It's amazing to me which films endure and which don't. After 40 years, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" looks like a relic from another era, and it's considered an all-time classic. Yet 30 years after it's release, Daniel Petrie's minor 1976 film "Lifeguard" looks as good now as it did upon its release, and remains as timely and vital as ever, even though noone would consider it a classic of its era.
Actually, on the big screen, "Lifeguard" resembled a glorified TV movie. On TV, however, it looks great, especially in this wonderful widescreen transfer. And it serves as a reminder that sometimes small, heartfelt films with modest aspirations can endure and be effective long after the same era's pretentious and overblown message pictures. "Lifeguard" could be described as "Baywatch" with brains, but its much more than that. How wonderful it is to see a movie set in Southern California and on the beach where the beachgoers look like real people and not surgically-altered superbabes. And although all of the featured lifeguards are men, you get the idea if they hired a woman, she'd look like Alexandra Paul and not Pamela Anderson. Even the women star Sam Elliott gets involved with look like real, average women--future Oscar nominees Kathleen Quinlan and Anne Archer chief among them. Believe me, it's a real treat to watch normal people onscreen for a change.
Elliott stars as Rick, a career lifeguard who is beginning another summer on the beach, with a new assistant/trainee (Parker Stevenson). He befriends a lonely teenager (Quinlan) who has just moved to L.A. from San Diego (and who has an obvious crush on him), has a few one-night stands and meets his parents for dinner, whereas his father lets him know he's tired of his son wasting his life at the beach. This sends him into an early mid-life crisis, especially when an old high school friend who owns a Porsche dealership offers him a "respectable" job selling cars. But it's not until he attends his 15-year high school reunion and reunites with his divorced high school flame Cathy (Archer) that he begins to seriously consider hanging up his trunks for good, especially when Cathy lets him know her interest depends on it. So, obviously, Rick has some serious thinking to do: give up the job he loves for the respectability of a job he doesn't. It's a simple story, but as most simple stories do, it resonates still.
"Lifeguard" is a sweet, even funny movie that will obviously appeal to women, but is also a painless date film. The entire cast is good, with Elliott the obvious standout. Filmed before he matured into the grizzled, tough cop/cowboy/military type he now excels at, it's refreshing to see him play such a regular, flawed guy. My only problem with his character is that he is so level-headed, a decision he makes involving his relationship with Quinlan's character seems completely out of character and even more stupid than it is. Maybe it's because today's morality is so much different than it was then. Either way, it's a jolt. Also, Quinlan is typically wonderful, and Stevenson offers able support as the rookie and Rick's sounding board. Archer, although second-billed, doesn't make her entrance until the second half of the film and then has barely ten minutes screen time. She's professional as always.
The photography and look of the film still look great so many years later, with none of the swimwear or fashions seemingly out-of-date, compared to other eras. And, yes, the song "Time and Tide" by Paul Williams, which was cut out of the TV prints, makes a welcome return, as so many others have noted.
In all, **** (out of *****) for "Lifeguard". Unfortunately, this is a typical no-frills, no-extras presentation from Paramount DVD. But at least they continue to present these old gems in widescreen, so thanks for that.
"Time and Tide" - Life on the Beach
With the approach of his fifteen year high school reunion and the possibilty of re-connecting with his teenage sweetheart (Anne Archer), an aging lifeguard (Sam Elliot) re-examines his career choice and single lifestyle.
This is my favorite Sam Elliot role and conversely probably his least well known. It's one of those perfect little gems where everything seems to work to perfection. Much like the main character, Lifeguard Rick, the viewer subtly touches on so many different emotions during this film that it's hard to define exactly what you're experiencing at any given time. But in the end you are left with a quiet contentment, an understanding and acceptance of who you are and what is the right choice for yourself no matter what the mainstream opinion might be.
Paul Williams' song "Time and Tide" was removed from the soundtrack when this movie hit the T.V. screen. I hope it has been restored on the DVD release, it just wouldn't be the same movie without it.
Update 06/22/05: The DVD came out yesterday. I bought it and watched last night. All is well, the song is back. Thanks Paramount!
Theme Song Information
The original theme song for this movie is "Time and Tide" it was written and performed by Paul Williams and is available on one of his CD collections.
I believe that the theme song was changed in 1992 when the movie was re-released as a TV movie.
I don't know why they changed the song, I still remember some of the words and I haven't seen the movie since 1976!!!
What's that old saying????? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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