Norman's Awesome Experience (1988)

A scientist, a model and a photographer, by accident; are sent back in time to ancient Switzerland during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, being captured by the Gallic Arverni.

Director:

Paul Donovan

Writers:

Paul Donovan, Maura O'Connell (story editor)

Stars:

Tom McCamus, Laurie Paton, Jacques Lussier

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom McCamus	...	Norman
Laurie Paton	...	Erica
Jacques Lussier	...	Umberto
David Hemblen	...	Septimus Fabius
Lee Broker	...	Marcus Titanus
Marcos Woinsky	...	Serpicus
Gabriela Salas	...	Felix
Brian Downey	...	Dr. Nobbelmeyer
Armando Capo	...	Blacksmith
Enrique Latorre	...	Emperor Nero (as Enrique La Torre)
Jorge Luis Estrella	...	High Priest
Jacques Arndt	...	Administrator
Theodore McNabney	...	Chief Scientist
Carlos Weber	...	Staffmember
Bill Carr	...	Gatekeeper

Storyline

An American scientist, a fashion model, and her photographer are accidentally transported back in time to the 1st Century A.D. in Roman Switzerland and are taken in by a small village of the Arverni, who they persuade to fight against the Roman legions under the ruthless Emperor Nero.

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Plot Keywords:

nuclear power plant | sheep | topless female nudity | battle scene | siege | 

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Taglines:

Norman thought the 20th Century was bad. But now, he's got a date with the Roman Empire.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several scenes in the beginning of the movie were shot in and around CERN, the European Laboratory for particle physics. This includes scenes in the UA1 experimental hall, where the W and Z particles were discovered, for which the 1984 Nobel Prize in physics had been awarded.

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Connections

References Roger Ramjet (1965)

User Reviews

Better than you'd think from the title

Contrary to what you might think, this *isn't* a knock-off of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure". Sources differ on the exact release dates, but it was at the very least in production before B&T came out. The plot is quite different (except for the bare fact that time travel happens) and it's pretty clear it was retitled to cash in on the more successful movie's reputation.

It's not a particularly great movie, but it doesn't aim to be Shakespeare. Aside from the time travel itself, what happens is technically feasible, and the story points out the realistic difficulties even a knowledgeable modern person would have just surviving in, much less changing, the past.

Details

Country:

USA Canada Argentina

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

September 1989 (Canada)

Also Known As:

A Switch in Time

Filming Locations:

Geneva, Canton de Genève, Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norstar Entertainment, Salter Street Films International, Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color