THE TWO WORLDS OF JENNIE LOGAN
US, 1979, 94 minutes, Colour.
Lindsay Wagner, Marc Singer, Alan Feinstein, Linda Gray, Henry Wilcoxon, Gloria Stuart.
Directed by Frank de Felitta.
The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan is a pleasing fantasy about time travel. This was a popular theme in the '70s and early '80s not only with romance (Somewhere in Time) but with action (The Final Countdown, The Philadelphia Experiment) as well as comedy adventures like Back to the Future.
This film is reminiscent of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever with the heroine being able to move from the 20th century back to the past and live in a different tinte. Lindsay Wagner is attractive as the heroine. In the 20th century she has a shaky marriage. In the 19th century she encounters an artist with whom she falls in love. The psychiatrist and her husband think it is her imagination. However, the historians in the town verify her story. She has the possibility to shape the future as she returns to the past.
While the theories are fascinating, the logic and the realities show that the plot is impossible. Nevertheless, as an exercise in romantic imagination nicely staged, the film is very enjoyable.
1. Romance? Time travel? The appeal to the imagination of moving from one time to another, living in both, being affected by both?
3. The presentation of the two worlds: the modern 20th century, the house, the town, the city? The countryside? The same house and countryside in the 19th century? Costumes and decor? The romantic musical score?
4. The title and its focus on Jennie Logan's experience? Her dissatisfaction with her present life? Her seeing her husband's infidelity? Her ability to forgive him? Or not? The buying of the house? The new beginning? Trust and mistrust? Love? Falling out of love? The moving into the 19th century world with the dress? Intimations? Her desire to return? Her becoming involved in the 19th century world? Falling in love, wanting to save David's life? Her death? The sign that she gave to Michael of her happiness?
4. The portrait of Jennie? 20th century woman, love for Michael, trying to rebuild the marriage, her being hurt by his infidelity? Her belief in marriage? The effect of the strange experiences? The visits to the psychiatrist? Talking with her friend Beverley? The visit to Elizabeth? The desire to go back, the encounters with David, sharing, falling in love with himi? Her explanations to Michael? The attachment to the dress? The symbol of the dress? Her decision to go back and save David? Her being shot? The solution to the mystery by Elizabeth?
5. Michael as the 20th century man, his adultery, his reconciliation with Jennie, his trying to be tender, her attempts at forgiveness? The buging of the house? His offhand attitudes, watching the television etc? His trying to understand her? The discussions with the psychiatrist? His not believing her? His anguish, wanting to destroy the dress? His being moved by her death, the finding of the portraits, his tears of joy?
6. David and the story as recounted by the librarian? Jennie's seeing him, his mistaking her for Pamela? His love for Pamela and her death? The infatuation with Jennie, sharing, painting? The hostility of Mr Harrington? Elizabeth and her imposing herself on him? The picnic? Their suspicion of Jennie? His love, the decision to go to Paris? Mr Harrington and the challenge to the duel? The turn of the century and the fighting of the duel? His spurning of Elizabeth? Her attempt to shoot him?
7. Elizabeth anc her vindictiveness, her being spurned, her attempt to shoot David? Her growing old, the visit by Jennie?
8. Mr Harrington and his vindictiveness, his whipping David, the duel and David shooting into the ground?
9. The psychiatrist and her treatment oil Jennie, listening to her stories?
10. Beverley and her boyfriends, trying to help and understand?
11. A portrait of a contemporary marriage? The contrast with the romanticism of the past? Both in love and in danger? The portraits with JennwIs? life after the encounter with David?
