Hallmark figure and “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” star Jane Seymour has experienced a fair share of success during her career. That includes one movie that ended up being super popular after initially receiving “the worst reviews of all time,” the popular actress told People.
Back in 1980, Seymour starred in the romantic fantasy “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve. The film also featured Christopher Plummer and Teresa Wright. The story revolved around Reeve’s character, a time-traveling playwright, who falls in love with a historical actress, played by Seymour.
“The movie was almost not put out. Universal did not publicize it [at] all. There was an actor’s strike, so Chris and I weren’t allowed to even promote it. And then it got the worst reviews of all time,” Seymour explained.
That’s why she was so surprised to learn that it eventually became a massive success.
The Movie ‘Got Bigger and Bigger’
GettyAlthough “Somewhere in Time” wasn’t a hit when it came out in the United States, it apparently did much better elsewhere.
“Then the next thing I knew, a friend of mine in Hong Kong said, ‘You have no idea. Your movie is the number one movie in Hong Kong. People watch it 20 times,'” Seymour recalled. “And I went to Hong Kong and was mobbed. Mobbed. I thought I was one of the Beatles.”
The actress noted that she had to have “10 armed guards” with her while “people were crushing” her.
“I was like, ‘What? That movie that nobody wanted to see?'” she said. “And it just got bigger and bigger.”
The Movie Sparked a Theme Weekend & Magazines
Getty“The next thing we knew, the fans, who finally found ‘Somewhere in Time,‘ decided to start an organization called the International Network of Somewhere in Time Enthusiasts, called INSITE,” Seymour said.
Reeves ended up visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan, where the movie was filmed.
“And Chris went back there and said, ‘You’re not going to believe what’s going on. People are coming here. They’re dressing up like us. They’re playing the roles. They’re doing all of that,'” Seymour said. She also explained that fans were making “amazing magazines” about the movie.
Seymour said she eventually “went and saw it” for herself.
“They have a weekend every year at the Grand Hotel. And my kids have been with me, and even they love it,” she added. “It’s amazing. Extraordinary. The fan base for ‘Somewhere in Time’ is huge.”
Several years ago my husband and I watched the movie on TV and loved it so we decided we had to visit the island and see the Grand Hotel. Loved the island and the hotel. It was a wonderful trip.
It is one of my favorite all time movies. You cant beet the romance and chemistry between Chris and Jane. We also visited the hotel because of the movie.