History Film / Seconds

''Seconds'' is a 1966 ScienceFiction film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer, starring Creator/RockHudson, Creator/JohnRandolph, Will Geer, Creator/JeffCorey, Murray Hamilton and Creator/SalomeJens.

''Seconds'' is a 1966 {{science fiction}} film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer, starring Creator/RockHudson, Creator/JohnRandolph, Will Geer, Creator/JeffCorey, Murray Hamilton and Creator/SalomeJens.

It was a {{box office bomb}} on initial release, but has since become a cult hit. No relation to the [[ComicBook/{{Seconds}} comic book of the same name]].

''Seconds'' is a 1966 {{science fiction}} film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer, starring Creator/RockHudson, Creator/JohnRandolph, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Murray Hamilton and Creator/SalomeJens.

''Seconds'' is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer, starring Creator/RockHudson, Creator/JohnRandolph, Creator/WillGeer, Creator/JeffCorey, Creator/MurrayHamilton and Creator/SalomeJens.

Arthur Hamilton is a middle-aged banker who is restless with his job and his marriage. One day, he gets contacted by an old friend of his (whom he thought was dead), and this friend urges Hamilton to contact an organization simply known as the Company. Mr. Ruby, the representative he meets, presents Hamilton an offer; they will fake his death, and in return, give him a complete surgical makeover - removing his fingerprints, changing his face, teeth and voice, making him look younger - and offer him a chance to make a fresh start with his life. Eventually, Hamilton agrees to it, and he becomes Tony Wilson, a painter. However, he soon discovers it's not all that it's cracked up to be.

This was a flop when it was first released, but has since become a cult hit. No relation to the [[ComicBook/{{Seconds}} comic book]].

* AnAesop: [[spoiler: Life is not a video game which you can just reboot. You have to work to make your life better instead of wishing for a [[DeusExMachina magical solution]].]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: The Old Man and his corporation don't receive any comeuppance.]]
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Nora, whose first eccentric appearance after meeting Tony is to run into the sea and talk to it, then later invites him to a hippie wine festival. [[spoiler:All just an act to get him to enjoy his new second life, as she's really a company employee.]]

* NonIndicativeName: The movie title, while taken over from the novel, has multiple meanings and connotations.
* PunchClockVillain: The surgeon who transformed Arthur into Tony tells him, "You were my best work," [[spoiler: and apologizes just before killing Tony with a cranial drill.]]

* SmugSnake: The Old Man, who never loses his slimy, reptilian countenance even as he [[spoiler: sends Wilson to his death.]]

''Seconds'' is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer, starring Creator/RockHudson, John Randolph, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Murray Hamilton and Salome Jens.

''Seconds'' is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer, starring Rock Hudson, John Randolph, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Murray Hamilton and Salome Jens.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Hamilton decideshe doesn't wantto live his new life, but is ultimately killed to serve as the body of a new client.]]

* [[spoiler: DownerEnding]]: And how.

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: The Old Man, during his bedside conversation with Tony, tells him that he believes the Company provides an important service, and that it's important enough for him to have made compromises in order to keep it going. We soon learn one of the compromises is [[spoiler: having Tony murdered.]]

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture

'''''Seconds''''' is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer and starring Rock Hudson, John Randolph, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Murray Hamilton and Salome Jens.

* BigNameFan: Creator/HarlanEllison considers this to be no less than the greatest ScienceFiction film ever made.

* ProductionPosse: Richard Anderson (''Literature/SevenDaysInMay'') and Khigh Diegh (''Literature/TheManchurianCandidate'') had both appeared in previous films for Frankenheimer.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, Frankenheimer wanted Creator/LaurenceOlivier to play both Hamilton and Wilson, [[ExecutiveMeddling but the studio didn't think Olivier was a big-enough name at the box office.]]

* SmugSnake: The Old Man, who never loses his slimy, reptilian "charm" even as he [[spoiler: sends Wilson to his death.]]

* AffablyEvil: Everyone working in The Company, [[spoiler: even the orderlies who take Wilson to be killed at the end]].

* FaceCam: One of the many great effect camera effects in the movie.

''Seconds'' is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer and starring Rock Hudson, John Randolph, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Murray Hamilton and Salome Jens.

!!This movie contains examples of:

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, Frankenheimer wanted Creator/LaurenceOlivier to play both Hamilton and Wilson, [[ExecutiveMeddling but the studio didn't think Olivier was a big-enough name at the box office.]]

This was a flop when it was first released, but has since become a cult hit.

''Seconds'' is a 1966 ScienceFictionFilm directed by Creator/JohnFrankenheimer and starring Rock Hudson, John Randolph, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Murray Hamilton and Salome Jens.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, Frankenheimer wanted Creator/LaurenceOlivier to play both Hamilton and Wilson, [[ExecutiveMeddling but the studio didn't think Olivier was a big-enough name at the box office.