Rock Hudson Gets a "Seconds" Chance

Our culture has always been obsessed with youth. You only have to take a brief look at much of the music, film and television being produced these days to see that fixation play out in real time. What if you could have a chance to reset your life and start over again at an earlier age? That's the premise of director John Frankenheimer's Seconds (1966), a remarkable film featuring Rock Hudson and Salome Jens. The story concerns a well-off middle-aged man named Arthur Hamilton (initially played by character actor John Randolph, recognizable from his many film and television roles in the 1960s and 70s) who feels he's lost the passion in his life. Arthur finds no fulfillment in his work, or from his wife, family and friends. He wonders what he would do with a if he could start over again. A brief encounter with a friend who he thought had died gives him the chance for a new start.

Rock Hudson in Seconds

Arthur learns about an organization called the "Company" which offers people like himself a rebirth. They create a new identity for you and remake you as a younger person through a process that involves extensive surgery. The only catch is that you have to permanently leave your old life behind. The death of your old self is arranged (faked) by the organization so that no one comes looking for you. Arthur agrees to the procedure and becomes an artist named Antiochus "Tony" Wilson. He is placed into a Malibu-based community of other "reborn" people like himself who socialize together and live out their new lives in luxury. He begins a romance with a woman named Nora, who's something of a lost soul. Despite their attraction, Nora's having some difficulty adjusting to her new existence. And Tony is as well.

Even though he's been given everything he ever wanted, Tony begins to feel dissatisfied. He visits his wife, and an old friend (which is against the rules of the Company) and of course, neither of them recognize him. Tony starts to have second thoughts about his decision. He begins to discover some disturbing truths about the organization that helped him start a new life. It appears the Company (and its methods) may be somewhat less benevolent than Tony originally thought. What will happen when he confronts them with his misgivings? Will he be able to free himself from the confines of their restrictive system of rebirth and transformation? There is a darker truth about the Company, and the price for second chances may be quite a lot higher than Tony originally thought.

Seconds is an intriguing, thoughtful combination of art film, science-fiction tale and thriller. Rock Hudson is excellent (it's absolutely one of his best performances) and Salome Jens is genuinely affecting as the troubled Nora. The top notch supporting cast includes familiar faces such as Jeff Corey, Will Geer, Richard Anderson and Murray Hamilton. The screenplay (based on David Ely's novel) is by Lewis John Carlino, who also wrote The Mechanic (1972) and Resurrection (1980). The film is masterfully directed by John Frankenheimer, who also helmed Seven Days in May, The Manchurian Candidate and Grand Prix. The exquisite black and white cinematography by Oscar winner James Wong Howe manages to bring a chilling look and incredible depth and texture to the movie. The haunting music is by Jerry Goldsmith, one of the true maestros of film scores.

The movie is a powerful examination of the the loss of identity, the perils of materialism, and the kind of suburban ennui that develops in some people in middle age. You can almost see a character like Mad Men's Don Draper showing up at the Company to avail himself of its services. While the movie was not a success upon its original release, it's gained a cult following and has grown in reputation over the years. The film looks and feels more timely now than ever before. I think it's one of John Frankenheimer's best films, and I highly recommend checking it out. Seconds has been released on DVD and Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection, and is available on some streaming services. Here's a link to the film's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-vmD-vhh4I.