Somewhere in Time (film)

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 the photograph of a young woman at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Through self-hypnosis, he transports 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 attempts to deter him, fearing that romance would derail her career. 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. In 2018, Seymour disclosed that she and Reeve fell in love while working on the film. However, they broke up after Reeve found out his ex-girlfriend was expecting their child. The two remained close friends for the rest of Reeve's life. Despite an unfavorable critical reception and modest box office receipts in its original release, the movie developed a cult following.