DEJA VU

UK, 1985, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jaclyn Smith, Nigel Terry, Claire Bloom, Shelley Winters.
Directed by Anthony Richmond.

Deja Vu is a romantic ghost story in the vein of Somewhere in Time. However, the film is a star vehicle for Jaclyn Smith (after her success as one of Charley's Angels). It was directed by her then photographer husband, Anthony Richmond. She has a very strong supporting cast including Claire Bloom as her protective mother, Nigel Terry very strong as her fiance in both eras, Shelley Winters as a medium. The film is lush and romantic, a story of the eighties with mysterious memories and reincarnations from the 30s. It might not be plausible in plot, but it is a lushly entertaining romance while it is on the screen.

1. Popularity of romantic ghost stories? Re-incarnation?

2. British production, the city of London in the 30s and in the 80s, the British countryside? The musical score ~ and the ballet?

3. The title, the sense of the past, reincarnation, the experience of Maggie and Greg?

4. Maggie and Greg and their relationship, watching the movie, the fascination with Brooke? Their love, Greg working on his writing, screen project? Arguing with the producers and publishers? Their work together, separation? The effect of writing the movie on Greg? Going back into the past? The confrontation between Maggie and Greg? Greg and his suffering? Maggie and her being possessed, her death?

5. Greg and his fascination with the past, obsession? Going to Brookes friend, her role as a medium? The session with the medium, hypnosis, going back into the past? Learning about Brooke, her work, social atmosphere, her mother? Greg becoming Michael and in love with her? Brooke's career, his severity as a director, their dancing together, the affair? The presence of Eleanor and her disapproval?

6. Brooke, her life, career, in love with Michael, the ballet, escaping from the clutches of her mother? Her mother and her control, the house on fire, their death?

7. Eleanor in the background, coming more to the fore, possessive for her daughter? Supervising her daughter, hounding Greg? The ultimate confrontation, always winning, the fire, her shock at Brooke's presence? The house consumed by fire? Her possessing Maggie and being destroyed again?

8. Greg and the effect of the experience, the danger, the confrontation of Eleanor his grief, and seeing the Maggie look alike at the end?

9. The medium, her knowledge of Brooke, her friendship with Greg, helping him to rediscover the past? The final confrontation?

10. The blend of romance, glamour, possession, reincarnation, ghosts? In the lush magazine style?