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Lifeguard

PG Released Jul 23, 1976 1h 36m Drama List
47% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Southern California lifeguard Rick Carlson (Sam Elliott) has a real passion for his work, but, when he attends a high school reunion, he begins to feel that his peers have accomplished more than he has. He begins a romance with his former sweetheart, Cathy (Anne Archer), who is now a single mother with a young son. As their relationship progresses, Rick becomes even more confused about his life choices, and he starts to wonder if he should leave the beach behind and become a white-collar man.
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Lifeguard

Critics Reviews

View All (17) Critics Reviews
Robert Taylor Boston Globe As a bronze Apollo, the lifeguard is heroically beautiful, as a sentient being he is impossibly dumb. Nothing plus nothing equals nothing. Jun 8, 2021 Full Review Susan Stark Detroit Free Press The most Interesting thing about "Lifeguard" is the sight of Sam Elliott, who plays the title character. Jun 8, 2021 Full Review Perry Stewart Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com The film, like its title character, is charming and unassuming - making no pretense of eloquence or importance, yet achieving both. Jun 8, 2021 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) [Daniel] Petrie almost allows the sensibility to drown the film, but his ability as a director maintains it afloat. [Full review in Spanish] Aug 11, 2023 Full Review Steve Warren The Barb (Atlanta) Surprisingly easygoing, and non-involving. May 6, 2023 Full Review David Dugas United Press International Nothing much happens on the beach, where the rescues seem routine. Not much happens anywhere. Aug 5, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (30) audience reviews
Brad G Sun, surf, beautiful bodies, Cali..it has it all! Including dated misogynistic themes! As a look back in time or perhaps the need for a sunny respite during a cold winter Sunday..it's awesome! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/23 Full Review Robert L This movie has aged very well--much like its star, Sam Elliot! All the performances are delicate and believable--especially that of the (then) 22-year-old Kathleen Quinlan, who plays a much younger, sweet, naïve teenager. Her portrayal of puppy love angst is so emotionally tearful, you melt with her innocent grief at the ending of her first love. The film's themes--centering mainly on the American experience of early middle-age confusion over the sudden, unexpected, and always-unlooked-for loss of feckless youth, rings truer than most films that try to portray that painfully nostalgic feeling of having "aged out," no matter where it comes in the course of a human life span. It is also one of those rare cinematic dramas that is neither dark nor comic, yet feels close to the heart of anyone--and that's most of us--whose life has not gone as planned, or has not been very much planned at all. No guns, no car chases, no zombies, no grand conspiracies--and perhaps most surprisingly--no great spiritual revelations, either. There's maybe a little too much titillating nudity (very seventies, that) but otherwise it's a good, solid film about life, love, missed chances and everyday loss. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/28/22 Full Review robert f Just watched this on Hulu, I saw it at the theaters when I was a boy. Two things struck me watching this today...first, it's amazing that this film was PG!! There is enough nudity to make it R rated by today's standards and the fact that Sam Elliott's character has sex with a 17-year-old is basically pedophilia. The other thing is how unlikable Elliott's character really is. It is probably the main reason the film flopped, got bad reviews and didn't push him to the sex symbol level of Burt Reynolds. It brings back memories and fun to see the heavy 70's era style but really a silly melodrama about a guy having a midlife crisis at 30 years old. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review scott m Enjoyed this story, but the ending is a cop out. We're not young forever. Good movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Because it remind me of back in the day Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Former beach life guard until I was 28 and went back to college. TOTALLY relate. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Lifeguard

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Movie Info

Synopsis Southern California lifeguard Rick Carlson (Sam Elliott) has a real passion for his work, but, when he attends a high school reunion, he begins to feel that his peers have accomplished more than he has. He begins a romance with his former sweetheart, Cathy (Anne Archer), who is now a single mother with a young son. As their relationship progresses, Rick becomes even more confused about his life choices, and he starts to wonder if he should leave the beach behind and become a white-collar man.
Director
Daniel Petrie
Producer
Ron Silverman
Screenwriter
Ron Koslow
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 23, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 24, 2016
Runtime
1h 36m
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