My Review of ‘Seconds’ (1966)
Even though this film is pegged by Wikipedia as a “science-fiction drama”, it can definitely stray into horror territory at times.
This story has all the earmarks of one of those “serious films” about middle-class conformity, midlife crises, and wives who pass the time in matching, but well-decorated, houses, occasionally trimming the rose bushes for fun.
Thus, our protagonist, Arthur Hamilton, is open to suggestion when a friend (one thought to be dead, wouldn’t you know?) contacts him about this group called the “Company” that can give him a new life. Yeah, this sounds promising, doesn’t it?
By the way, as part of his awesome new life, Hamilton gets plastic surgery. And when they remove the bandages … he’s turned into Rock Hudson. So now he has a brand new manly and young face. His body is still presumably as middle-aged as ever, but they kind of gloss over those nitpicky details. And it’s amazing how muscular and tall he becomes, post-surgery.
But wait! It gets better. To get to the company headquarters and its surgical suite, Hamilton is escorted through … a meat-packing plant. In movies, this was what’s known as using mise-en-scène (a fancy French term for all the stuff you see onscreen) as a metaphor. Or maybe I just dreamed that up.
With his new face and body, Hamilton takes on a new name. He is now Tony Wilson and, apparently, an artist. And he gets to join an allegedly idyllic community of others who have been “reborn.”
And things go pretty much as I expected them to. It’s just a matter of time before Hamilton/Wilson realizes he’s as trapped as he ever was. Possibly more so.
I will say this. First, Rock Hudson puts on an amazing performance. He’d already proven himself as a dramatic actor in films like Giant, and he does so again here. However, by this time, he’d been in a number of light romantic comedies with Doris Day, so in essence he was cast against type. This probably explains why the film isn’t better known, because it’s not for lack of substance or talent.
Second, I about gagged when the wife said to Hamilton at one point how well their “little girl” was doing by marrying a doctor. Like this was the best she could ever hope to achieve. Can you tell that I really, really don’t miss the gender stereotypes of the Sixties? 🙂
Third, the cinematography is fantastic. The depiction of plastic surgery had me squinting and averting my eyes, but that’s me and it’s relatively quick.
Fourth, this movie is probably the least famous of director John Frankenheimer’s “paranoia trilogy.” The other two are The Manchurian Candidate and Seven Days in May.
Finally, the end. I was expecting it, but it was, nonetheless, shattering.
I recommend watching it. Just be advised that there are a few scenes with surreal and/or horrific imagery.
And don’t expect Doris Day to show up. 🙂
PS: Saul Bass did quite a nice job on the movie poster.
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