Touches You

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

When Jennie Logan and her husband move to the country, they acquire a Victorian house with a mysterious past. Jennie's unfaithful husband desperately wants a fresh start and tries to rebuild their marriage. Jennie, played by Lindsay Wagner finds a beautiful dress in the attic from the turn of the century. She repairs the small tear on the shoulder and puts it on, taking her to the year 1899. Soon Jennie realizes every time she wears the dress, she experiences a physical reaction and it transports her to the past. She meets David Reynolds, an artist and widower who to her surprise, occupies the same house where she now lives. The haunting soundtrack by Glenn Paxton is perfect as Jennie goes back and forth between two worlds. She explains her episodes to her husband who thinks she is having delusions and is punishing him for his infidelity. At first, even Jennie questions her mental state and sees a psychiatrist. But As Jennie travels more frequently to the past, she discovers she is falling in love with David. She also learns that David's father-in-law blames him for his daughter's death and threatens to kill him. To thicken the plot, David's sister-in-law played by Linda Gray is in love with him and can't seem to stay away. Jennie learns of the history of the house and of a duel between David and his father-in- law that took place at the turn of the century celebration. Can Jennie rewrite history and save him? I first saw "The two Worlds of Jennie Logan" on television when it was released in 1979 and it left an incredible impression as it was one of the first films to address the theme of time travel. This film made for television based on David L. Williams' novel "Second Sight" is a wonderful love story that still holds up today.

I agree with many other reviewers, who liken this fine movie to "Somewhere in Time." It has that same feel to it, though much more firmly rooted in the present. The passages from present to past and back again are nicely handled, so there is no confusion about where Jennie is at any given moment -- unless, as on a couple of occasions, the director chooses to keep that a secret momentarily.My main reservation about the movie is that the acting is, for the most part, only passable. I sensed that the filming was rushed a bit and that a theatrical release would have used more takes to good advantage. Often, the actors seemed merely to be reciting memorized lines. Not too badly, mind you, but not entirely convincing either. Irene Tedrow (Mrs. Bates) was particularly guilty of that. Alan Feinstein (Michael) and Lindsay Wagner (Jennie) also let their acting techniques show rather too conspicuously here and there. Marc Singer (David Reynolds) was strong throughout.The spoiler, referred to above, is because I must comment on one regrettable close-up of Jennie. She lies dead on her bed in the attic, and Lindsay Wagner's closed left eye clearly twitches. That shot should have been retaken. But then the ending comes about, and it is marvelous. The idea for hidden paintings (all showing the pendant Michael gave her) is truly inspired, and Alan Feinstein really nails this difficult scene -- a sweet combination of crying and smiling that is utterly human!

I have been trying to remember the title of this movie and who was in it. I haven't seen it since about 1980 or so. I saw this film when I was a child of about 10 or 11 years of age and I loved it. Of course it was great seeing "the bionic woman (Lindsay Wagner)and "sue ellen ewing" (Linda Gray) on screen in period costumes. That's who they were back then. I have always been fascinated by history, costumes and time travel. I mean really, what if these things were really possible? Anyway this film is a sweet and moving love story with a bit of science fiction thrown in. I highly recommend it. Thanks to this site I can now seek it out for purchase.

I first saw this movie in 1982 and next time it was on TV I taped it. That movie was watched so many times and I never got tired of it.It is the story of an unhappy housewife trying to deal with her husband's infidelity. They move to an old house in the country where Jennie finds a beautiful old dress.Whenever Jennie wears the dress she is transported back in time and meets the original owner of the house, a talented artist.After making enquires about the artist she finds out that he gets murdered, but in the meantime she falls in love with him so she sets out to try to save him.I have read the book "Second Sight" which the movie is based on and although it does stray from the book a bit, it doesn't take away from the fact that this is a great movie.I have also been very lucky to obtain a copy of this movie on DVD, that has coped a hiding too.