Somewhere in Time (film)

Somewhere in Time
Theatrical film poster
Directed byJeannot Szwarc
Screenplay byRichard Matheson
Based onBid Time Return
by Richard Matheson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyIsidore Mankofsky
Edited byJeff Gourson
Music byJohn Barry
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • October 3, 1980 (1980-10-03)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4 million[1]
Box office$9.7 million

Somewhere in Time is a 1980 American romantic fantasy drama film from Universal Pictures, directed by Jeannot Szwarc, and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer. It is a film adaptation of the novel Bid Time Return (1975) by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay.

Reeve plays Richard Collier, a playwright who becomes obsessed with a photograph of a young woman at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Through self-hypnosis, he manifests himself back in time to the year 1912 to find love with actress Elise McKenna (portrayed by Seymour). He comes into conflict with Elise's manager, William Fawcett Robinson (portrayed by Plummer), who fears that romance will derail her career, and attempts to stop him.

The film is known for its musical score composed by John Barry, featuring pianist Roger Williams. The 18th variation of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is also used several times.

Seymour disclosed at the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival that she and Christopher Reeve fell in love while working on the film. However, they broke up after Reeve found out his ex-girlfriend was expecting his child. The two remained close friends until Reeve died.[2]

The film garnered a serious cult following and in 1990 super fan Bill Shepard, founded a fan club called INSITE, the International Network of Somewhere In Time Enthusiasts.[3][4]

  1. ^ On Location With Christopher Reeve: 3 Chocolates on the Pillow 'To Escape the Cape' Crew Works for Scale
  2. ^ "Jane Seymour says she and Christopher Reeve 'fell madly in love' making 'Somewhere in Time'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  3. ^ Slater, Eric (1995-05-14). "Fans of 1980 'Tear-Jerker' Celebrate Film : Entertainment: Devotees of 'Somewhere in Time' gather in Universal City to honor movie as the pinnacle of romance cinema". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  4. ^ Tribune, Chicago (1992-10-23). "`SOMEWHERE IN TIME` TRAVELERS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-02-20.