Rock Hudson stars in this unsettling look at second chances. Banker Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) lives a comfortable, stifling life until he is contacted by a mysterious caller offering "what every middle-aged man wants: complete freedom." Hamilton, with the help of an enigmatic corporation, fakes his own death and starts over in his new swinging-bachelor persona (now played by Rock Hudson). A change of life, though, is not just a change of scenery, and Seconds, for all its thriller aspects, contains some sad and disturbing meditations on the way we make our own prisons. Director John Frankenheimer uses skewed angles, bizarre close-ups, and fisheye lenses to underscore the film's off-kilter tension, and Rock Hudson gives a performance that is light-years removed from Pillow Talk. Well worth watching twice. --Ali Davis
Customer Reviews:
One Of The Most Disturbing Horror Movies Ever The director John Frankenheimer made "Seconds" during his 1960's hot streak that also included The Manchurian Candidate (Special Edition) and Seven Days in May. "Seconds" is quite simply one of the most disturbing horror films ever made. It has a perfectly constructed script that keeps piling on the surprises and shocks to a nightmarish crescendo. There has seldom been a movie that so well evokes the atmosphere of Kafka. Mix in a frighteningly acute portrait of the psychological and social discontents that were beginning to make themselves felt in that decade (and still pack a punch.) The plot is impossible to describe without giving away too much. It's nominally science fiction, but with a much darker feel. Just say that a weary, defeated, middle-aged businessman played by John Randolph is offered a Faustian second chance at life, and is surgically reborn as the handsome, youthful Rock Hudson. This is a great performance by Hudson, who picks right up from Randolph's character and makes us believe in the sad, confused guy behind the dashing facade. Hudson seemingly now has everything necessary to make a fresh start, but some nasty details keep intruding on his "paradise." There's amazing, disorienting black and white photography by James Wong Howe. Also some deeply creepy, masterful music by Jerry Goldsmith. And one has to make a special mention of Will Geer, who plays the "old man", the mysterious head of the shadowy corporation who appears at the beginning and end of the movie with two hair-raising, unsettling speeches that will haunt you. Fans of David Lynch and Mulholland Dr.and Lost Highway will eat this movie up. I think of it as the emotional equivalent of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2-Disc Ultimate Edition). It deals with some of our deepest fears about life and existence, and doesn't pull any punches. You should see this movie immediately if you haven't already....more info
Seconds Perhaps the most unknown and under appreciated American film of all time. John Frankenheimer at his edgiest and most paranoid. Rock Hudson is brilliantly cast as the young reincarnation of a middle-aged man who under goes surgery to regain his youth. A film truly ahead of its time and an inspiration to filmmakers everywhere. Story is told brilliantly with some of the most inventive camera work ever!...more info
Ahead Of It's Time This movie never received the recognition it deserved, as Rock Hudson never received the recognition he deserved for the phenomenal performance he gave as a middle aged man given a second chance to create the life he believes he wants. It's a Faustian tale that cautions the viewer to "be careful what you wish for, for you just might get it". I read the book before I ever saw the movie, and was not one bit disappointed in the film. It follows the book pretty much to the letter. John Randolph is transformed into Rock Hudson through a series of plastic surgeries and leaves behind his former life (and wife and career) to begin again as an artist in a southern California community. What the character doesn't realize is that although the exterior may change, you still take with you the core of who you are. The movie received terrible reviews when it was released, primarily because I think people wanted the Rock Hudson they knew of the Doris Day light comedies. He plays very much against type and the movie is heavy all the way through. I won't spoil the plot and give away too much, other than the fact that I never forgot this film though I saw it some thirty years ago and it never compromises or cheapens itself with a pat ending. There is one very slow segment in the film that lasts about ten minutes and could have been edited out, but it's still a five star film. It's pure science fiction without the special effects, but not at all unrealistic. It's a shame that neither Rock Hudson nor John Frankenheimer, who directed it, didn't live to see this become a cult classic that is very much appreciated nearly 40 years later....more info
masterpiece The stunning story of a man who sold his soul. Black and white. Hand held camera work. The price one might pay for wishing for something more than he can handle. Brillient writing. Outstanding editing. Great acting. Fantastic story line. Gripping. Erotic. Provocative. Exactly what a quality film should be. Frakenheimer is masterful!...more info
SECONDS-ROCK HUDSON-Why is this film so similar to THE GAME? SECONDS is a five star film made in 1966 with Rock Hudson which I did not see in the theaters. Made during the peak of 60's political paranoia this film was a celebration of this condition. Filmed with no less than four previously black balled actors and writors this film explored the prospects of being completely "reborn" with no chance of returning to normalcy or prior life.
I found this film to have many emotional and visual sililarities with a very excellent and relatively recent movie, THE GAME, which also explored paranoia to the extreme. While the scenario and plot were totally different, the feelings and otherworldly experiences were, nevertheless, very similar to THE GAME. This film provides a most unnerving movie experience which you may have to rent to find available, but will be well worth the trouble for lovers of such flicks. ...more info
if you could ,would you start over again that is the central question in john frankenhammer's "seconds"
a middle aged man,bored and not happy with his life is told of a company called reborns that "for a fee" will make you over and give you a new life. after so talking and an operation the man comes out looking like rock hudson. great who wouldn't want to look like rock. but then your looks are all that has changed and the problems you had are still with you, as rock finds out.
the last 10 mins. of this movie will stun and scare you to death. no more about it but to say rock hudson gave the proformance of his life and this thriller will be with you long after it ends....more info
Second to None We've all had days when we wished we could escape our ourselves and our lives, to be someone else somewhere else. But even if it were possible, could we really start over? Seconds asks and answers that question - some might argue quite cynically - through some of the most searing and surreal images and dialogue on film, in a story both jarring and emotionally resonant because it tells truths about humanity.
Without giving up too much of the plot, it is difficult to convey just how profoundly disturbing and haunting this film is, even after multiple viewings. From the pipe-organ score by Jerry Goldsmith that breathes with an eerie, heretic fervor; to the distorted faces in the titles by Saul Bass; to the stunning wide-angle black-and-white photography by James Wong Howe; to the peerless direction by John Frankenheimer; and of course, to the career-topping performance of Rock Hudson as the protagonist striking the faustian bargain to trade in his humdrum, middle-aged life for a new beginning, this film is simply one of the most overlooked and underrated gems of '60s cinema.
That it was made nearly 40 years ago is evident because of the film's many on-location shots, but the movie transcends its era and its genre (science fiction?) because it deals with timeless themes and a premise that in today's world of ..biotechnology seems increasingly plausible (at least physically). Seconds also remains more chilling than Frankenheimer's more popular masterpiece, The Manchurian Candidate, because it speaks poignantly about something we can all identify with: identity.
The new DVD is very much worth the price of admission: the picture transfer is really superb, and the sound isn't bad relative to most films of its time period. The disc also contains a trailer and a commentary by Frankenheimer. While Frankenheimer's thoughts are informative, I was disappointed that he focused mostly on technical aspects of the movie (e.g., "here's James Wong using the wide-angle lens again . . . ). I wish he had provided more insights about plot and thematic elements; maybe he thought these were better off left to the viewer to figure out. You likely won't be able to rent this one at Blockbuster, because unfortunately it remains a cult classic only.
