Lifeguard (I) (1976) User Reviews

The importance of staying true to yourself

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 30 June 2020]

Free-spirited 30-somethingish lifeguard Rick Carlson (a fine and engaging performance by Sam Elliott) finds himself at a crossroads in his life: He's reunited with former high school flame Cathy (well played by Anne Archer), faces temptation in the form of sweet smitten teenager Wendy (an appealing portrayal by Kathleen Quinlan), and thinks about starting a new more lucrative career as a car salesman.

Director Daniel Petrie relates the engrossing story at a deliberate pace, neatly captures a pleasing easy'n'breezy laid-back Southern California vibe, makes good use of the lovely seaside scenery, and, most importantly, brings a spot-on low-key introspective sensibility to the surprisingly smart and substantial premise. Ron Koslow's thoughtful script explores with admirable depth and intelligence the central concept of how life is all about choices: A man can stay true to himself and keep on doing what he's perfectly happy with even if it means having a more modest lifestyle or do what others want and expect him to do by making "more" out of himself, which in this movie boils down to having a job in which you make more money and possess a more outwardly respectable social status.

Elliott's considerable scruffy charm and likeable personality go a long way in making Rick a deeply sympathetic character; he receives sturdy support from Parker Stevenson as eager rookie Chris, Stephen Young as affluent old high school buddy Larry, Sharon Clark as foxy stewardess Tina, Steve Burns as local teen troublemaker Machine Gun, and George Wallace as Rick's disapproving dad. Ralph Woolsey's sunny cinematography provides an attractive bright look. A nice little film.

That rarity -- a nice little movie.

[dinky-4 · 7/10 · 2 April 1999]

Thank goodness Sam Elliott took his shirt off twice in "Frogs." The wife of Daniel Petrie supposedly saw "Frogs" while her husband was trying to cast the lead role in his new movie, "Lifeguard," and she suggested he consider a minor actor with a suntanned physique named Sam Elliott. Mrs. Petrie proved to be a shrewd judge of man-flesh because it's impossible to imagine "Lifeguard" without Elliott's presence. And thank goodness Elliott wasn't asked to shave his gloriously-hairy chest for that "Southern California" look! This is a movie made on that cusp between the turbulent 60s and the self-satisfied 70s, about a man who's happy with a job which others think is beneath him. Quiet, thoughtful, and with a career-high performance by its leading man, "Lifeguard" had little impact at the box office back in 1976 but over the years it's acquired a loyal and discerning following. (Of course, there is the matter of Elliott's character having sex with an underage girl played by Kathleen Quinlan.) Elliott spends much of the movie wearing red "Baywatch" style swim trunks but at one point, for a swimming race, he slips into a tight mini-pair of Speedos which clearly shows he's "reproductively-gifted."

Hermosa Beach summer 1975

[lockwood-10 · 8/10 · 4 July 2017]

This is a very pleasant movie without a lot of sex and violence. It concerns a man in his 30's who is uncertain which direction his life should go after being a lifeguard since high school. At his high school reunion fifteen years later he begins to wonder where to go. A nomadic woman on the beach wants him and his former flame in high school wants him back in her life. Look for Jimmy Van Patten and Parker Stevenson starting to gear up their careers back then. An unexpected outcome and overall good movie that makes all of us wonder about our purpose out there in life. Shot around Hermosa Beach in the wonderful summer of '75. Sit back and enjoy it.

A Movie with Depth, About an Alternative Lifestyle

[Pianoman-8 · 13 September 1999]

This is the movie to see when you want to fantasize about an alternative to the 9 to 5 lifestyle. It's not your typical beach party movie, but has real depth, as lifeguard Sam Elliott tries to decide what to do with his life, when he is forced to examine it after attending his high school reunion. I liked Sam's character, even with all of his imperfections, and I felt good about his choice. A bonus in the movie is getting to see Kathleen Quinlan as a teenager. She later went on to play a great role in the marvelous romantic movie "The Promise."

An absolute MUST for Sam Elliott fans.

[paulclaassen · 6/10 · 14 September 2019]

'Lifeguard' is a very realistic film with a simple premise. It depicts the day to day life of a lifeguard, with funny and serious moments. Sam Elliott is perfectly cast as lifeguard Rick. None of the other characters (or actors) really have a big impact on the film, although all the actors are very good. This is essentially a one-man show - it really is all about Rick.

