Seconds (1966)

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Lewis John Carlino (screenplay)
David Ely (based on the novel by)

Release Date:

14 November 1966 (Brazil)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller | Mystery | Drama

Tagline:

Not for weak sisters! May not even be for strong stomachs!

Plot:

Want out of your life? Just pay the fee and we'll fake your death, change your face, and set up a new identity for you...

Plot Keywords:

New Identity | Surgery | Banker | Artist | Beach

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Frank Campanella	...	Man in Station
John Randolph	...	Arthur Hamilton
Frances Reid	...	Emily Hamilton
Barbara Werle	...	Secretary
Edgar Stehli	...	Tailor Shop Presser
Aaron Magidow	...	Meat Man
De De Young	...	Nurse
Françoise Ruggieri	...	Girl in Boudoir
Murray Hamilton	...	Charlie Evans
Thom Conroy	...	Dayroom Attendant
Jeff Corey	...	Mr. Ruby
Will Geer	...	Old Man
Richard Anderson	...	Dr. Innes
Rock Hudson	...	Antiochus 'Tony' Wilson
Khigh Dhiegh	...	Davalo
John Lawrence	...	Texan
Wesley Addy	...	John
Salome Jens	...	Nora Marcus
Nedrick Young	...	Henry Bushman (as Ned Young)
Dodie Heath	...	Sue Bushman (as Dody Heath)
Elisabeth Fraser	...	Plump Blonde
Robert Brubaker	...	Mayberry
Dorothy Morris	...	Mrs. Filter
Kirk Duncan	...	Mr. Filter
Karl Swenson	...	Dr. Morris
William Wintersole	...	Dr. in Operating Room
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fritz Ford	...	Man at Party (uncredited)
Tina Scala	...	Young Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
John Frankenheimer

Writing credits
Lewis John Carlino		(screenplay)
David Ely		(based on the novel by)

Produced by
Edward Lewis	....	producer
John Frankenheimer	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
James Wong Howe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Newhouse		(film editor)
Ferris Webster

Art Direction by
Ted Haworth

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(set decorations) (as John Austin)

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hairstyles creator: Miss Jens
Jack Petty	....	makeup artist
Mark Reedall	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lloyd Anderson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Francisco Day	....	assistant director
Michael S. Glick	....	assistant director (as Michael Glick)

Art Department
Frank Agnone	....	property master
John Hunter	....	paintings (on loan fron the Ryder Gallery)

Sound Department
Howard Beals	....	sound effects editor
Joe Edmondson	....	sound recordist
John Wilkinson	....	sound recordist (as John H. Wilkinson)

Stunts
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Borland	....	key grip
Roy Clark	....	camera operator
John M. Stephens	....	camera operator (as John Stephens)
John A. Alonzo	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jack Martell	....	costumer (as Jack Martel)
Peter V. Saldutti	....	costumer (as Pete Saldutti)

Editorial Department
Stu Linder	....	assistant film editor (as Stewart Linder)

Music Department
Dan Goldwasser	....	soundtrack producer (uncredited)

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	titles
Thom Conroy	....	dialogue coach
John Franco	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Joel Productions (produced by) (as Joel Productions, Inc.)
• John Frankenheimer Productions Inc.
• Gibraltar Productions (in association with) (as Gibraltar Productions, Inc.)
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1967) (France) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2013) (USA) (DVD)
• Lume Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (video)

Other Companies

• La-La Land Records  score album released by (limited edition)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some nudity (1996 re-release)

Runtime:

106 min | USA:107 min (re-release: 1996) | Australia:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (1996 re-release) | Australia:M | UK:X (1966) (cut) | West Germany:18 (nf) | Norway:16 | USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Joel Productions

Trivia:

This was John Randolph's first film for fifteen years (since an uncredited one-day bit part in "Fourteen Hours"). He had been blacklisted for his radical sympathies in the early '50s, and his wife Sara Cunningham later said that he had been on the blacklist longer than any other actor. Two other actors in prominent roles, Jeff Corey and Nedrick Young, were also long blacklisted.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Tony Wilson first sees his new home, a shadow of the camera/other equipment is visible on the wall as it pans to follow him leaving the studio.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Man in Station:Mr. Hamilton?
Arthur Hamilton:Yes?
[Man in train station hands Hamilton a folded sheet of paper and turns to walk away; Hamilton stares after him, then opens the folded paper to find an address, with no explanation]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "That Girl: Rattle of a Single Girl (#5.5)" (1970)

Soundtrack:

Love Is Just around the Corner

Depressing as they get

Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) is a middle-aged man. He has a nothing job and feels he has no purpose or direction in life. He can't even make love to his wife anymore. He is offered a new life by the Company--a secret organization. They will "kill" off Arthur and give him a new face, a new body and a new identity. He comes back as Tony Wilson (Rock Hudson). However, can he be happy in his new life?

Exceptional black and white cinematography by James Wong Howe; great direction by John Frankenheimer (all the extreme closeups and off kilter camera angles keep you uneasy); a perfect score by Jerry Goldsmith (the organ fits perfectly)...but this is almost unwatchable.

It's VERY depressing, very downbeat and (at times) way too slow (the beginning). It's easy to see why this was a box office bomb--it's way too depressing for the average viewer. The things I mentioned above help make the film bearable as does the acting.

Randolph is superb as Hamilton--you feel his pain and misery. Hudson, surprisingly, is pretty good. Sometimes he's not that good but there are certain sequences when he's exceptional--particularly at a wine party, a cocktail party (where he actually got drunk to play it realistically) and he explodes during the harrowing ending. The ending is one of the most horrific sequences I've ever seen. I felt like bolting from the theatre.

A one-of-kind horror thriller. I can't say I enjoyed this, but I'll never forget it. It has a big deserved cult following.