Seconds is director John Frankenheimer and lead actor Rock Hudson's finest hour, and I can't recommend it more highly. This is one movie that will at least make you think - perhaps even differently - about yourself, your life, and your loved ones....more info
a rock hudson you will never forget!!!!! This is one hell of a movie! You won't believe the incredibly intense performance that Rock Hudson gives. He deserved an Academy Award for this film. The ending will leave you stunned and horrified for days...............I can't recommend this film enough. It's a SIN that it is not on dvd. BUT AHHHHHH, NOW IT IS!!! SO GET IT BEFORE YOU CAN'T!!!...more info
A Minor Masterpiece The best damn 90-minute episode of The Twilight Zone I've ever seen! That's a compliment, by the way. A trippy, creepy masterpiece directed by John Frankenheimer at the top of his game. Middle-aged businessman finds a fountain or youth and nearly drowns in it. The best performance Rock Hudson ever gave....more info
Second-to-None We've all had days where we wished we could escape our ourselves and our lives, to be someone else somewhere else. But even if it were possible, could we really start over? Seconds asks and answers that question - some might argue quite cynically - through some of the most searing and surreal images and dialogue on film, in a story both jarring and emotionally resonant because it tells truths about humanity.
Without giving up too much of the plot, it is difficult to convey just how profoundly disturbing and haunting this film is, even after multiple viewings. From the pipe-organ score by Jerry Goldsmith that breathes with an eerie, heretic fervor; to the distorted faces in the titles by Saul Bass; to the stunning wide-angle black-and-white photography by James Wong Howe; to the peerless direction by John Frankenheimer; and of course, to the career-topping performance of Rock Hudson as the protagonist striking the faustian bargain to trade in his humdrum, middle-age existence for a new beginning, this film is simply one of the most overlooked and underrated gems of '60s cinema.
That it was made nearly 40 years ago is evident because of the film's many on-location shots, but the movie transcends its era and its genre (science fiction?) because it deals with timeless themes and a premise that in today's world of cloning and biotechnology seems increasingly plausible (at least physically). Seconds also remains more chilling than Frankenheimer's more popular masterpiece, The Manchurian Candidate, because it speaks poignantly about something we can all identify with: identity.
The new DVD is very much worth the price of admission: the picture transfer is really superb, and the sound isn't bad relative to most films of its time period. The disc also contains a trailer and a commentary by Frankenheimer. While Frankenheimer's thoughts are informative, I was disappointed that he focused mostly on technical aspects of the movie (e.g., "here's James Wong using the wide-angle lens again . . . ). I wish he had provided more insights about plot and thematic elements; maybe he thought these were better off left to the viewer to figure out. You likely won't be able to rent this one at Blockbuster, because unfortunately it remains a cult classic only.
Seconds is director John Frankenheimer and lead actor Rock Hudson's finest hour, and I can't recommend it more highly. This is one movie that will make you think differently about yourself, your life, and your loved ones....more info
SECONDS A movie that is true to life in how many people probably really feel about their own lives...Very haunting and disturbing...DON'T miss this movie! Rock Hudson gives the performance of a lifetime. DVD has many extras, and well worth the price. Would give 10 stars if possible......more info
"No, Mr. Wilson, you can never go back..." Like the "Manchurian Candidate," "Seconds" is one of John Frankenheimer's best works--a film that is rarely seen and relatively unknown and a far cry from the typical Rock Hudson/Doris Day vehicle made during the mid-60's.
Gritty, unsettling, and disturbing describes this tale about a married, middle-aged man (John Randolph), a Princeton grad and bank VP from Scarsdale NY, now granted a virtually new identity via a manufactured "death" to be "reborn" with plastic surgery. Enter one "Tony Wilson" handsome, successful, late 30-ish professional artist seeking youth, meaning, and freedom with dire consequences.
Frankenheimer's film is one that deserves multiple viewings to fully appreciate the director's subtle touches of irony inserted in to the scenes. For example when Randolph finally arrives at the clandestine organization for his appointment with Mr. Ruby (Jeff Corey) and his eventual transformation, he makes his trek through a slaughterhouse and meat packing plant ( "Honest Abe's"), a portent of evil things to come.
The disc includes an informative full audio commentary from Frankenheimer himself, and apparently, Kirk Douglas was offered the role first, but bowed out at the last minute resulting in Hudson as the director's second choice.
Supporting cast are all excellent as well as is James Wong Howe's eerie camera angles and photography. Not really a horror film, but the disturbing and final scenes will remain with you long after the credits roll. ...more info
Haunting chiller This haunting chiller qualifies as director John Frankenheimer's best film. John Randolph plays a middle aged businessman who is given the chance to start is life all over again. He looks 20 years younger, sounds like he's 20 years younger because now he is. He's given a new face and identity. The catch is that he can't contact his widowed spouse or their children ever again.
Sucked into this surreal world, Rock Hudson gives one of his sharpest and most impassioned performances. Perhaps that's because, despite his matinee idol looks and heterosexual swagger, Hudson was gay. In many repsects he had to project one image while hiding another and those around him couldn't be clued in because it would destroy his career. It's something Hudson might be able to identify with (ironic then that the gay actor Will Geer most famous for playing grandpa on The Waltons is the head of the company that "renews" people).
Frankenheimer's direction is imaginative. The cinematography, editing and overall look of the film could be a textbook on surreal cinema by itself. Frankenheimer uses a variety of short, long and wide fisheyed lenses to convey the frightening world that Hudson's character has fallen into. Despite the fact that it was released in 1966, Seconds could be a modern fable about identity and discovering who we really are vs. who we pretend to be.
The DVD has a running commentary by the later Frankenheimer and a widescreen transfer (the first time this film has been available in ages in that format). The black and white photographer is beautifully rendered with the rich shadowy world rendered in crisp, sharp images.
Arguably Frankenheimer's finest film (the other films that belong in the same category are his films of The Manchurian Candidate and The French Connection 2), Seconds captures one of Hudson's best film performances. This DVD release is a deluxe edition that has many of the unusual bells and whistles we've come to expect from Criterion and other quality DVD/Video companies. Be warned, though, that Second is not a film everyone will enjoy. The film comes with a decidedly downbeat ending (somewhat unusual even in American cinema in the mid-60's, Frankenheimer was clearly influenced by the French New Wave movement that was going on at the same time)but is powerful and leavea a lasting impression....more info
"Seconds" is still upseting this movie would have been a hit today. the last 30 mins will leave you just stuned. rock hudson shows what he could do when given a chance. it should be in everyones collection of great over looked gems. not for the faint of heart...more info
A little known classic Directed by John Frankheimer (The Manchurian Candidate) and filmed in glorious black and white, Seconds is a thriller concerning personal identity. Considered a failure upon its release, its a bit of a lost / little known classic.