The film so clearly illustrates how one should follow your heart's desires, regardless of the opinions of those around you. 'Lifeguard' is an uncomplicated film with characters we can relate to. Its an easy to follow, simple film, yet there's also a lot more substance here than meets the eye.

Sam Elliott is absolutely gorgeous, so if you're a Sam Elliott fan, this film is a must. If you like a tanned, hairy, muscular physique, then you will drool over Sam. The tagline reads "Every girl's summer dream". Well, clearly not only every girl, as I wipe the drool from my mouth...

Ricky Don't Lose That Summer

[wes-connors · 7/10 · 24 April 2011]

Torrance, California lifeguard Sam Elliott (as Rick "Ricky" Carlson) starts to feel his advancing years, after receiving an invitation to his Del Mar High School "Class of 1960" fifteen year reunion. Tanned, handsome and hairy, Mr. Elliott keeps up with the young and enjoys pleasing different women. He's a stud in the shack, but avoids commitment. Arriving on the beach, cute wavy-haired student Parker Stevenson (as Chris Randall) receives instruction in life-guarding and becomes Elliott's partner. They pontificate about how often aroused Steve Burns (as Harold) masturbates. The horny lad is called "Machine Gun" because he "holds the international record for jerking off." After the scene with topless stewardess Sharon Clark (as Tina), he'll have company...

Both Elliott and Mr. Stevenson contemplate sex with mature but underage Kathleen Quinlan (as Wendy). Stevenson would do her. However, Elliott doesn't want to risk the statutory rape complications. Still, Ms. Quinlan is determined to get it on with Elliott, and won't take no for an answer. Also making the beach scene is Elliott's old school chum Stephen Young (as Larry), who encourages his reluctant pal not only to attend his high school reunion, but also join to him as a Porsche salesman. At the reunion, Elliott meets still attractive art gallery hostess Anne Archer (as Cathy) and thinks about giving up his lifeguard duties for a more socially respectable lifestyle. With more realistic situations and a cool cast, "Lifeguard" arouses new interest in beach movies.

******* Lifeguard (7/23/76) Daniel Petrie ~ Sam Elliott, Kathleen Quinlan, Anne Archer, Parker Stevenson

A film of character study a life at a crossroads, still he learns to be happy and be him in the end.

[blanbrn · 7/10 · 10 August 2014]

Finally after all these years I finally watched the film "Lifeguard" as my oldest aunt had always told me she loved the film since she's a Sam fan, anyway the film is about life and it's choices. Sam Elliott is Rick Carlson a man still in his mid 30's and his life is that of a California lifeguard on the sunny and sandy beaches of the golden state. Rick is a man at a crossroads he starts to think and wonder where is his life going as after going to his high school reunion he sees his old flame(played by Anne Archer)who's now divorced and sticking to him like glue at the beach is a young want to be intimate teenager(played by Kathleen Quinlan). This film has it fun with passion, and doubt still it shows that one must have a choice in life to decide what's right for them as in the end happiness could come from just being yourself as in Rick's case staying a lifeguard on the beach is A okay.

Lifeguard was a pretty good drama about choices

[tavm · 7/10 · 3 July 2023]

After months of this movie being recorded on my DVR and not watching it, I finally decided to do so right now. It's an amiable look at a 32-year-old title character (Sam Elliott) during summer as he meets his teen assistant (Parker Stevenson), encounters a teen girl (Kathleen Quinlan) who's smitten with him, and also sees his former high school girlfriend (Anne Archer) at a 15-year-high school-reunion. It's during all of the above that he faces a choice between wanting to remain at his chosen profession or doing something more financially lucrative not to mention socially beneficial. This movie has both funny scenes and lines as well as some dramatic spots though not too intense, that's for sure! Despite some questionable material, Lifeguard is worth a look.

One Great Film!!!

