I love this film and also consider it one of the best “under the radar” films of all time. I’m glad it gets more attention in hindsight from Criterion, America’s National Film Registry and the 1001 Movies You Must See book series, which is how I discovered it. The cinematography is inventive and truly groundbreaking for its time, it also influenced the look for a movie I was producing at the time I watched it, and the ending is perfectly bleak and hard hitting. Your review is great as well.
Before Rock Hudson sadly left us, and became fodder for the press, I would often ask others: “Have you seen “Seconds”?!! Along with “Night of the Living Dead”, and “The Pawnbroker”, it had a profound effect on my psyche as a young teenager, having stumbled upon it on late, late night TV. For me it shares a common thread with the other films, and once experienced, it holds you prisoner for life.
@@DesDocs we watched this last night (my second time). Great print. There are some nice extras including interviews with the lead actress (Salome Jens) and the director's wife. A review by a critic and an interesting monologue by Alec Baldwin, who knew the director well. There is also a commentary by John Frankenheimer. Great disc and easy to find for $20
This gem from Frankenheimer went under the radar for decades. Probably because it wasn't available in VHS video. Discovered by many when it was transferred to DVD some years ago. I saw it on TV, about 2 am, over 30 years ago. I remember recording it and giving the tape a psychologist lady that I went out with. Btw, personally, Rock Hudson best performance. Without a doubt.
@@Daniel-sh3os she was a pediatrician psychologist...the subject of recurrent memories brought us to a related area, but the other side of the spectrum: the unfamiliarity of our own past. Something that I call time disassociation...
John Frankenheimer isn’t underrated but man is it insane to never see his name mentioned nowadays among the best filmmakers, sure he made mostly thrillers and action but he was insanely great at it, the range of different stories and visual styles. He didn’t just make Manchurian Candidate, but The Train, Seven Days of May, Seconds, Black Sunday, Birdman of Alcatraz, Grand Prix, Ronin and French Connection II. Absolute legend
The assault is the blackmail to ensure he goes on with it and so vital to the film. Also, it contrasts with an earlier scene with his wife which shows a lack of sex. The whole film has uncomfortable elements!
@@DesDocs Thanks. Understand your thinking. It took me a few watches over the years to get the ending i.e he was to end as a corpse used in another accident. There's also an ending within an ending I later picked up on. He struggles to become Tony Wilson, with flashbacks to his prev life, but the final dream he has is of Tony Wilson on the beach. A reborn! So during the film he is failed to be persuaded it takes time to adjust but as the credits roll the adjustment has come too late. It's a pity when he escaped to visit his now elderly wife he didn't realise he was free then rather than get back in the car with the "organisation". A sinister film and has many levels and one of my favourites.
The man was drugged and the company staged the assault, the lady was an actress hired by the company and it was done this way to show how shady and messed up this company really is. The man was lured into this arrangement with the pretense of meeting an old friend. Nowhere do I really see the company offering him a real choice. He was a mark.
@@markwatkins8309 I thought the ending was him remembering his past life. As he is carrying a child on his shoulder. (I presumed his daughter, who was mentioned) and as the drill goes deeper, the memory of his old life warps into nothingness.
Oh I've seen this just recently by the way. Please watch it and. . . Would you DO IT?. I'm at a place in my life now where I, not only could, I WOULD do it. 💁♂
The way Tony Wilson falls out with his new life unfolds in an unexpected fashion. The whole movie seems quite pessimistic. . The protagonist seemed to have no chance
@@DesDocs I just watched the movie yesterday. It was horror that made me feel very uncomfortable with almost nothing graphic. He would have been better off watching Wild Strawberries and hoping for the same grace to befall him
IMHO The rape scene the company stage should have been more shocking not less..The entrapment of Arthur is then complete.. Brilliant film.. Deep thoughtful story telling... Effectively we are all seconds.. Dreaming of other lives we believe more palatable than our present ones...
All of that surgery, New house, financial support and other perks for $30,000? That alone would be suspicious. I know that was worth a lot more back then, but it wouldn't be very profitable for the Company. There must be something more they demand. Like your soul.
i love this movie - it's rock hudson's best performance. a true nightmare of a movie.
Excellent review. Seconds is one of my favorite films. I find it difficult to watch, but the cinematography, plot, and acting captivate me.
I love this film and also consider it one of the best “under the radar” films of all time. I’m glad it gets more attention in hindsight from Criterion, America’s National Film Registry and the 1001 Movies You Must See book series, which is how I discovered it. The cinematography is inventive and truly groundbreaking for its time, it also influenced the look for a movie I was producing at the time I watched it, and the ending is perfectly bleak and hard hitting. Your review is great as well.
Rock Hudson's performance is one of the best I have ever seen
Agreed
It's fantastic. Will Geer playing evil is sublime. Amazing cinematography. Dark. Dark. Dark.
I don't think I've ever seen him in anything else!
He was the kindly Grandpa Walton on the TV series. Very different guy!@@DesDocs
@MaltiPoo23 Yes, that's it. I knew I'd seen him before. Indeed, it's quite a different roll.
Rock Hudson’s best acting work in this movie!
Really great video, I watched seconds recently and love it. Definitely not talked about or appreciated enough.
Before Rock Hudson sadly left us, and became fodder for the press, I would often ask others: “Have you seen “Seconds”?!! Along with “Night of the Living Dead”, and “The Pawnbroker”, it had a profound effect on my psyche as a young teenager, having stumbled upon it on late, late night TV. For me it shares a common thread with the other films, and once experienced, it holds you prisoner for life.
