A forgotten romantic fantasy that failed at the box office but found eternal life.
In short: Released in 1980, this time-travel drama starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was initially dismissed by critics and ignored by its studio. Yet, despite a disastrous launch, it cultivated a devoted following, eventually becoming a cult classic that defied its poor commercial beginnings to find a lasting, dedicated audience.
The film follows Richard Collier, a playwright who becomes obsessed with a photograph of an early-20th-century actress, Elise McKenna. Through intense self-suggestion, he transports himself to 1912 to pursue her. Their romance is complicated by her manager, William Fawcett Robinson, who fears a relationship will destroy her career. The narrative hinges on a 1979 penny that accidentally breaks the protagonist's hypnotic state, pulling him back to the present and leading to his tragic end.
The production faced immense hurdles. A Screen Actors Guild strike prevented the stars from promoting the movie, and Universal Pictures, preoccupied with the financial success of The Blues Brothers, provided minimal marketing support. Consequently, the film earned only $9.7 million against a $4 million budget. Critics were harsh, and the movie was largely overlooked during its initial theatrical run, though it later gained significant traction through television broadcasts.
A standout element is the haunting musical score by John Barry, which prominently features a recurring piano melody from a famous Rachmaninoff composition. This music became central to the film's identity, even appearing in a miniature music box within the story. While the original soundtrack had limited distribution, the film's enduring appeal eventually prompted multiple album releases and expanded presentations of the score decades later.
Beyond its cult status, the film achieved unexpected international success, notably in Hong Kong, where it set a record for the longest continuous screening at the Palace Theatre. It also received recognition from the American Film Institute and won several Saturn Awards. The project remains a curious case of a film that failed to capture the industry's attention at launch but resonated deeply with viewers over time.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Somewhere in Time (film)
- Also: Wikidata — Somewhere in Time · CC0
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