[daddymention · 10/10 · 19 May 2003]

This is one of the finest films of the seventies. It deals with the complexities of life and society, and forces you to make a decision on what's important in life. Do we need to conform and fit into a society that has its own set of rules?....or is it O.K. to do what makes you happy as an individual, in turn giving you a better sense of fulfillment in life. Sam Elliott, Kathleen Quinlan, and Anne Archer, are all wonderful. This movie is a wonderful portrait of Southern California and the 1970's. Don't miss the chance to see it, you will not be disappointed.

Odd but amiable combination of thoughtful drama and fun-in-the-sun nonsense...

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 7 February 2008]

Mustachioed Sam Elliott strikes quite a presence in this minor character study by writer Ron Koslow, all about a long-time lifeguard working the beaches of Southern California whose involvement with an old flame from high school precipitates ideas about changing careers (i.e., growing up). Good supporting work from Parker Stevenson (as a rookie lifeguard) and a young Kathleen Quinlan (playing a wise-beyond-her-years admirer) helps to strengthen the scenario, which too often lapses into dumb yuks and sexy underpinnings. Daniel Petrie directed very sensitively, aided by fine Ralph Woolsey cinematography. Not a bad time-filler, with thoughtful nuances under its sunny facade. ** from ****

A Heartfelt Character Study

[bmeadow1 · 10/10 · 10 January 2005]

Is life-guarding a grown-up job? What does it mean to be a grownup, anyway? Who decides how people should spend their lives?

These are among the questions examined in this beautifully written character study of a man who has decisions to make.

They're not issues that will change the world, but the kind of small decisions we wrestle with every day. What is really important? Why do we do what we do? Who influences how we behave? Should we conform because that's what people want of us?

I remember once in TV Guide an ad that showed a buffed-out Sam Elliott with the caption, "He's every woman's dream--Lifeguard!" But this film has nothing to do with looks, and everything to do with character.

It's a terrific piece of work, ringing true in scene after scene.

Dated & just plain bad

[Mitsoubaby · 3/10 · 26 June 2021]

Like a lot of Boomers I saw this movie when it came out in '76 and thought it was so cool. That was then....

The dialogue is terrible, the acting is passable, and the story is horrible. I made myself sit through it today and kept yelling at the TV because I could not believe something this bad was ever released. And made any money!

Many films that were released decades ago have held up well - this isn't one of them.

A must for those of us who changed from working to living

[bayoudan · 10/10 · 2 September 2001]

I first saw this movie about five years after a miserable divorce. I had worked fifteen years supplying a monster home, Mercedes for her, Jag V12 for me, all for nothing. With everything now gone I saw this film not once but two days in a row. The actors, the plot and the Bee-Gee's background music was almost hypnotic. It helped me change my vocation from being corporate cattle, to one that I love doing. A copy rests in my video library and is viewed regularly. It's 5 star to me.

A rather astute look at beach life in 1970's Southern California

[gregcouture · 2 May 2003]

Saw this when it came out and, though I never had the leisure to share as much beach time as some of the characters in this film, I did know some of the surf-and-sand denizens of the beaches from Malibu south to San Diego back in the 1970's. I thought this film was a not inaccurate glimpse of what that sun-kissed lifestyle was all about. Sam Elliott was well cast as a lifeguard a few years older than the average athlete who perched on those observation stations, looking out at the Pacific's frequently treacherous waves. He looked the part and had the depth needed to make his character's less-than-monumental struggles to come to grips with his life and his career choice about as convincing as any actor probably could.

With some fallow periods in the years since, Sam has continued to work quite steadily, though I've often wished he wasn't so often confined to Western roles. (What would he have done without Ted Turner and TNT and all those made-for-TV Western sagas?) With that distinctively macho growl of his, there's no mistaking who's doing a voice-over for one of the commercials he's done. I've always felt that his speaking voice has been his unique asset as an actor, not to mention the awesome mustache he frequently sports. "Lifeguard" is worth a look if you want a glimpse of southern California before it became impossibly overcrowded and overbuilt...when it was still a semi-paradise for the young and feckless.