Love this movie. Criterion, has a nice version. Thanks.
Wow, I didn't know Criterion had remastered this one. Thanks for the info!
@@DesDocs we watched this last night (my second time). Great print. There are some nice extras including interviews with the lead actress (Salome Jens) and the director's wife. A review by a critic and an interesting monologue by Alec Baldwin, who knew the director well. There is also a commentary by John Frankenheimer. Great disc and easy to find for $20
That's awesome. John Frankenheimer was a great filmmaker. I'm in the UK, so I'm gonna try and find a copy on eBay that's region 2!
@@DesDocs I’m British but based in Oregon. Not sure if this is available over there. Good luck
Great review!!!!
Great Review :) This movie seems super interesting!
Great Movie! I love it was done and Rock Hudson does an excellent job!
So good!
Great film from the underrated John Frankenheimer and the incredible cinematographer James Wong Howe.
Thanks mate, I'll watch it tonight
My favorite film you've probably never seen is Stalker 1979, check it out.
This gem from Frankenheimer went under the radar for decades. Probably because it wasn't available in VHS video. Discovered by many when it was transferred to DVD some years ago.
I saw it on TV, about 2 am, over 30 years ago. I remember recording it and giving the tape a psychologist lady that I went out with.
Btw, personally, Rock Hudson best performance. Without a doubt.
What did the psychologist think of it?
@@Daniel-sh3os she was a pediatrician psychologist...the subject of recurrent memories brought us to a related area, but the other side of the spectrum: the unfamiliarity of our own past. Something that I call time disassociation...
Or, it is being played out in real life. Fittest flat earth channel has videos about this.
A template for time share business . Watched this a few times over the years.
"Can't let the mistakes jeopardise the dream..."
John Frankenheimer isn’t underrated but man is it insane to never see his name mentioned nowadays among the best filmmakers, sure he made mostly thrillers and action but he was insanely great at it, the range of different stories and visual styles. He didn’t just make Manchurian Candidate, but The Train, Seven Days of May, Seconds, Black Sunday, Birdman of Alcatraz, Grand Prix, Ronin and French Connection II. Absolute legend
Yeah maybe underappreciated is a better term for him!
I think it's because he was considered a "journeyman" director rather than an "auteur" LOL.
Watch this movie..... Where?? Needs posting!
The assault is the blackmail to ensure he goes on with it and so vital to the film. Also, it contrasts with an earlier scene with his wife which shows a lack of sex. The whole film has uncomfortable elements!
@@DesDocs Thanks. Understand your thinking. It took me a few watches over the years to get the ending i.e he was to end as a corpse used in another accident. There's also an ending within an ending I later picked up on. He struggles to become Tony Wilson, with flashbacks to his prev life, but the final dream he has is of Tony Wilson on the beach. A reborn! So during the film he is failed to be persuaded it takes time to adjust but as the credits roll the adjustment has come too late. It's a pity when he escaped to visit his now elderly wife he didn't realise he was free then rather than get back in the car with the "organisation". A sinister film and has many levels and one of my favourites.
The man was drugged and the company staged the assault, the lady was an actress hired by the company and it was done this way to show how shady and messed up this company really is. The man was lured into this arrangement with the pretense of meeting an old friend. Nowhere do I really see the company offering him a real choice. He was a mark.
sorry, Mark. I didn't realize that was your name until after I posted it 😳
That's quite OK. I appreciate reading your comments.
@@NinaEye
@@markwatkins8309 I thought the ending was him remembering his past life. As he is carrying a child on his shoulder. (I presumed his daughter, who was mentioned) and as the drill goes deeper, the memory of his old life warps into nothingness.
this is so good!! it deserves so much more attention, I'd love to watch this movie now :D, does anyone know where I can watch it??
I watched it on pluto tv
Oh I've seen this just recently by the way. Please watch it and. . . Would you DO IT?. I'm at a place in my life now where I, not only could, I WOULD do it. 💁♂
I didn’t even know Seconds was considered obscure ngl
You'd be surprised
donde se puede conseguir la. pelicula?
Google it, you should be able to find a version you can watch :)
The way Tony Wilson falls out with his new life unfolds in an unexpected fashion. The whole movie seems quite pessimistic. . The protagonist seemed to have no chance
It is a very pessimistic movie, you're right! He was doomed from the start.
@@DesDocs I just watched the movie yesterday. It was horror that made me feel very uncomfortable with almost nothing graphic. He would have been better off watching Wild Strawberries and hoping for the same grace to befall him
IMHO The rape scene the company stage should have been more shocking not less..The entrapment of Arthur is then complete.. Brilliant film.. Deep thoughtful story telling... Effectively we are all seconds.. Dreaming of other lives we believe more palatable than our present ones...
Requiem wishes it was this
All of that surgery, New house, financial support and other perks for $30,000? That alone would be suspicious. I know that was worth a lot more back then, but it wouldn't be very profitable for the Company. There must be something more they demand. Like your soul.
is t here a scene in this movie that involves a man accessing confidential information by tapping his temple to activate a camera ?
No
I just heard this movie about a month ago and watched it. Very Twilight Zone like but really good! And I love the cameo by Bernie Sanders 2:14.
So much of the script for this vid is ripped from the Wikipedia page for this movie, lazy lazy lazy
Or maybe Wikipedia is ripped from this vid? Ever think of that, huh?
its copied from a TZ episode
@@DesDocs twightlight zone?
you would have to be a really blunt, pedantic person to say nothing more than "it's copied from a twilight zone episode" after watching this movie.