Lifeguard (film)

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This article is about the 1976 film. For the 2013 film, see The Lifeguard. For other uses, see Lifeguard (disambiguation).
Lifeguard
Lifeguardfilm.jpg
Directed byDaniel Petrie
Written by
Produced byRon Silverman
StarringSam Elliott
Anne Archer
Stephen Young
Parker Stevenson
Kathleen Quinlan
CinematographyRalph Woolsey
Edited by
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • July 23, 1976 (1976-07-23)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$900,000[1]

Lifeguard is a 1976 American drama film made by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Daniel Petrie from a screenplay by . It stars Sam Elliott, Anne Archer, Stephen Young, Parker Stevenson, and Kathleen Quinlan.[2][3]

Plot[]

Rick Carlson, a 32-year-old lifeguard on a Southern California beach, is prompted to question his goals in life when he receives an invitation to his 15-year high school reunion. At the beach, 17-year old Wendy (who seems much younger) begins to come on to Rick. He is concerned about her being underage and thus jailbait, but remains friendly with her.

Larry, an old high school friend of Rick's, shows up at the beach to make sure he's going to the reunion. Rick seems ambivalent, but Larry tells Rick his old high school flame, the newly divorced Cathy, is expected to make an appearance. Larry also offers Rick a sales position at a Porsche dealership. Rick goes for an interview, is ambivalent about the job, but decides to go to the reunion in the hopes of seeing Cathy.

The night of the reunion, Wendy follows Rick home and surprises him at the door. He invites her in while he is getting ready. She is somewhat taken aback to discover that he is in his 30s. But, not too taken aback, as they kiss before Rick heads off for the reunion.

At the reunion, Rick seems embarrassed about still being a lifeguard in his 30's and begins to lie about why he is so tanned. When he finally locates his old sweetheart Cathy, he tells her he works for the county. The reunion serves to rekindle Rick and Cathy's relationship and they begin seeing each other.

Back at the beach, Wendy asks Rick when they will make love again. He tells her plaintively that they are doing something illegal and it would be best if she found someone closer to her own age. Later, he sees Wendy swimming away from the beach and goes out to rescue her. She admits she is trying to kill herself. He takes her to shore and walks her to her car. He tells her that when school starts Monday she will, "begin to make new friends" as she drives off.

Cathy works at an art gallery. Rick visits her to tell her about the incident with Wendy which seems to have frazzled him. Cathy comforts him, then invites him to move in with her. While they're discussing the arrangement, an effete client keeps insisting that Cathy wait on him. An annoyed Rick tells him off in a very rude and unprofessional manner thus jeopardizing Cathy's standing at the gallery.

With the summer season winding down, Larry returns to the beach one more time to offer Rick a job selling Porsches. Rick turns it down definitively, even though he realizes it will probably mean an end to his relationship with Cathy who has been encouraging him to become more upwardly mobile. He tells Larry he will remain a lifeguard "just as long as they'll have me".

As the movie ends, Rick is summoned to the beach changing room as a hysterical woman tells him there is a man in there. Rick asks the man what the hell he's doing in the ladies room.

Cast[]

Production[]

Elliott's parents were lifeguards and he had worked as a lifeguard himself. He was cast after Dan Petrie and his wife saw Elliott on TV in Frogs. The film was finished in August 1975 but held by Paramount until the next year. Elliott held off doing any TV in that time because he hoped the film would establish him in features.[4] This did not happen.[5] However Elliott always regarded the movie as a personal milestone. "Dan Petrie did a great job directing that movie; it was shot for something like only $900,000. Those were the days."[1]

Part of the film was shot in Petrie's own home.[6]

It was produced by Ted Mann.[7]

Most of the lifeguard tower scenes were filmed at the Knob Hill and "Burnout" towers in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

Reception[]

Lifeguard received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating of 40% from 15 reviews.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Jay Bobbin Zap2it (Apr 9, 2006). "Movie star Elliott does action flick by the book". Journal–Gazette (Final ed.). p. 16W.
  2. ^ "Lifeguard – film review". Variety. May 26, 1976
  3. ^ Frankel, David (4 May 2012). "Cherishing Sun-Baked Cinema". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
  4. ^ "Metropolitan: Maggie Daly". Chicago Tribune. 10 June 1976. p. a10.
  5. ^ Deans, Laurie (15 Mar 1985). "LA CLIPS Riding the waves to new success". The Globe and Mail. p. E.7.
  6. ^ Berges, Marshall (30 July 1978). "home q&a: dorothea & dan petrie with persistence and talent they have fashioned careers out of a passion for drama home q&a home q&a home q&a". Los Angeles Times. p. q24.
  7. ^ champlin, charles (Dec 5, 1975). "The Mann Behind Chinese". Los Angeles Times. p. h1.
  8. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lifeguard

External links[]


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