Lifeguard's struggles with career options

[nelsfresnoca · 4/10 · 6 July 2017]

Surfing channels I came across this film when my eyes recognized Torrance's, Rolling Hills Estates and south Redondo beach. I was a teen when this movie was made and surprised I never heard or seen the film as my summers were spent at Redondo & Hermosa beach as a visiting New York-er. My first thoughts were the film was the beginning framework from which Bay Watch was created. My second thought was Sam Elliott, a dynamic actor did not fit the role. Lifeguards were blonde, blue eyed back then, hence my skepticism to continue watching. But the nostalgia of viewing and recalling my early beach experiences kept me glued to the screen. I would like to mention that the US economy in the 70's was depressed and employment as a county lifeguard had a respectable position contrary to the film. By today's standards the same position in CA would be considered a professional job. As for the film I found it to be a bit cheesy but had the quality of presenting a message about life's career options as an adult. I read the reviews on this site for this film and found each one equally interesting. I gave it a low rating because although I can relate to the films objectivity it had a shallow story line. Clearly one of Sam Elliott's B listed movies.

Best Sam Elliot movie yet.

[jailhouserock762 · 9/10 · 10 March 2005]

Back in the 70s i had to have seen all those party movies , for example, The Van and The Gas Pump Girls, and lifeguard was so much of a breath of fresh air along side of those others, i grew up hanging out at redondo beach and Hermosa beach California which is where this movie was filmed, in fact on ricks tower u see the letters HR i believe that stands for Hermosa/redondo and this is also 1 of the beaches that mike love and Dennis Wilson of the beach boys used to hang out at as they lived in near by Hawthorne, I have this movie on VHS not available on DVD yet, and I watch it at least once a month, as i live in new york now and this movie brings back some special memories of my fun days, i even love that song time and tide in this movie, and watching him drive to the beach in his stingray passing all those very familiar businesses, wow, well if your nostalgic then i don't have to explain the feeling. LIFEGUARD is on my list SAM elliots #1 movie.

Disturbing

[kh-17438 · 1/10 · 19 April 2022]

The main character is using a tax payer owned building for his liaison with an underage girl and would be facing prison time in 2023. This makes it impossible to do anything other than cringe and feel sad during the entire movie. This movie did not age well because of the lack of awareness of how distasteful the main character is in his lack of care for his random partners, it appears; and especially for the character portrayed as a minor young woman.

I also looked up the laws that were enacted the year after this movie was made-there is no way the premise/plot with the young girl would have been legal in only one year later as this would be considered CP.

You gotta see this!

[lakeladymel · 2 February 2008]

Sam Elliot plays the coolest lifeguard ever! Gals will love this because , well Sam is so hot (speedos,nice abs,70s porn mustache)and guys will love the never ending stream of babes that pursue him ( the stewardess,the buxom receptionist,the high school sweetheart and the adorable,hormonal teenager. By the way, Kathleen Quinlan plays a memorable role in this film,adorable and sultry at the same time.What a lovely girl and so talented at a young age! I love this film,I purchased it,had viewed it in the 1970's(with the parents!!! and never forgot it).I watch it often and never tire of the cute story and realistic look at the 70's beach culture! It reminds me of youthful summer days at the beach(that's all I'm telling!). This movie was well casted,every character was well acted,perfectly chosen for the roles they played.The music ,as well, is amazing,beautiful summery songs. A real reflection of the 1970's for me and hopefully for you too.. If this was not reality for you,I'm sure it was one of your fantasies.

A Classic Beach Boy Movie

[milsurf · 10/10 · 11 February 2001]

This film works as a nice little reality check for us "over-aged" surfers. We see Rick teased with getting a so called real job, and we see him doing what he loves to do....being at the beach. Nice direction for a 70's film and real nice character development. Ann Archer shows her acting skills and of course Sam Elliott steals the show.

Play it on a Loop

[slapborisday · 10/10 · 25 June 2005]

This is a movie I can never get tired of. You can watch it again and again, all day long. It's laid-back and entertaining, and doesn't ask much or expect much of you, the viewer. The story involves a thirty-something lifeguard who is naturally slick with the ladies, on and off the beach, and oh, saves lives too. Sam Elliot is a very cool actor and delivers otherwise simple lines with slow-burn perfection. Parker Stevenson is his young protégé who is in the film JUST enough, Anne Archer his perfect lady, and Kathleen Quinlin is a young girl, supposedly a teenager, who represents the last of Elliot's 'conquests' before settling down with Anne, who is his age. There is a part in the middle of the film that centers on Elliot's character feeling old and, after attending a 15 year high school reunion, trying to get a job selling cars. This is when he starts dating Archer, realizing she is someone he can settle down with and NOT just for 'fun'. In most films this part of the film would hinder the otherwise kickback feel, but in this movie's case, it flows along just as good as the beach scenes. It's a relaxing movie and you can play it on a loop on your DVD machine (now that it's finally on DVD) and I bet you won't get tired of it. If you do, just swim to shore a while... and I'm sure, soon enough, you'll want to see it again... and again... and again... LIFEGUARD!

