Same Time, Next Year

1978 "They couldn't have celebrated happier anniversaries if they were married to each other."
7.2| 1h59m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 23 April 1978 Released
Producted By: Universal Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

A man and woman meet by chance at a romantic inn over dinner and, although both are married to others, they find themselves in the same bed the next morning questioning how this could have happened. They agree to meet on the same weekend each year—in the same hotel room—and the years pass each has some personal crisis that the other helps them through, often without both of them understanding what is going on.

Genre

Drama, Comedy, Romance

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Director

Robert Mulligan

Production Companies

Universal Pictures

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Same Time, Next Year Audience Reviews

Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.
Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!
Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
gohurdler1 This will be a short review of "Same Time, Next Year (1978)." I tuned in after the credits, but it was obvious that this was probably some play turned into a movie. I double checked online, and it was. I really didn't enjoy the screen adaptation because the acting seemed very stiff, and found it annoying that the Doris and George Peters characters would answer the phone when it rang. You would think that they would have gotten separate rooms for each other instead of sharing the same cabin. From doing research about the Broadway production, Charles Grodin originated the character of George. From Grodin's past roles,he would have been perfect for the screen version, but hey Alan Alda was one of the biggest TV stars at the time so why not get him to bolster the box office right?I would have enjoyed the stage plan version, because that's what it was written for. Putting this two person play on the big screen loses the intimacy that it probably had on stage with a live audience.Maybe if I was involved in a similar affair or in an "amicable marriage (you are stuck because you have children and no prenup, and other potential mates are taken) as both characters I would have enjoyed this film more because I could have related with the characters more.
Katerina Robertovla This was a movie that should have been a 21 minute sitcom episode. The minute I heard that sickeningly sweet, syrupy song sung by Johnny Mathis (Mr. Wobbly Vibrato himself) and Jane Oliver I knew this movie was doomed. The other thing is I just don't find anything remotely romantic about Alda and Burstyn. When Ellen Burstyn's character showed up in her hippie phase I just rolled my eyes and thought what BAD acting. I bet both Burstyn and Alda were very self satisfied with their performances. In the final scene, it is just one beige color after another. Ellen is wearing beige, Alan Alda is wearing beige, the furniture is beige. Even Ellen's wig is beige. I guess that kind of sums this movie up for me. It is a very beige movie.The only costume I liked on (blonde-wigged) Ellen Burstyn was the gorgeous black dress she wore with the rhinestone brooch and her lovely shiny dangle earrings. This, I believe, was their second meeting. Unfortunately for me, this is the one thing that I liked about the movie. Yes sadly I liked her black dress. That was it.
Rodrigo Amaro "Same Time, Next Year" was way before the romantic comedies got cheaper, overvalued and vulgar as they tend to be now. This is such a classy and charming movie and regardless that it was made more than 30 years ago it still has an bright and valuable appeal to all kinds of audiences, specially those who enjoy filmed plays with positive presentations, great cast and a deep and thoughtful movie.We join Doris and George (Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda) on several romantic meetings at the same hotel located on a beautiful countryside, on the same date each year goes by from the 1940's up until the 1970's (the segments go at each five years). The funny thing is that they're not married with each other, they have their own spouses and kids, they're happy with the people they live with but they have this special bond between them that is quite unbreakable. They truly love one another but they don't see ways to end their existent relationships. On and on, they have discussions about life, love, sex, families, values and even a little bit of politics. Bernard Slade's play and script is more than just a romantic comedy with lovable moments. It's also a fascinating historical chronicle of the popular culture of the U.S. constructed through black and white pictures of famous moments and famous people from each decade, showing what was going on in the nation (the movies, the arts, the presidents, etc.) and there's the characterizations from both main characters (they change of political parties, or Doris becoming a hippie engaged in protests against the Vietnam war). Wish I couldn't make comparisons but I must to since I've seen plenty of similarities with another great films that deal with great love affairs. One cannot deny that Alda and Burstyn do have the same fun chemistry as Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset" (third part coming next year. YAY!); or Aimee and Trintignant in "A Man and a Woman" and its sequel; and I dare say the extremes of a Brokeback Mountain, after all both deal with the distance, the agony of being apart from someone you love even though you're already committed to someone else. Rich and well-elaborated dialogs mixed with hilarious and graceful sequences, "Same Time, Next Year" is a happy collaboration between director Richard Mulligan and actors Ellen Burstyn (Oscar nominated for her role) and Alan Alda. It's real and powerful performances, you really believe in those characters existing somewhere and even going through some unimaginable and funny situations (when she's about to have a baby during their evening together). They're excellent and the movie as well. Don't miss it. 10/10
edwinalarren The monotony of marriage manifests itself through a potpourri of boring actions, usually there is nothing wrong with your marriage, yet, often times, there is nothing right with your marriage either!! Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn play two people who were brought together by a happenstance encounter. Dining alone became dining together, and the rest, as they say, is history. Everything between the two of them seemed to click!! Eventually, their elongated diatribes of discontentment garnered some sort of precariously unexplained kindred spirit. Both characters' penchant for conventionalism made them reluctant to establish extra marital relations. Bottom line, the two of them may as well have flipped a coin, heads, they do it (In a manner of speaking). This is where the plot of the movie is established!! Here was the attraction, at some point, your married life of the kids, the mortgage, and the dog, must be given a reprieve for just one weekend out of an entire year. At this point, it is time to pontificate, placate, theorize, ruminate, and, most importantly, it is also a time to listen to each other. Americans call it infidelity, most archaic nations call it a mistress!! The favorite euphemism for this situation is surrogacy!! Now enters, the comprehension of hang ups, afflictions, and overall resilience which both these characters possess!!! This little endeavor of marital indiscretion was for purposes of emotional nurturing, as well as a reaffirmation of each other's necessary fortitude. Both Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn felt so justified for their actions that even mere mention of recrimination for these actions was categorized as utterly ludicrous!! In this affair, everything else was preempted by a bittersweet stoicism that mandated that this theatrical adultery linger on for 27 years and counting!! "Same Time Next Year" was originally a stage play, the dialog attempted to be witty, it did not fail, however, it was not filled with razor sharp wit either!! Movies which started out as stage plays are intriguing to me because they itemize the expressions of their characters far more effectively than a typical high budget Hollywood film!! The snippets of pop culture throughout the different decades of this film signified the change in attitudes the main characters (Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn) experienced!! The most significant concept to emanate from this movie was that 99% of your life was about doing the right thing!! The other one percent is reserved for you, and the type of person you are!! You are permitted to do one wrong thing to make all of the right things better, if you know what I mean!! In essence, the amelioration for marital infidelity in this movie served as a subterfuge for white collar psycho analysis!! Richard Mulligan directs this film, he is best known for "To Kill A Mockingbird", "Inside Daisy Clover" is my favorite Mulligan film!! The cinematography to the film "Same Time Next Year" was sensational!! The theme song "The Last Time I Felt Like This" was on the charts forever back in 1978!! My overall assessment of "Same Time Next Year" is that it was successfully unique!! Very good movie, I liked it very much!!