LT. Duke So important to this old guard. Saw it on my future wife and I's first date during its summer premiere in bicentennial '76. Man did it talk to me. Afterward, I bought the "Book Made From the Movie" and read it more than once. During the following summer of '77 I saw it again while stationed with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. Remember taking a small cassette recorder into the theater and recording John Williams "Time and Tide" and listening to it days after in my BOQ. Why? Because being a life guard is special. The life saving has deep down importance. To this day I mark the lives I saved as among the top 2 or 3 things I'm proudest of. And the precious fleeting beauty of cooling sand in the early evening when the beach has emptied out and it's just you and the primal force of the water. All of that is captured tenderly and just right in this wonderful picture. And Sam Elliot's Rick knows that saving lives and standing sentry by the shore is profoundly more important than mundane pursuits of prestige and money. So he has the presence of mind to take a pass on the rat race and instead do what his soul tells him to do.

wes-connors Torrance, California lifeguard Sam Elliott (as Rick "Ricky" Carlson) starts to feel his advancing years, after receiving an invitation to his Del Mar High School "Class of 1960" fifteen year reunion. Tanned, handsome and hairy, Mr. Elliott keeps up with the young and enjoys pleasing different women. He's a stud in the shack, but avoids commitment. Arriving on the beach, cute wavy-haired student Parker Stevenson (as Chris Randall) receives instruction in life-guarding and becomes Elliott's partner. They pontificate about how often aroused Steve Burns (as Harold) masturbates. The horny lad is called "Machine Gun" because he "holds the international record for jerking off." After the scene with topless stewardess Sharon Clark (as Tina), he'll have company... Both Elliott and Mr. Stevenson contemplate sex with mature but underage Kathleen Quinlan (as Wendy). Stevenson would do her. However, Elliott doesn't want to risk the statutory rape complications. Still, Ms. Quinlan is determined to get it on with Elliott, and won't take no for an answer. Also making the beach scene is Elliott's old school chum Stephen Young (as Larry), who encourages his reluctant pal not only to attend his high school reunion, but also join to him as a Porsche salesman. At the reunion, Elliott meets still attractive art gallery hostess Anne Archer (as Cathy) and thinks about giving up his lifeguard duties for a more socially respectable lifestyle. With more realistic situations and a cool cast, "Lifeguard" arouses new interest in beach movies.******* Lifeguard (7/23/76) Daniel Petrie ~ Sam Elliott, Kathleen Quinlan, Anne Archer, Parker Stevenson

buddybaron LIFEGUARD is one of those movies that stays with you for many years. Even though I never owned a copy of it, I recalled huge chunks of the film ever since I watched it back in 1976.To begin with, LIFEGUARD is a terrific time capsule of what SoCal looked and felt like in the 70's...the cars, the endless roads, the Denny's.Then it's an amazingly crafted character study of 32 yr old RICK (Sam Elliot) who faces the inevitability of aging past his beach boy life and joining the rest of the mind numbed commuters he Vettes past on the way to Hermosa Beach.We begin to see Rick's dilemma in the other characters that enter his world: First up is Chris, a rookie lifeguard representing Rick's younger self...who Rick both mentors and competes with.Then there's Wendy (Kathleen Quinlin's expressive eyes are heartbreaking), the underage girl who causes Rick to lose his very disciplined grip.School chum Larry arrives at the beach and boasts about his Porsche dealership, showing Rick what might have been if he'd taken his opportunities more seriously.Finally, there's ex-sweetheart Cathy (Anne Archer) who Rick reconnects with at the ultimate iconic time passages setting, his high school reunion.All these characters pressure Rick to make a choice, which he finally does. For my money, a very consistent choice after what we've learned about him.One character that I believe has the strongest influence on Rick is the ocean itself. It remains strong and ageless, his longest relationship, and ultimately impossible for him to leave.Sam Elliot made this picture what it is. He transcends some of the lesser skilled players in this thoughtful indie and really carries the story. For what might have been just a late night cable filler, this film is resonant over the past 30 odd years because Sam makes Rick so real.I almost wish Sam could go back and do an updated version, so we might all see what happened to Rick...or perhaps it's best to leave it as the 70's time capsule it remains.

Greatornot Though not a great movie,but very near, a very satisfying film about a summer at a California beach. Centering around Sam Eliot, a lifer lifeguard. This movie is most profound. Is Rick Carlson a child for foregoing responsibility or is he a martyr? On the surface , what seems like a shallow film takes us to the deep end of the ocean. Rick Carlson is perfectly happy and content being a lifeguard as opposed to being involved with more lucrative opportunities, that I shall not reveal here. He is as much a blue collar worker, albeit a chick magnet , being a lifeguard , as he is genuine , true to himself. Throw in a wet behind the ears Parker Stevenson as his sidekick, learning the ropes lifeguard and forever horny typical teen male, but harmless 'Machine gun', a regular on the beach and you have a fine cast of characters. Kathleen Quinlan, very young , is a confused teen , that seemingly has it all , but not. This is a psychological film , in many ways , and gets one to think. Going through life is not easy and this film has the characters pondering choices in their lives. A very '70s' effort and fitting that it is smack in the middle of this particular decade, none the less, a great film that takes you back.Salute to this great cast , including Anne Archer. I would be remiss if I did not mention her acting performance. Reminiscing has never felt so good.