & Leopold (2001): A modern woman falls in love with a time-displaced 19th-century duke, blending romance and fish-out-of-water humor.
• The Lake House (2006): Two people living in the same house, but two years apart, communicate through letters and fall in love.
• A Ghost Story (2017): Explores themes of loss, memory, and the enduring power of love that transcends time and space, though with a more melancholic and surreal tone.

🛒 Somewhere in Time Related Products

• Somewhere In Time [Blu-ray]: Blu-Ray collector’s edition with high-definition picture and sound, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes documentaries. A must-have for fans wanting to experience the film in the best possible quality.
• Somewhere in Time: Sheet Music Collection: Digital sheet music for the movie’s iconic theme song and other musical pieces. Includes versions for piano, strings, and orchestra. Perfect for musicians and fans of the soundtrack.
• Somewhere In Time Movie Poster (24×36): High-quality reprint of the original movie poster featuring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Printed on premium paper with vibrant colors. Perfect for decorating a home theater or adding to a movie memorabilia collection.
• Somewhere in Time: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: The complete original motion picture soundtrack on CD. The soundtrack features the iconic love theme composed by John Barry.

🎧 Soundtrack

Somewhere in Time features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Somewhere in Time” – performed by John Barry
• “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, Variation XVIII” – performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

♥ Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”

Ever wondered about that beautiful, haunting music from “Somewhere in Time”? This is it! Seriously, give it a listen; it’s so moving, and you’ll totally understand why it’s so iconic in the movie.

Theme from “Somewhere in Time” – Piano solo

Want to feel the magic of “Somewhere in Time” all over again? Check out this gorgeous piano version of the theme. Honestly, it’s even more heart-wrenching and beautiful than the original soundtrack!

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