In THE REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUD, Michael Sarrazin plays the title character. He begins having dreams of strange people and places he has never seen before. He dreams of a bridge, a statue, and other landmarks, but has no idea what or where they are.
While watching TV, he sees the bridge from his dreams. When he learns it is in Massachusetts, he heads there to try to find out what is going on.
After discovering the location of the bridge, he begins to do more research about his dreams. Along the way, he begins to believe he may be reincarnated. In a creepy subplot, he falls in love with his former self’s daughter (Jennifer O’Neill) and meets his former self’s wife (Margot Kidder).
The film is extremely effective. Especially the music score by Jerry Goldsmith. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson, from a novel by Max Ehrlich. Sarrazin, a 70’s star of THEY SHOOT HORSES DON’T THEY, never really had the career he should have. He was quite good in this. And there is even a small role by Debralee Scott.
I have to be honest in reviewing this film. I may be very biased as the entire film was shot in and around the town I grew up in. It is essentially a travelogue of Springfield Massachusetts in the mid 70’s. (One of these days I plan on doing a then and now comparison of how the locations in the film look today. I have yet to find out where one of the houses he visits is located.)
Being a movie fan, living in an area that isn’t known for many films being shot here, I can’t watch the film without noticing all the different locations. Whenever I drive over the bridge depicted in the film, I always think of the film and the way they shot it with all sorts of weird angles. I used to drive by the country club shown in the film all the time, and think of it. No matter how many times I see the film, I never get beyond the “Hey! I’ve been there!” factor.
Here is a 7 minute segment someone posted on YouTube, with many of his dream sequences and driving around the area. (NOTE: The scene where he stops his car at the 2:37 mark on the bridge always drives me nuts. I drive over that bridge every morning and if someone really stopped their car in that place, they would not only get smashed into, but tie up traffic completely.)
THE REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUD was released on VHS and Laserdisc by Vestron Video, that has been out of business for over fifteen years. I believe Video Treasures also released a version in LP mode. You can find used copies on Amazon. But, other than bootlegs, there hasn’t been a DVD release.
Released by Bing Crosby Productions and American International Pictures, the rights are now owned by Rysher. I know of someone who tried to contact them about getting it released on DVD. He heard back that it was possible, but then Rysher was bought out by another company (Mark Cuban’s 2929 Entertainment) and the film catalogue changed hands once again.
David Fincher, after making ZODIAC, spoke about wanting to remake it. If he does, that might make a DVD release possible. And I also hope that, since Springfield was the town in the book that it was based, he might think of filming there.
Monday, January 12, 2009
FORGOTTEN FILM: THE REINCARNATON OF PETER PROUD (1975)
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11 comments:
I think "Qualia Capital" owns Peter Proud now. I've emailed them with no success. Unless the remake is actually made, I'm beginning to think this is a "lost film". Maybe it will one day be public domain?
I, too, am from Springfield - and have viewed this movie several times, only to be continuously recognizing all the landmarks, etc. The "home" in the movie, is in the "McKnight" section. (Bay, Florida, Ingersoll Grove, Dartmouth, etc.) I knew, at one time, exactly which house it is - but now I do not remember - Princeton Street, maybe. Was the Country Club in Longmeadow?
Yes, it is Longmeadow Country Club that is seen in the film. It is given another name though, the sign was changed.
I will have to keep looking for the house. I noticed Princeton St is on street view at Google maps.
Thanks.
I wonder why not one of the movie production companies have not seen everything on the web about a re-release or the mountain of interest in this movie. There is, and has been alot of talk and people wanting a copy. Wonder why they are not noticing there would be money to be made. I also wonder if Michael Sarrazin knows of his cult/fans and how much we would like to see this movie released again.
At last check, all the '70's-era films that Rysher inherited (Cox Broadcasting, Bing Crosby Productions) are now owned by Paramount, including PETER PROUD; in fact, they were the ones who have been developing a remake of PETER PROUD for almost a decade. If it ever gets made, I'm sure the original will surface.
I too Live in Springfield and this movie I seen as a teenager in the Theater back where I lived on the Cape. I moved out here in 1997 and started to see the same landmarks and started to feel like I was Peter Proud My old Boyfriend Got Michal Sarracin on the phone and I was so excited to be talking to the star I really do loved this MOVIE!!! Watch it They Should make it a DVD I have the Video tape....... 10 STARS**********
Peter Proud's boyhood home is located at 84 Cornell Street. The paint is different and the wooden braces are gone from one second-story window, but it's definitely the same house.
Thanks for the comment Anon.
From a Google Street View, 84 Cornell Street looks like it is the house!!
Thanks again.
Think how much easier Peter Proud's quest would have been today. He had to sift through film reels and microfiche catalogues, make dozens of phone calls, interview experts and random locals, and drive all the way across the country and through half of Massachusetts to find what he sought--taking an extended sabbatical to do it all. And thanks to the Internet and online collaboration, we nailed it without even getting up from our desks--and I started looking yesterday.
In fact, if not for the Internet, I would never have even been able to rediscover the name of the movie itself, much less ever see it again. Let's hear it for the Net!
Just wanted to mention (and I will write more one of these days) I drove by the Cornell Street house over the weekend. DEFINITELY the same house. In fact, it looks better today than it did back then. The trees are gone.
If you look closely at the scene walking at Bradley Airport the short guy at the Delta Ticket counter was AKA Henry Gibson. The taller guy was me. I remember the filming in front of the ticket counters. Several takes. See it on you tube #4. I'm waiting for the DVD too.
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