Personally, what makes the film so interesting is the number of odd circumstances and loose ends presented by the film. Some have pointed these out as a flaw, but upon repeated viewing these "holes" make the film's plot and character motivations more interesting and fun to discuss.
The film has a great start and a great finish. What few problems the film has with pacing are more than compensated for by the "suprise" ending. Also, the film has a wild scene with a Baccanalian (sp?) festival with a suprising amount of nudity for a film made in the 1960's....more info
Frankenheimer's Trippy Twilight-Zonish Masterpiece Seconds is probably the trippiest film you're likely to see. It stars Rock Hudson as Tony, a "reborn" of John Randolph (one of the actors blacklisted under McCarthy). It's ostensibly about this guy in a midlife crisis who is forced into this super secret organization that creates second lives for people by giving them new identities. This film hit so close to home for Rock he nearly broke down during filming.
At first glance the second chance at life looks great. A new identity, a house on the beach, and a beautiful new girlfriend in the seemingly hippyish Nora (Salome Jens). Then things go downhill and into a nightmarish realm. Really the whole film is a surreal nightmare, from the meat packing district to Randolph being drugged to out-of-proportion camera lenses and strange angles. And especially inside the reborn offices; what happens there is utterly otherworldly. Filmed in black and white this captures an experiment in surrealism that a major director wouldn't dare attempt today. And like all great '60s films this has a '60s feel and atmosphere to it. Especially when Nora and Tony go to a hippy festival, though Tony feels out of place there; after all he was formerly a square banker.
When Beach Boy Brian Wilson saw this film when it was released in 1966 he literally went insane. He believed Phil Spector was beaming him secret messages through the film to sabotage his career (the main character's last name was Wilson which may have added to his paranoia). But for a relatively healthy viewer it won't drive you insane...but it'll definitely have an effect on you.
If one had to pin down what this film is a metaphor for, it would have to be the old alienation of modern society theme, but here with an intense sci-fi-like twist. A must for all Frankenheimer fans, Rock Hudson fans, and/or '60s afficionados....more info
Seconds Bored and alienated businessman Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) is given a second chance at life when a mysterious organization makes him an offer he can't refuse. Through surgery, calisthenics, a cannily staged death and a handful of craftily forged documents Hamilton is transformed into swinging bachelor Tony Wilson (Rock Hudson.)
There's something inherently appealing about being given a second chance at life - especially if you come back as Rock Hudson circa 1966. According to John Frankenheimer's commentary on SECONDS, though, the public wasn't buying it and the movie was a box office flop. Those who wanted to see a Rock Hudson movie didn't want to see him in THIS kind of movie, and those who wanted to see this kind of movie didn't want to see Rock Hudson in the lead.
Now that SECONDS is a certified Cult Classic I suppose we can dismiss the reaction of the nattering nabobs of the first wave. In fact, Hudson is quite effective as the retooled man and provides a seamless transition from the somewhat dumpy and dour Hamilton to the buff and dour Tony Wilson. The black-and-white photography by master cinematographer James Wong Howe is eerily disorienting. Some of the secondary characters, especially Jeff Corey as the hard-selling Mr. Ruby and Will Geer as the folksy Old Man, are welcome infusions of life.
That SECONDS desperately needs as many infusions of life is a problem. Hamilton/Wilson is such a private and solitary grump it's nearly impossible to ride along with him. When Wilson meets beautiful young Nora Marcus (Salome Jens) and crawls out of his shell and begins to Live! it should be a moment of pleasant satisfaction, at least, but Hamilton/Wilson is such a cold fish I didn't really care how many breakthroughs he achieved.
I usually don't notice such things, but considering the stellar talent responsible for this movie SECONDS has way too many snafus and goofs - camera shadows in the shot, cameras reflected in the mirror. I didn't notice the big continuity problem until I watched it with the commentary track. Frankenheimer told how the right-handed actor Randolph had to learn to do many thing left-handed to match the left-handed Hudson. The comment was made while Randolph, as Hamilton, was riding a commuter train and doing a crossword puzzle right-handed!
There are plenty of plot twists in SECONDS and for the most part I didn't think I wasted my time watching it. Interesting movie with an unusual bit of casting in Hudson. Tepid recommendation.
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"Isn't it easier to go forward when you know you can't go back?" Based on a novel by David Ely, adapted for the screen by Lewis John Carlino (The Great Santini) and directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Ronin), Seconds (1966) stars Rock Hudson (Pillow Talk, Ice Station Zebra). Also appearing is Salome Jens (Harry's War), John Randolph (Pretty Poison), Will Geer (In Cold Blood), Jeff Corey (The Sword and the Sorcerer), Murray Hamilton (Jaws), Frances Reid (The Andromeda Strain), and Richard Anderson (Kitten with a Whip), whom I best remember as the character Oscar Goldman from the television series "The Six Million Dollar Man".
As the film begins we meet an aging banker named Arthur Hamilton (Randolph) preparing to take the train from the city to his home in Scarsdale. Prior to getting on the train he's given a slip of paper containing only an address by an unknown man, followed up by a phone call later that night from a friend he thought passed away sometime ago. The next day Arthur goes to the address, and after some cloak and dagger stuff he ends up in an innocuous office environment where he meets a man named Mr. Ruby (Corey) who makes him a fantastic offer, one that entails Arthur breaking all ties from his past and starting over again with a new identity. After some convincing Arthur signs on, which leads various aspects including faking his own death, financial arrangements, numerous cosmetic surgical procedures and extensive physical reconditioning (that eventually turn him into Rock Hudson), and a brand new identity. As a result, Arthur Hamilton is no more, as he's now Tony Wilson (Hudson), a bachelor and established artist who has a swank pad on a Malibu beach. While adjusting to his new life Tony meets a blonde woman named Nora (Jens), a sort of free spirit weirdo type and the pair attend a Bacchanalia wine festival where Nora gets nekkid and dances in a vat of grapes, along with a bunch of other oddballs. Tony may be Tony on the outside, but he's still conservative Arthur on the inside, and has difficultly letting go of inhibitions developed from his previous life (eventually Tony does seem to get into the swing of things). Sometime later Tony throws a cocktail party, one intended to allow him to meet his neighbors (and vice versa), gets snockered, and slips back into his previous life, causing a bit of trouble with those in attendance who happened to go through the same process he did in being `reborn'. Anyway, Tony/Arthur makes a trip back to Scarsdale to visit his widowed wife, staying in role of Tony, claiming to be a past acquaintance of Arthur's, and learns some interesting truths about himself from back when he was Arthur, which leads to Tony deciding go back to the company with the intent of starting anew again, this time wanting the freedoms he now perceives not available to him in his initial go around...turns out what he wants is possible, but there's a few catches involved resulting in an unexpected and particularly disturbing finale.