Great drama about the summer of '75 in southern California

[Wuchakk · 9/10 · 10 March 2014]

Filmed in 1975, "Lifeguard" relays the story of an aging L.A. lifeguard (Sam Elliott) during the summer of '75. He suffers an early mid-life crisis when his friends and family continually reveal their disapproval of his career choice. This is heightened when he attends his 15-year high school reunion where he reunites with a recently-divorced ex-flame (Anne Archer). To complicate matters Elliot runs into a cute underage teen on the beach (Kathleen Quinlin) who makes him feel like an Adonis.

I remember catching "Lifeguard" on TV sometime in the '90s and all I can remember is what a great film it was. I never heard of it before but the story took me right in and captivated me throughout. This is a secret gem from the 70s.

What makes it work so well? For one thing the film is very realistic. It's like they filmed a story of real people. That's how good the writing and acting is.

Parker Stevenson appears as a lifeguard apprentice who works with Elliott throughout the summer. The fact that he's a college student and goes back to school at the end of the film adds to Elliott's crisis.

A handful of items I found interesting in the story:

• Elliott instructs Stevenson to not mess with the underage cuties on the beach who often tend to flirt with lifeguards. He then does this very thing with a girl named Wendy (Quinlin), who says she's 17 but could very well be as young as 15 (girls are known to lie in such situations). Elliott's character in the film seems pretty mature, honest and intelligent. Was he being hypocritical? I think his actions reveal the crisis he's undergoing. He's getting older and his manhood is being threatened by the numerous people encouraging him to get a "real" job. Wendy makes him feel like a man and he unwisely gives into temptation. I lost some respect for the character when this happened but, you'll see, he "sees the light" later on.

• The film effectively shows that Wendy wasn't ready for a sexual relationship with Elliott or anyone else. When Elliott informs her that they simply can't be together her breakdown is potent. This leads to another event that, I'm sure, drives home the point for Elliott to never mess with "jailbait" ever again.

• At Elliott's reunion he gets tired of hearing negative reactions to his still being a lifeguard so he opts for ambiguity, "I work for the county." Have you ever done that?

• The film reflects the loose sexual morals of the pre-AIDS 70s era e.g. "You're hot, let's have sex! And, no, I'm not interested in marriage." Also, one woman is shown totally nude near the beginning. Despite this, it's NOT a T&A exploitation flick; the flimmakers were obviously simply shooting for realism. To support this, the beach scenes are filled with realistic-looking people, unlike Baywatch which exclusively showed incredibly bodacious babes walking the beach in the background. I've been to numerous southern Californian beaches on four separate vacations and know this isn't true.

• Speaking of Baywatch, that TV series obviously used "Lifeguard" as a prototype. I've only seen a couple of whole episodes in my life so I'm not the right person to ascertain that show's quality, but I think it's pretty safe to say there's no comparison. In other words, don't allow a negative impression of Baywatch keep you away from "Lifeguard."

• Elliot's friend (Stephen Young) encourages him to take a lucrative job selling Porsches. When he goes to the dealership for an interview you can tell he's almost ready to lose his cookies at the prospect of being a car salesman despite the better money. Have you ever experienced this? I have.

The film runs 96 minutes and was filmed on location on the beaches just south of L.A. (Torrance).

The score is 70s light pop, including Paul Williams "Time and Tide." It's not to my tastes but it fits the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: "Lifeguard" is about numerous important topics that we can all relate to -- aging, career choices, (early) mid-life crisis, manhood, staying true to oneself, responsibility, love, sex, competition, consequences, and much more. Although it's generally a "quiet film" it smacks of reality and is full of insights. If you're in the mood for a great drama you can't go wrong. And, yes, this is Elliott's best role and performance IMHO.

