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Return of the Secaucus 7

Play trailer Poster for Return of the Secaucus 7 R 1980 1h 46m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Seven baby boomers with ties to the antiwar movement of the '60s get together for a weekend at the home of teachers Mike (Bruce MacDonald) and Katie (Maggie Renzi). What should be a peaceful reunion, however, is rife with drama. Longtime couple Jeff (Mark Arnott) and Maura (Karen Trott) are separating, speechwriter Irene (Jean Passanante) is self-conscious about her conservative boyfriend (Gordon Clapp), and Frances (Maggie Cousineau) has a flirtation with a local mechanic (David Strathairn).

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Return of the Secaucus 7

Critics Reviews

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Keith Uhlich (All (Parentheses)) (Substack) This state-of-the-(dis)union character drama proves ultimately gentle where Sayles’s grindhouse projects go thematically and aesthetically blunt. Feb 8, 2024 Full Review Emanuel Levy Variety Preeiding the glitzy Big Chill by three years, John Sayles' first feature offers a poignant look at the reunion of 1960s activists; there's not much to look at this talking heads feature, which was shot for $40,000, but the dialogue is good. Rated: B Dec 24, 2006 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Fresh, smart, endearing. Rated: 4/5 Nov 26, 2003 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com This film is an exquisite time capsule of New Hampshire culture circa 1980. Dig the Tretorn tennis shoes. Rated: A- Jun 16, 2017 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Granola theater on the cusp of the New Right Mar 3, 2010 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The much praised film upon its release, a tribute to indie filmmaking, seems to have badly dated. Rated: C+ May 27, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member It’s only aged semi-well and gets a bit clunky in places. Otherwise for dialogue alone it would rate 5 stars. It’s literally the reason Kasdan wrote The Big Chill. And it’s twice the movie that one is. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/21/24 Full Review Ravenswood R Too many characters given equal weight. Where are they all from and exactly why are they together for a weekend "reunion?" Why do the out of towners know the locals? Why do the writer and director think you can have 12 main characters in a movie? It is confusing, and meanders from scene to scene with no plot. The scenes are half OK and half good. The me generation gets its first inklings that the fun is about to be over for good. The 80s will crush anything that was left of their progressive ideals, but all of these good natured quippy drips were born into affluence and they will do OK, and they know it. All of the characters are breezy and self sufficient in their privileged ways, and as a result they all lack feeling and depth. For all of the flaws, some light humor and Robert Altman influenced quirkiness and dialogue help maintain a medium level of interest. A good museum piece or time capsule of a very brief era for the then existing middle class in the late 1970s. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/11/23 Full Review Audience Member The best, GREATEST movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member John Sayles makes his directorial debut in this drama about College friends reuniting for a weekend and end up dealing with the break-up of one of the long time couples in the group. The movie is a decent, and more realistic and less phony than the more well-known film "The Big Chill", which came out a few years later. I enjoyed this indie drama, it has good dialogue and some nice moments, though I doubt it will really stick with me for years to come. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member A dull kind of proto-mumblecore that nonetheless has moments of insight and sincerity. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member now i see where they got the idea for the pic"the big chill", right here Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Return of the Secaucus 7

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Cast & Crew

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John Sayles

Director

Mark Arnott

Jeff Andrews

Gordon Clapp

Chip Hollister

Maggie Cousineau

Frances Carlson

Brian Johnson

Norman

Adam LeFevre

J.T.

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Return of the Secaucus 7

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Movie Info

Synopsis Seven baby boomers with ties to the antiwar movement of the '60s get together for a weekend at the home of teachers Mike (Bruce MacDonald) and Katie (Maggie Renzi). What should be a peaceful reunion, however, is rife with drama. Longtime couple Jeff (Mark Arnott) and Maura (Karen Trott) are separating, speechwriter Irene (Jean Passanante) is self-conscious about her conservative boyfriend (Gordon Clapp), and Frances (Maggie Cousineau) has a flirtation with a local mechanic (David Strathairn).
Director
John Sayles
Producer
William Aydelott
Screenwriter
John Sayles
Distributor
RCA/Columbia, IFC Films, MGM Home Entertainment
Production Co
Anarchists' Convention, UCLA Film and Television Archive, Salsipuedes Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 5, 1980, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2002
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 4, 2020
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Mono
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