I thought this a most excellent film with a thoughtful and intelligent story and characters. The main crux of the feature seems to be with Arthur trying to come to terms with his new identity and perceived freedoms, struggling with having to distance himself from the life he once knew after being absolved of all previous responsibilities. On the surface it might seem easy, even favorable, but imagine cutting all ties to who you are, your family, friends, etc., and picking up somewhere else as someone completely different. Also imagine learning exactly what people thought of you, especially those closest to you, when allowed to express their true, unadulterated feelings...keep in mind these are individuals you left behind to start a new life specifically because you felt life wasn't worth continuing under your previous identity (chances are you're going to get a perspective you might have been aware of peripherally, but never actually delved into for fear of having to actually face your own failings). I thought the concept of a company, complete with shareholders, board members, etc., who's sole business was to provide well to do individuals with the possibility of happiness by faking their own death and starting over under a completely developed and established identity an interesting one, and I especially liked the amount of detail provided in terms of how they went about accomplishing the goal. I thought all the performances here strong, especially Hudson, whom I had grown accustomed to seeing primarily in bedroom comedies with Doris Day. The story here featured an uniqueness for me in that while it have specific science fiction elements, it also looked at the human condition pretty thoroughly, in terms of an individual forced to view his own life and learning that which he had been taught to strive for, ultimately did not fulfill some very basic necessities (i.e. being rich and successful doesn't necessarily to happiness...although it doesn't hurt). The direction was certainly interesting and innovative, especially the unusual camera angles employed (there were a few shots that seemed perhaps the camera was actually mounted on the performer's shoulder). Normally some of the shots employed would be used to create a sense of tension, but here it was more of a sense of unease, as if we were experiencing something that shouldn't be...it's difficult to explain, but perhaps it would make more sense after having watched the film. At the very least it tended to keep things interesting. One scene I really enjoyed, beside the ending, was when Tony/Arthur visited his former wife in the guise of Tony, and got the lowdown on himself. While her comments about the man she believed dead weren't caustic or mean, they weren't entirely flattering, either. She had some very perceptive ideas about her dead husband, ones she couldn't share with him when she was alive due to his distant and disconnected nature. I thought the ending especially strong, throwing in a great twist, one I really didn't see coming, but one that fit in perfectly in terms of how the company operated. There were some hints to the ending provided earlier in the story, but they were subtle enough not to be overly revealing. All in all I thought this an excellent, slightly unnerving film, worth watching more than once.
The picture, presented in widescreen (2.35:1), enhanced for 16X9 TVs, looks sharp and clean, exhibiting a few minor flaws, and the Dolby Digital mono audio, available in both English and French comes through very well. Extras include an original theatrical trailer, a commentary track by director John Frankenheimer, and English subtitles.
Cookieman108
By the way, there are a couple continuity errors and the presence of production equipment in a few shots, but these flaws felt relatively minor to me given the strength of the story and the performances.
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A different kind of horror film that haunts long after. So you're unhappy with your life? Get a different life, someone elses perhaps. An unhappy man in middle age crisis becomes entangled with a secretive service that exchanges his appearance so he can become Rock Hudson. Then things go bad and the horror begins. Very scary, the identity changing service plays for keeps if you don't like your new self. This story has a bad habit of popping into my thoughts at odd times. The more I think about it the more horrific it becomes....more info
HUDSONS BEST WORK Excellent Movie. Worth seeing over and over. One of the most under-rated films ever produced....more info
A Lost, Yet Disturbing Cult Classic... Originally released in 1966, nobody saw a video release until 1996, 30 years later. I had some of the disturbing images of beautiful cinematography roaming through my thoughts when I was young, after catching some of it on "Saturday Night At The Movies" with now retired movie critic Elwy Yost. The title of the film always got to me..."Seconds." I always had a curiousity to see the film again to find out the title's meaning. Finally, after waiting so long, jumping from video store to hock shop in search of it, the DVD released and I ran to Blockbuster fast to get it. Well, I know now what the meaning of the title is, and for so many years, I never knew where I had heard that chilling musical score before. Frankenheimer really decided to challenge audiences with this movie back in '66...I mean, how often was it that you saw something like that in those days. Jeez, even my grandfather told me that he never saw anything like that way back when. I was really impressed with this nice & clean transfer onto DVD, and now more people can be able to view what all of the controversy was about.
I'm in total agreeance with Leonard Maltin when he said, "Facinating from start to finish, with good performances, and striking camerawork by James Wong Howe. ***1/2 (out of four)."
Recommended to those with a curiousity for the weird & strange....more info
Forget your past ; we ' ll give you a new life ! This bitter and merciless film still reminds in my memory . The sinister metaphor about a man who wants to leave his past and begin a new identity with othe job , name and profession will be loaded for the unsatisfaction about the new concerns to face .
Crude warning about the articial world and the promised land . There are clear references faustic too .
Hudson was never better than this one .
This is a unfinnished nightmare .
One supreme cult movie .
And forget the happy ending!...more info
A classic, truly unforgettable "science fiction" film! When I began watching this video, I had only a general idea of the story from the description on the box. I find it unforgettable. Few films make such a lasting impression. It's hard to believe that this film received poor reviews when it was first released. I don't want to give anything away, but the ending is incredible. This is a film that doesn't need blood and gore or special effects in order to keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't miss it!...more info
"What do you got left?" I watched this movie last night and I thought it was okay. The idea of having the main character change lives reminded me a lot of the Jim Carrey movie "The Majestic" while the ending is brilliant in which the doctors are about to torture and kill Tony Wilson/Arthur Hamition (Rock Hudson). That scene seemed to be a prelude to "A Clockwork Orange" five years later in which the hero (Malcolm McDowell) raises so much hell that his friends, like what happens to Rock Hudson in this movie, start to turn against them and plot to sabotage him (of course in the case of "Orange" McDowell's Alex is strapped and his eyelids are clamped). The opening credits from Saul Bass are also brilliant and it is almost paying homage to the credits of the Roman Polanski film of that time "Repulsion." But there is one thing in "Seconds" that wasn't brilliant: The wine vat Felliniesque orgy scene between Hudson and Salome Jens because I didn't know why it was in the movie and I never saw it coming. In his audio commentary director John Frankenhimer (dead) admitted that this really happened in Santa Barbara where they shot it and he also said that half the scene was cut out under the Catholic Church's orders. And that leads me to my dissatifaction with the MPAA: Can you believe they gave this movie for its DVD release an R rating because of the scene that I just mentioned? While at the same time they give "The Professionals" another 1966 movie with Burt Lancaster, a PG-13 rating for its own DVD release and yet it has more graphic female nudity/bare flesh that this movie and to push it even futher "Blow-Up" (also from 1966) has it share of female nudity and skin and that is NOT rated! This go to show that the rating system is a joke, it is a true child of the 60's, and it violates the first amendment for freedom of expression. Also, why is the MPAA so conservative over sex and nudity? It does lean towards censorship. Anyway, that is why I give this movie four stars and not five. ...more info
