---Why I Bought This---

I am not a movie buff but this film has always held a special place in my heart.
It is a bit of a tear-jerker really, possibly not so much for the story itself but for the wonderful musical score written by John Barry.
When I first saw the film on TV I thought it was great, this was way back in the 80s. I thought the music then was mesmerising, and I always made a point of watching it if it was on TV.
Move on a few years and having a DVD player I decided to buy myself a copy of the film (I had already bought a CD of the music).
I have often watched this movie, and it always brings tears to my eyes.



---The Product---

PG DVD, 99 minutes running time and produced by Anchor Bay Entertainment UK Ltd.



---The Story---

This film is based on the 1970s book 'Bid Time Return' by Richard Matheson.
Richard Matheson also wrote the screenplay.
The story centres around an attractive playwright Richard Collier (played by the dashing Christopher Reeve), who is visited by an old lady at the start of the film who presents him with an old watch and the entreaty to 'come back to me'.
A few years later Richard decides to have a vacation and on the spur of the moment turns into a hotel (actually the Grand Hotel Mackinac Island, Michigan) - while waiting for the restaurant to open he browses the hotel's small museum and is mesmerised by a large photograph of a very beautiful woman.
Richard discovers that the image is of a famous actress, Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), who was at the hotel in 1912.
To cut the story short Richard finds out that the old lady at the start of the movie was actually Elise Mc Kenna. Richard managed to time travel back to 1912 by self hypnosis.
There he meets up with Elise, they spend a day and night together, but Richard is hurtled back to the present day by finding a present day coin in his waistcoat pocket.
All efforts on his part fails to send him back to 1912 ad he stays in his hotel room and fades away - finaly dying - only to be reunited with the lovely Elise.



---The Music---

For me the movie would be nothing without the marvellous musical score composed by the famous John Barry. Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini also plays throughout the movie.
The CD has he following tunes form the movie:
1. Somewhere In Time John Barry
2. The Old Woman John Barry
3. The Journey Back In Time John Barry
4. A Day Together John Barry
5. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini
6. Is He The One John Barry
7. The Man Of My Dreams John Barry
8. Return To The Present John Barry
9. Theme From Somewhere In Time



---Cost---

£2.99 at both Play and Amazon at present.



---My Opinion---

I enjoy time travel stories - but it is not that which endears me to this film. I believe the choice of the two main characters, Reeve and Seymour, helped the film no end as they are both attractive individuals.
If you just read a synopsis of the story it would seem rather bland, but that is before you factor in John Barry's music. It is the superb orchestral score that evokes the emotions, also the Rachmaninoff music, which I did not know originally.
Apparently the film did not receive very good reviews when released in 1980 due to a strike that prevented the actors form promoting it. Like many other movies this one should have then died a death, but something in it must have touched people as it has endured the test of time and still has a fan club website and they have reunions at The Grand Hotel, which featured large in the film.
Even today the music can make me feel emotional. John Barry was a master composer, and it was only later that I learnt that he also wrote the theme to The Persuaders, another of my favourites. John Barry also wrote music for the Bond films and also Dances with Wolves, another one I really like.
One evocative part is when Elise is on stage and Richard is in the audience, she ad-libs a speech direct to him:
'The man of my dreams has almost faded now
The one I have created in my mind
The sort of man each woman dreams of in the deepest and most secret reaches of her heart.
I can almost see him now before me,
What would I say to him if he were really here?
Forgive me, I've never known this feeling
I've lived without it all my life
Is it any wonder then I failed to recognise you?
You've brought it to me for the first time
Is there any way that I can tell you how my life has changed?
Anyway at all to let you know what sweetness you have given me
There is so much to say, I, I cannot find the words
Except for these 'I love you'.
And such would I say to him, if he were really here'.
The film is a gentle romance, they spend a few snatched hours together and ride off in a horse drawn carriage.
The scene where Richard returns to the present and Elize is left wailing out 'Richard....' is very well done with a sort of telescopic filming.
The ending where Richard Collier dies and his spirit leaves through the window to be reunited with Elise is very moving - again supported by John Barry's music. In fact as you may have gathered I love all the music in this film. and have used snatches of it when doing Youtube movies of local villages.



---Star Rating---

5 Stars.



---Would I Recommend?---

Yes definitely - super music and a great romance.



---Website---

Fan club site - www.somewhereintime.tv/
Anchor Bay website - www.anchorbay.co.uk