Return of the Secaucus 7
| Return of the Secaucus 7 | |
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 DVD cover |
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| Directed by | John Sayles |
| Produced by | Jeffrey Nelson William Aydelott |
| Written by | John Sayles |
| Starring | Bruce MacDonald Maggie Renzi David Strathairn Adam LeFevre Maggie Cousineau |
| Music by | Mason Daring |
| Cinematography | Austin De Besche |
| Editing by | John Sayles |
| Distributed by | Salsipuedes Productions |
| Release date(s) | September 5, 1980 |
| Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $60,000 (estimated) |
Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980) is a drama film written and directed by John Sayles. It features Bruce MacDonald, Maggie Renzi, Adam LeFevre, Maggie Cousineau, Gordon Clapp, Jean Passanante, and others.[1]
The picture inspired The Big Chill (1983), which is a more widely known film. [2] However, writer/director Lawrence Kasdan has denied having seen Return of the Secaucus 7 before working on The Big Chill.[3]
It tells the story of seven friends who spend a weekend together in New Hampshire. The weekend is marred by the break-up of a relationship between two of the friends. This causes a ripple effect among the group and brings up old desires and problems.
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[edit] Cast
- Bruce MacDonald as Mike Donnelly
- Maggie Renzi as Katie Sipriano
- Adam LeFevre as J.T.
- Maggie Cousineau as Frances Carlson
- Gordon Clapp as Chip Hollister
- Jean Passanante as Irene Rosenblum
- Karen Trott as Maura Tolliver
- Mark Arnott as Jeff Andrews
- David Strathairn as Ron Desjardins
- John Sayles as Howie
- Marisa Smith as Carol
- Amy Schewel as Lacey Summers
- Carolyn Brooks as Meg
- Eric Forsythe as Captain
- Nancy Mette as Lee
[edit] Critical reception
Film critic Emanuel Levy liked the film and wrote, "The movie became influential, launching a cycle of "reunion" films, which included The Big Chill and the TV series Thirtysomething. As a portrait of disenchantment, Return was more authentic and honest than Lawrence Kasdan's star-studded Big Chill...A rueful movie about unexceptional lives that have prematurely grown stale, Secaucus is a bit commonplace, lacking genuine drama. But Sayles uses effectively a discursive, episodic format; he constructs strong scenes with resonant dialogue. The characters are complex and individually distinguished by speech, gesture, and manner."[4]
Critic Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat wrote, "Here's a nice little movie about the baby boom generation...Novelist John Sayles wrote, directed, and edited this movie. It is a labor of love. We watch these laidback individuals share their stories and reminisce about the past...But these baby boomers can't handle tension; the rift between Jeff and Maura sends tremors through the weekend. And although they put up a front of having a good time, one senses that things haven't turned out well for them — either in terms of meaningful relationships or in terms of personal fulfillment. Return of the Secaucus Seven leaves one with a rueful feeling about this generation."[5]
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 79% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on eleven reviews[6]
[edit] Awards
Wins
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: LAFCA Award; Best Screenplay, John Sayles; 1980.
- Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: BSFC Award; Best Independent Film; 1981.
Nominations
- Writers Guild of America, East: WGA Award (Screen); Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen, John Sayles; 1981.
Other distinctions
- In 1997, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
[edit] References
- ^ Return of the Secaucus 7 at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2010/08/take-two-3-return-of-the-secaucus-7-1980-and-the-big-chill-1983/
- ^ Big Chill screening, the Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 20, 2006.
- ^ Levy, Emanuel. Emanuel Levy Film Reviews, 2004–2008. Last accessed: February 25, 2008.
- ^ Brussat, Frederic and Mary Ann. Spirituality & Practice, film review, 1970–2007. Last accessed: February 25, 2008.
- ^ Return of the Secaucus 7 at Rotten Tomatoes. Last accessed: February 25, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Return of the Secaucus 7 at the Internet Movie Database
- Return of the Secaucus 7 at AllRovi
- Return of the Secaucus 7 Alternative Film Guide review of DVD
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