Destroying the American dream Seconds is one of those Hollywood films which which challenges the dominant ideology of the American dream. A truly shocking and disturbing expose of a frustrated middle class businessman, bored with is life, who is offered a new identity by a mysterious organisation. The ending is frightening and chilling and can compared to Sam Fullers Shock Coridoor. Camerawork and music add to the atmosphere and we are left in a state of terror atfer watching the film. Rock Hudson has never been better and is probably Frankenheimers best picture....more info
...Always Ticking! When first released this film was bombed! Well anyone can see why the film was released in 1956! The height of when America was so "twisted" and still trying to find exactly what we expected of ourselves as Americans. So when Frakenheimer made a film that attacked teh preconceived ideals of beauty, health and self respect no wonder it was ignored. Seconds is a visual masterpiece. Fish eye lens' and over lapping dialogue run a muck as an aging banker arthur Hamilton, decides to reivent himself and his looks but nothing is that simple because as this is done an organization is already in place that will control exactly how your life is run. Of course Hamilton is transformed is not only disgusted with his choice and tries not to correct his prior life but to correct himself. This is what makes this an ecellent film! Hammilton never tries to reconsrtuct his former life that was filled with a wife and family but just to reconsrtuct himself never wanting to fully "complete" himself. He does want to under go another surgery though so he can find some sort of balance-sohe can make himself a little more respectable. But when he returns to the organization he finds that his life and soul are as expandable as he thought of his former life. Haunghting and thrilling to the bitter end "Seconds", leaves the viewer not only thinking about looking past beauty but thinking about why we ever looked at it in the first place! Hudson turns in his best performance for a man who built his career on a preconceived notion of masculine looks he never flinches to show us his being destroyed!...more info
disturbing and haunting that's all i can say about this film. a bit slow, kind of dated in places (the baccanalian feast scene which goes on for way too long) and the last 30 minutes are totally messed up in a twisted way but i must say rock hudson does a stellar job. i wasn't aware he was capable of such emotional depths. the direction is amazing, skewed angles, fish eye lens, POV camera shots and the b&w cinematography is gorgeous. a must see but not necessarily a movie that i would want to watch again....more info
A Disturbing Mid-Life Crisis Without question, "Seconds" is a disturbing and unique film. It's odd, unclassifiable, and not easily forgettable. It is also one of the few films that will upset you with each subsequent viewing. The passing of John Hamilton gives me pause to reflect on this underrated films - one of the best dramas of the mid-1960s, and one of the best psychological thrillers ever put to film.
John Randolph is Arthur Hamilton, a man haunted by the thought of life passing him by. Arthur is brought to a strange agency, and is given a unique opportunity: the agency will erase Arthur's old persona via a convenient faked death, perform plastic surgery, and give him a new life as a "second". Rock Hudson plays Tony Wilson, his post-surgery "second" persona. In his new "second" identity, Tony learns that a new body and new identity don't address his need for individuality. Tony never lets go of his supreme self-centeredness, which eventually leads to his downfall.
The film settles in the pit of your stomach with several strange and unsettling scenes. At the agency, he meets a friend who has something on his mind...he seems very intent that Arthur adopts a "second" identity. When Tony awakes from surgery he is bandaged, and is told not to talk because his teeth have been removed. As he recovers, he is given a strange personality and occupational aptitude battery (I have never trusted these after seeing this movie!) Eventually After having too much to drink, he realizes all of his friends are fellow "seconds". Tony visits his wife, who think's he's dead. The gravity of Arthur/Tony's choice is clear; he can never go back. Eventually Tony returns to the agency, and is asked to suggest fellow clients...he never realizes the danger of not ponying up a new candidate. And the final scene...I won't spoil it, but you'll feel cold afterwards.
Hudson is brilliantly and presciently cast, as it was made before his sexuality was common knowledge. It's little wonder that "Seconds" is recognized as Hudson's best work. John Randolph as the gray, depressed Arthur Hamilton is overshadowed by Hudson, but his understated performance is critical to the Hudson's portrayal as Hamilton's "second" chance. Never a great actor, Murray Hamilton is at his best as a frightened agency client - we know why he's nervous, but wonder why Arthur can't see it. Will Geer is eerie and unforgettable as the agency's patriarch, who waxes philosophical with his failed clients. Frankenheimer's work is brilliant. "Seconds" takes a toll on it's viewers, and I find that I have to steel myself to watch this great film again. Strongly recommended....more info
A realistic tale of suffocating paranoia "Seconds" is a fascinating and engrossing realistic fantasy tale that deals with the question of the identity and above all, the exploration of madness symbolized by the search of material happiness and the search of eternal youth which leads to the most claustrophobic fate. "Please be yourself !" can be the warning of this film. The innovative and the post-expressionist cinematography of James Wong Howe (the use of the 9.7 mm fish-eye lens, low-key lightning, extreme chiaroscuro, tilted low angle shots, hand-held camera shots) combined with the stylish graphic work of Saul Bass and a cold, taut and harsh music of Jerry Goldsmith makes it like a Faustian tragedy with a Kafkaesque approach. The whole film is about distortion. The twisted vision of the main character trapped in his own nightmarish world, full of "re-borns" and "employees". But the real nightmare is the dreary routine of his existence. For instance, the scene of the train when Arthur Hamilton is reading his newspaper and feels suddenly sick with his life. We see very short shots of the train window and his sad face. The more oppressive scenes are silent just extreme close-ups of faces. Perhaps, the best film directed by John Frankenheimer and the best paranoiac film ever created. "Classic" is a weak word to define this masterpiece of modern terror. "Seconds" is the last film of the John Frankenheimer's paranoiac trilogy, without forgetting : "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Seven days in may"....more info
Out of tune "Seconds" is one of those films that is both too long and too short. Conceived as a half-hour episode of the original "Twilight Zone" series, it might be a compelling nightmare, a kind of Borgesian sick joke shot by Fritz Lang on speed. We'd accept the story's heavy-handed sententiousness as a necessity of the short format and revel in the snap with which it was made.
As a feature film, though, it's schematic, a series of sub-philosophical postures enlivened by filmmaking a little too clever for its own good. Not that the idea couldn't work as a feature. The problem is that instead of focusing on the main character's realization that his humdrum life results from a bankruptcy that can be blamed on no one but himself, Frankenheimer and company seem more interested in hanging a phantasmagoric swirl on their skeletal idea.
Why do filmmakers believe the best way to present the paranoid is to dump a lot of "style" in our laps? Master fabulists like Kafka and Borges achieve their effects through language so precise it is *itself* surreal. An arty fable like "Seconds," all tense technique slammed in our faces, ultimately falls flat because the film has not been *structured* visually. When a man can't get on a commuter train without the camera doing whirligigs, jumping around from one bizarre angle to another, there's nothing left for the kicker moments, no real horror when we need it. It's a failure of discrimination, an inability to recognize when the fantastic is appropriate, or better, how the fantastic is best revealed through the utterly mundane.
