MovieChat Forums > Somewhere in Time (1980) Discussion > A sharp guy like Richard had to know tha...

A sharp guy like Richard had to know that he would have to return to his own time at some point

posted 3 years ago by JackalopeCash57 (92)
4 replies | jump to latest

So I have to say, the ghostly element of this film combined with the romantic time travel element really leaves an emotional impact: such a powerful movie. I have always been a big fan of time travel stories in general: whether if it is time travel comedy like the Back to the Future films. time travel action like the Terminator films, or good old science fiction/problem solving time travel tales like several of the Star Trek installments have done over the years. However, romantic time travel stories are usually always hard hitting tear jerkers (the Star Trek TOS episode "City on the Edge of Forever" is like the embodiment of this as is this film)

So I know that the princple of avoidance of contaminating the historical timeline is not really a factor in this film, rightfully so. However, Richard had to know deep down that he couldn't stay in 1912 forever - he eventually would have to return to his own time regardless of how the chain of events played out. I know that was something he clearly would not be happy about, but I feel like it is strange how he is so shocked and emotionally traumatized by the notion of returning back to 1979.

Anybody else feel this way?

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Would it have been feasible for him to stay in the past if he hadn't accidentally snapped himself back to 1979?
In the original novel he was dying of a brain tumor, so he may as well have tried to stay in the past as long as he could instead of just going forward in time again to die in the hotel.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MikeCable (1860) 2 years ago

I think he was more upset about the fact he didn't have control over when he wanted to come back. He had only just become intimate with her and accidentally found the coin in his jacket which took him away.

In the film there is a mention that he was in his room for a week and they find that he hasn't eaten anything for that long so they call the paramedic, but on Wikipedia the plot description says he spent weeks trying to get back to her. Am a bit confused there, but eventually his body would have failed him if he continued on since he wasn't able to consume anything while in that state. But I don't think he thought that far ahead. Eventually I am sure he would have died from starvation. He would not have known about the after life for sure. Hmm...

[–] pepetoony (1744) 5 months ago

It's a good thing he snapped back when he did...otherwise he ran the risk of waking up in a pile of his own dung! Not to mention: Had he stayed in his hypnotic state much longer, the hotel staff would've barged into his room and snapped him back anyway.