GRADE: A

Good, under-appreciated movie...

[gazzo-2 · 15 January 2001]

With a different type of role for Sam Elliott. Has some of my fave actors in it besides him-Anne Archer and Kathleen Quinlan. She is a cutie, Anne is as always class. I enjoyed the theme of doing what you Should be doing for a career VS. what you Want to do. It was something that hit home with myself, having worked some dubby jobs in my twenties ere finally getting that 'Real' career that everyone expects you to have by c.30, roughly the same age Elliott is in this flick.

I liked the poignant scenes of his 15 year High School reunion, the scenes of indecision he and Anne Archer undergo, trying to reconnect with what they had in their pasts, and the attempts to do something about it now. It is always hard to 'keep up with the Joneses' in High School, and as hard after too.

Overall a good flick, nothing great, hearfelt, well acted, plays like a TV movie(maybe it was? I donno)-but one of the highest order.

*** outta **** of course.

Real Important Movie for Old Life Guards

[LtDuke75 · 9/10 · 2 July 2017]

So important to this old guard. Saw it on my future wife and I's first date during its summer premiere in bicentennial '76. Man did it talk to me. Afterward, I bought the "Book Made From the Movie" and read it more than once. During the following summer of '77 I saw it again while stationed with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. Remember taking a small cassette recorder into the theater and recording John Williams "Time and Tide" and listening to it days after in my BOQ. Why? Because being a life guard is special. The life saving has deep down importance. To this day I mark the lives I saved as among the top 2 or 3 things I'm proudest of. And the precious fleeting beauty of cooling sand in the early evening when the beach has emptied out and it's just you and the primal force of the water. All of that is captured tenderly and just right in this wonderful picture. And Sam Elliot's Rick knows that saving lives and standing sentry by the shore is profoundly more important than mundane pursuits of prestige and money. So he has the presence of mind to take a pass on the rat race and instead do what his soul tells him to do.

What Baywatch could and should be...

[Tulse-2 · 1 February 2000]

This is a great document of the 70's...years from now, sociologists will study this film to try and make some sense of this most confusing period in American history. Fascinating because of its story as well as cinematic style which lingers over young bikini-clad chicks bouncing along the sand. The straightforward, politically-incorrect depiction of sexuality is discomfiting and somewhat dirty. The music is...I don't know what to say about the music. It just has to be heard.

Well worth the time and money. Lifeguard is a hit!

Lifeguard...a minor 70's classic

[buddybaron · 9/10 · 3 June 2010]

LIFEGUARD is one of those movies that stays with you for many years. Even though I never owned a copy of it, I recalled huge chunks of the film ever since I watched it back in 1976.

To begin with, LIFEGUARD is a terrific time capsule of what SoCal looked and felt like in the 70's...the cars, the endless roads, the Denny's.

Then it's an amazingly crafted character study of 32 yr old RICK (Sam Elliot) who faces the inevitability of aging past his beach boy life and joining the rest of the mind numbed commuters he Vettes past on the way to Hermosa Beach.

We begin to see Rick's dilemma in the other characters that enter his world: First up is Chris, a rookie lifeguard representing Rick's younger self...who Rick both mentors and competes with.

Then there's Wendy (Kathleen Quinlin's expressive eyes are heartbreaking), the underage girl who causes Rick to lose his very disciplined grip.

School chum Larry arrives at the beach and boasts about his Porsche dealership, showing Rick what might have been if he'd taken his opportunities more seriously.

Finally, there's ex-sweetheart Cathy (Anne Archer) who Rick reconnects with at the ultimate iconic time passages setting, his high school reunion.

All these characters pressure Rick to make a choice, which he finally does. For my money, a very consistent choice after what we've learned about him.

One character that I believe has the strongest influence on Rick is the ocean itself. It remains strong and ageless, his longest relationship, and ultimately impossible for him to leave.

Sam Elliot made this picture what it is. He transcends some of the lesser skilled players in this thoughtful indie and really carries the story. For what might have been just a late night cable filler, this film is resonant over the past 30 odd years because Sam makes Rick so real.

I almost wish Sam could go back and do an updated version, so we might all see what happened to Rick...or perhaps it's best to leave it as the 70's time capsule it remains.