With the main character's transformation more stated than demonstrated, the action feels dragged out, the technique pasted on to distract from the empty subject. It's a pity, because the story could provide a compelling portrait of a grey man's realization of his mediocrity if the filmmakers had the perspicacity to develop the logic of the situation. Brilliant in stretches, rather frustrating because of the obvious talent involved, watching "Seconds" is a lot like listening to a drunken opera star sing out of tune....more info
rose from the ozarks I remember seeing this movie when I was 14 yrs old. It had a great impact on me(of coures at 14, in the 1960s you'd have to be practically dead, not to be influenced by what was going on in San Fransico). I still think about it from time to time and happened to catch it on tv the other night. The only thing that no one seems to mention, is that John Randolph didn't have much of a choice to stay the way he was. He was blackmailed by the "company" showing a black and white film of him rapeing a young woman. Still it was a great performance by Rock Hudson and the other actors or course. I would watch it again from time to time, if I would allow myself to pay that much for a movie. Thank goodness for cable. Great movie....more info
A chilling cautionary tale More than 40 years old now, this small, darkly powerful film still packs a devastating, heartbreaking punch. The story itself is simple, and one that anyone can appreciate: a middle-aged man, vaguely dissatisfied with his supposedly successful life, is offered a second chance in a remade, rejuvenated body, complete with a new life. And of course it's a monstrously Faustian bargain, something that's made clear from the first ominous notes & disorienting graphics of the opening credits.
But it's the relentlessly oppressive tone & the fine acting that take this basic premise into nightmarish territory. For anyone who thought that Rock Hudson was only capable of lightweight comedy or soap opera melodrama, this will be a real eye-opener. He gives it his all & lays his soul bare, nakedly raw, especially in the final scenes. His despair, his anguish, his hunger for something so desperately lost & never found, burns through the screen. It's such an intense & vulnerable performance that it's almost physically unsettling to watch!
There have been complaints about the length of the vineyard scene -- but I think that drawing it out actually adds to the meaning of the film. What begins as a potential orgy, an invitation to release all inhibitions & revel in sensual pleasures, becomes something dreary & nasty as it drags on & on, revealing the spiritual emptiness beneath the facade of endless sensation & instant gratification. There's no real love to be found here, no real human connection, not even the release of genuinely earthy & healthy sex. There's only constant noise & movement to cover the unbearable truth.
And it's a truth that our doomed protagonist learns too late -- what required changing wasn't the outward appearance, but the inner man. All the plastic surgery, the fast cars, the beautiful women, the glamorous lifestyle -- all of it is hollow, if you're still the same person within, unwilling or unable to grow spiritually & emotionally. If only he could go back, try again! But there's no going back.
What's especially chilling is how the emptiness depicted so scathingly here has become a guiding principle for so much of contemporary society. The promise of a new life is even glossier today, far more glittering, as trendy & uber-hip as it could be ... but in the end, still as unsatisfying as ever, offering nothing, taking everything.
If you're looking for horror, forget the adolescent titillation of torture porn & zombies & CGI monsters - this is the real thing. For me, it's one of the finest & most frightening examinations of midlife that I've ever seen -- most highly recommended!...more info
A cult classic deserving of more attention Director John Frankenheimer, cinematographer James Wong Howe, and composer Jerry Goldsmith have each produced a body of outstanding work. Likewise the terrific supporting cast (Will Geer, Jeff Corey, John Randolph) have given many impressive performances over many years. So it is no surprise that, when they come together with SECONDS, they create something special. What is a surprise is the powerful performance by the much-maligned Rock Hudson. It is searingly effective in its focused intensity-- certainly among his finest work.
Interestingly, at the time he was too popular a "star", with a recent spate of successful if insubstantial romantic comedies to his credit. No one felt it believable that John Randolph could be transformed into this familiar celebrity. Now, with Hudson's face and figure much less familiar to new generations of filmgoers, this concern is somewhat alleviated, and his performance can be valued on its substance.
At the same time, with our fuller knowledge of Hudson's personal life and tragic death, his ability to portray a man leading what is essentially a double life is far less surprising. He brings to the role a scorching insight and personal perspective that is both pointed and poignant, and in the end degenerates convincingly into desperate fear and rage.
As the adjectives used above would indicate, this is not a "nice" film. There is no happy ending to this story that transcends genre to speak to the dark places in all of our souls. SECONDS has become something of a cult classic. While this is understandable, it is deserving of more attention than that. It has its flaws, but its impact goes beyond nit-picking. If you have not seen it and you can handle something far more intense than the usual fluff, check it out....more info
A forgotten American masterpiece "Every man has, inside him, a key left unturned."
SECONDS, directed by John Frankenheimer, may be perhaps one of the greatest American movies that no one has ever seen or heard of. It's obscurity is a real crime considering that the inferior (but still very good) AMERICAN BEAUTY and the absolutely wretched EYES WIDE SHUT (not to mention the bloated LAST TANGO IN PARIS) have enjoyed greater notoriety while dealing with exactly the same material.
In fact a great festival would be to show all four films together. Although one may want to shoot themselves afterword.
SECONDS, like all the great tragedies, truly is a pessimistic and depressing film on one hand, and yet, on the other hand, manages to elate the viewer in terms of the incredible mastery of storytelling craft that the filmakers John Frankenheimer and James Wong Howe so expertly display. The acting, script, direction and cinemaphotography all blend perfectly together to create a shattering and unforgettable experience.
The narrative, dealing with a middle aged suburbanite getting a chance at a new start via a shadowy company with real Satanic overtones, is filled with haunting, frightening and utterly truthfull revelations about the fragile human condition. Arthur Hamilton/Tony, the sad protagonist (expertly played by both John Randolph and Rock Hudson(!)) finds all too late that there is no place like home, and once you're gone, you're gone. This is a lesson that Hamilton/Tony doesn't learn until it is too late.
The film proposes this as a fact of our existance that ultimately we all must come to face and accept. Our choices will then lead us to either making our present state better or diving off into changing what cannot be changed: the past.
Watching this film is not escapist entertainment. It is challenging, disturbing and creepy. It is however, a work of art. Don't miss this. A 10 out of 10. ...more info
Seconds Boasting one of Hudson's finest screen performances, this bizarre tale of self-transformation gets the paranoiac treatment from Frankenheimer, a veteran of political thrillers, and ace cameraman James Wong Howe, whose evocative camerawork adds to the sense of unease. Hamilton is as much a victim of his own desire to be someone else as he is of creepy company founder "The Old Man" (Will Geer), and Hudson portrays his character's naivet¨¦ beautifully. Strong support from Jens, Randolph, and Addy, the butler who's uncomfortably keen on coaxing Hamilton to let loose and indulge himself, round out a superb cast. In this age of Botox and TV makeovers, "Seconds" is a disturbing reminder that the fountain of youth is really a poison well....more info
Nightmare! Superb movie - hadn't heard of it till recently. Cinematography, acting, writing, lighting and direction brilliant. It somewhat resembles Hitchcock in its visual flair and detachment. I agreed with Frankenhiemer's comments in the fascinating commentary, about how nowadays you almost never see long scenes allowed to play themselves out with no editing or camera movement, as you do here in some of the movie's best moments. I must admit, the hippy bacchanalia scene now looks slightly embarrassing and feels too long - but it serves its purpose in the story. Hudson is excellent but i particularly liked John Randolph as the haunted, spiritually-dead Hamilton and Will Geer as the smiling, fatherly, utterly evil mastermind in frameless specs (why does he remind me of a certain US Defense Secretary?)....more info
A warning to us all - is it a satire too ? Horror or reality ? This film is gently suggesting something to us . Ever lay in bed thinking about your dissatisfactions in life ...
