It's a time-travel romance. What could possibly go wrong?

In 1972, budding playwright Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) is approached by an elderly woman. She presses a pocket watch into his hand and whispers, "Come back to me." Richard does not recognize this woman and has no idea what she is talking about.

Eight years later, in 1980, under the pressure of a writing deadline, Richard drives away from his home in Chicago and ends up at a luxurious establishment called The Grand Hotel. Here he runs into photos and other references to the exact same woman who gave him the pocket watch. She turns out to be the late Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), who had been an actress of some acclaim back in the 1910s. Richard becomes entranced with Elise and is convinced that he can meet her by hypnotizing himself into traveling back to the year 1912. His plan actually works, sort of. Yet, when he arrives in the past, he quickly learns that Elise is under the full protection of her manager, W.F. Robinson (Christopher Plummer). Richard is not easily deterred from his mission, however. Will he somehow be able to talk with Elise? Will he be able to win her heart? Will the two of them be able to stay together forever? Wait and see.

When this movie was released in 1980, Reeve was primarily known as Superman. (His debilitating riding accident wouldn't happen for another 15 years.) Seymour was still 13 years away from becoming Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Here we get to see these two accomplished actors in the early stages of their careers. They make a lovely and logical couple. The audience will cheer for them to succeed.

A friend of mine has insisted for years that this is her favorite movie. Most of it was filmed at the famed Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. I've visited the island twice, and I have long known of its connection to the film. Because of my friend's recommendation, and because of the familiar setting, I have had this title on an informal back-burner list for years now. I finally took the time (hah!) to watch it. I'm glad that I did.

Yet, it IS a bit alarming to see automobiles pulling up to the Grand Hotel. Mackinac Island is a pedestrian-only island, with horses and carriages and bicycles being the main forms of transportation. What lengths will some filmmakers go to, eh? They temporarily changed the whole lifestyle of a single island in order to make a memorable movie.

Somewhere in Time is indeed a classic romance that deserves to be visited or revisited. Now I can understand why it still captivates viewers. The characters, the story and the setting are all compelling ones. And yes: you may never look at a penny the same way again.