Other reviewers have made it quite clear that this film is sobering in the extreme . The world today is obsessed with youth ( thanks to the media ) and the scariest thing would be what might happen if the company that the main character goes to did actually exist . Maybe there's a reason this film hasn't been remade - it could be too close to home for the plastic surgeons out there .
It plays to people's desperate needs to have another chance at life , regain their youth - you cannot change what's inside you , though .
The term 'cult film' often is given to those that seem to make points that are hard to swallow or accept .
This is one such film but a label like that doesn't do it justice - it has a lot in common with 'The Manchurian Candidate' which was put together by the same director . Both films are creepy and make you glad you're watching actors .
Try watching SECONDS with the lights off - then look in the mirror afterwards ! You'll know what I mean after watching it . A bargain price DVD , but high quality filmmaking .
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Well Worth Buying For anyone who's fascinated by overlooked gems, this is the film for you. Disturbing and eery from the opening credits montage to the final ambiguous scene. This is worth picking up to see that Rock Hudson was more than a face and that Frankenheimer was years ahead of his time and one of the truly great directors of the 1960's. This was such a fantastic marriage of bizarre camera work, sterile settings, and a sense of something slightly "off" about the everyday world. It succeeds where countless films and TV shows have failed. Much like what you would expect from one of today's Indy directors taking on an old Rod Serling story. It has a very deliberate pace and is recommended for those that have the patience to appreciate every scene. The director commentary from Frankenheimer is insightful and honest all the way through, giving much credit to cinematographer James Wong How. Highly recommended for anyone that wants to see one of the only examples of good "Sci-Fi" post 50's schlock and pre-70's popcorn-flicks....more info
A creepy black and white thriller. I have seen this movie a number of times on late night television since the sixties. It always had quite a disturbing edge and feel....more info
Top grade, haunting tale with an unusual Rock Hudson role This thought provoking little gem of a drama has haunted me since I came across it as a teenager by accident as the second film of a double feature at the local bijou in the 60's. Even at that age, when the reality of wanting a "second" chance at life was an abstraction to someone still beginning the first go round, the obsessive wistfulness of the character played in the film's last two thirds by Rock Hudson and his steady progression from disillusionment to disillusionment, right to the last brilliantly traumatic scene of terror, yearning and loss, stirred thoughts about what was out there to come.
That the film also included a subtle critique, if not attack, on the "American Dream" and other unrealistic and oversimplified materialism and hedonism, as well as a vastly different Rock Hudson, in a dramatic role so unlike the sanitized Doris Day and "leading man" vehicles he was then known for, made it a truly revolutionary experience. Yet, it quickly dropped from sight if not from memory.
For thirty years, I pondered the last searing scene, but had no way to justify my recollection of the film's impact except for conversations with the few other people who remembered the film. Finally, it was released on tape last year, with a little bit more flesh than in the original censored US version (not much at all by today's standards), which only underlines the "empty" hedonism involved in the film's message, while foreshadowing the hedonism of all kinds to come in the following decades.
Although I was ready to be disappointed, the film still works for me after all these years, black and white and all. Life experience may put the message in perspective, and the cultural period reflected in the film, between the end of the 50's conformity and the beginning of the 60's changes, becomes more interesting in its own right as an historical artifact. But the film still succeeds because its essential message and artistic skill transcends a particular time and place while at the same time its focus is "small" enough to urge serious questions and emotions on the audience, like the best of the 60 and 90 minute television dramas of the late 50's.
You are very likely to find, perhaps to your surprise, that you are greatly affected by this little film and I wouldn't be surprised if one of its themes or images doesn't haunt you, too, for thirty years....more info
Unsettling, depressing, yet intensely watchable Underappreciated at the time of it's release and still not half as celebrated as it should be, Seconds has been described as the most "disturbing episode of the Twilight Zone ever made." Well, the plot certainly does sound like one of the mini-morality plays that Rod Serling would have concocted for his show. A middle-aged banker (played by character actor John Randolph, who is heart breakingly real as he attempts to find some way to communicate his ennui with his wife) recieves a late night phone call from "Charlie," an old friend who died a few years back. Except it seems that Charlie didn't die. Instead, Charlie sacrificed his life savings for a chance to be recreated as a new, younger man. As part of his payment, Charlie is now recruiting his friends. Randolph, of course, chooses a second chance at life. With the help of the deceptively friendly Old Man (played by Will Geer in a performance that will give you nightmares by the film's end), Randolph's death is faked and after a great deal of plastic surgery, Randolph emerges as Rock Hudson. Now, this might seem to stretch the film's suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. However, both Randolph and Hudson do a good job of convincing the viewer that they are the same man. Hudson was never a great actor but he gives a truly brilliant performance in this role. After years of playing lightweight roles, Hudson felt that this might be his last chance to truly prove himself as an actor and maybe even when an Academy Award. As such, it is obvious that he truly pushed his talents to its limits with his performance here and, perhaps more importantly, also put his total and complete faith in director John Frankenhiemer. Hence, Hudson never forgets that he is playing an old man in a young man's body and he is totally convincing as he painfully tries to figure out how to be young again. Doubtless, Frankenheimer used Hudson's own awkwardness at such a change-of-pace role to signify his character's awkwardness at being a new man but that doesn't take away from the fact that Rock Hudson -- he of the much-mocked personal life and the almost comedic movie star name -- gives a sincerely touching and powerful performance that shows he never really got the chances he deserved to be something more than just Doris Day's sleazy suitor.
Hudson is given a new life, living as an artist in a "bohemian" beach community. However, he is still an old man with old values and he finds himself isolated and lonely in his new life. When he pursues a romance with a younger free spirit (well-played by Salome Jens), he instead discovers that even the things that are bringing him what little happiness he has are fakes, set up specifically to make his new life easier. All of this comes to a head in a heartbreaking sequence that begins comedic but ultimately turns quite dark and leads the film to its disturbing conclusion. At a party, Hudson gets drunk and finds he can no longer keep quiet about who he is. His careless words lead to him being attacked by the other party goers. Apparently, Hudson was actually drunk during these scenes and his tearful rantings of the pain of being forced to live a double life no doubt carried a lot of meaning for him as well. As a result, the scene is painfully honest. Watching it, one is struck by the raw honesty of Hudson's "performance." The party scene leads to Hudson asking for yet another "second" chance which leads to the film's shocking but inetivable conclusion -- far more darker than anything you'd ever see on the "Twilight Zone."
Director John Frankenhiemer has had a bizarre career, to put it mildly. His work has varied between some of the best genre films of all time to some of the absolute worst and finally over to a few obscure, cult gems like this film. His direction is, at times, a little too flashy. This is obviously a film from the late '60s but Frankenhiemer's need to experiment pays off in that it mirrors Hudson's own confusion at what his life has become. The use of the fish-eyed lens at the film's end has been much commented on and it is a perfect, if unexpected, touch. Seconds is not a happy film but it is one that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in how a good director and a dedicated actor can even make the bleakest of material infinitely watchable....more info
A Time Capsule of Terror The core concept of this film has special relevance almost 40 years after its initial release, given recent developments in genetic engineering: Recycling of human beings, whole or in parts. As I again watched it, I thought about several themes which have intrigued man throughout history, such as eternal youth (e.g. the fountain of youth) and unholy pacts (e.g. in the Garden of Eden and, later, Dr. Faust). Dissatisfied with his life, Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) presents himself to The Company and agrees (for a substantial fee) to become a different person and have a lifestyle about which he has obviously fantasized for many years. After extensive surgery, he becomes Antiochus ("Tony") Wilson (Rock Hudson), twenty years younger, strikingly handsome, physically fit, and living what is for many males an idealized bachelor's life. He seems to have everything Hamilton once desired and yet....
This is among the subtlest but also one of the most frightening of films. To say more about its plot would be a disservice to those who have not as yet seen it. Suffice to say that, under the brilliant direction of John Frankenheimer, the cast plays out what becomes a horror story of almost unbearable impact. My opinion is that Hudson's performance is his strongest throughout a lengthy film career. Will Geer appears briefly but memorably, as do others in a diverse cast which includes Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, Richard Anderson, and Salome Jens. Also noteworthy is James Wong Howe's cinematography which nourishes, indeed intensifies the gradually-increasing sense of terror as Wilson attempts without success to re-negotiate the terms and conditions of his surgically-enhanced life. Whenever I recall the final scene, I shudder despite the fact that I have seen this film several times and know that it is "only a movie."...more info
Absorbing and haunting "Seconds" is the absorbing and haunting tale of a bored businessman geting a second chance at life through the efforts of a secret organization that fakes his death and creates a new identity for him. But despite being physically remade, he soon finds "new" isn't "better," just more psychically trying. Frankenheimer, in his masterpiece, directs Rock Hudson in the peak role of his career, and gets superb performances from John Randolph, Frances Reid, Murray Hamilton, Salome Jens, Wesley Addy, Jeff Corey, Will Geer and Khigh Dhiegh. The gripping, semi-surreal atmosphere is greatly amplified by James Wong Howe's outstanding b&w photography. This is a powerful, unforgettable film that will leave you stunned....more info
A completely disturbing portrait of middle age loss. "There is an unturned key inside everybody." So says one of this amazing films' souless and mournful characters. I saw this film right before viewing Kubricks Eyes Wide Shut and the two films share immense similarities. Using the guise of science fiction, Director Frankenheimer and Cinematograper James Wong Howe along with actors Rock Hudson and John Randolph work to create a terrifying and heartbreaking portrait of life lost. This is not an uplifting film in the slightest, of course that is like saying the same thing about King Lear. Classic American character actor Will Geer is the ultimate in gentile evil as the mephestopholian CEO of a mysterious company that gives middle aged men new identities. One cannot ever go home again is one of the many profound messages this film slams home. Devistating and disturbing. Don't miss this!...more info
Your Past Will Always Follow You... I did not think of Rock Hudson as a particularly gifted actor until I saw this movie - my mind quickly changed! This is one of the darkest, haunting, lovely cinematic experiences you can find..
Frakenhimer's film has a touch of Kafka, and a touch of Orson Welles - and it is original - one of my favorite little films that you don't here about to often - see it!...more info
Top-notch Frankenheimer character study with a twist Only very special movies are enhanced by the magic of black and white. Anatomy of a Murder, To Kill a Mockingbird, Psycho and John Frankenheimer's Seconds all fall into this category. The subject matter is thought provoking: Would you become a totally different, new person if given the chance to start over? Would you ask for "Seconds" if given the opportunity? What about those who are a part of your life? What about your job, your home, your history? In "Seconds" Rock Hudson is given such an opportunity. This excellent movie is thought provoking and disturbing at the same time. Perhaps the grass is greener on the other side. Watch "Seconds" and see what can await you in a new life, be it wonderful or catastrophic....more info
Clever, funny and very dark. I first saw this on a local PBS station in Dallas in the early seventies. Frankenheimer was using cameras and editing techniques in 1966 in ways that were at least 25 years ahead of their time. As effectively scary as the movie is, it's infused with some really terrific, subtle humor. It's essentially an extraordinarily dark comedy with thick black & white film atmosphere. Little visuals, like party guests firmly holding down Hudson's panicky character in a bedroom all with their wristwatched left hands. Brilliantly written and photographed, it's filled with a great many satisfying scenes that can be savored for their well-crafted intentional absurdities and details....more info
One Of The Most Disturbing Horror Movies Ever The director John Frankenheimer made "Seconds" during his 1960's hot streak that also included The Manchurian Candidate (Special Edition) and Seven Days in May. "Seconds" is quite simply one of the most disturbing horror films ever made. It has a perfectly constructed script that keeps piling on the surprises and shocks to a nightmarish crescendo. There has seldom been a movie that so well evokes the atmosphere of Kafka. Mix in a frighteningly acute portrait of the psychological and social discontents that were beginning to make themselves felt in that decade (and still pack a punch.) The plot is impossible to describe without giving away too much. It's nominally science fiction, but with a much darker feel. Just say that a weary, defeated, middle-aged businessman played by John Randolph is offered a Faustian second chance at life, and is surgically reborn as the handsome, youthful Rock Hudson. This is a great performance by Hudson, who picks right up from Randolph's character and makes us believe in the sad, confused guy behind the dashing facade. Hudson seemingly now has everything necessary to make a fresh start, but some nasty details keep intruding on his "paradise." There's amazing, disorienting black and white photography by James Wong Howe. Also some deeply creepy, masterful music by Jerry Goldsmith. And one has to make a special mention of Will Geer, who plays the "old man", the mysterious head of the shadowy corporation who appears at the beginning and end of the movie with two hair-raising, unsettling speeches that will haunt you. Fans of David Lynch and Mulholland Dr.and Lost Highway will eat this movie up. I think of it as the emotional equivalent of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2-Disc Ultimate Edition). It deals with some of our deepest fears about life and existence, and doesn't pull any punches. You should see this movie immediately if you haven't already....more info
Completely fascinating and absorbing "Seconds" explores the fearful underside of middle-aged angst as a kind of grown-up "Twilight Zone" episode. John Randolph, a fine character actor who has never been better than in "Seconds," plays a "successful" banker who's drawn to a mysterious company that gives him a second chance at life, with a brand-new identity. Everything goes downhill for the "reborn," played by Rock Hudson in the performance of his career. Everyone in the supporting cast--Frances Reid, Wesley Addy, Jeff Corey, Keigh Deigh (Wo Fat to you "Hawaii 5-0" fans) and Will Geer--plays to perfection. The B&W photography by James Wong Howe is offbeat and memorable, with creative use of fish-eye; and Frankenheimer directs with courage and conviction. A one-of-a-kind triumph....more info
