I probably enjoyed this movie so much, because I'm an avid reader of old books and recognized this story the minute I saw it. This movie plot was taken almost verbatim, including most of the character names and main events from an old Cape Cod story by author Joseph C. Lincoln. The book was titled "The Women Haters" and the original copy-write was 1904 . A few years ago another one of his more popular novels "Captain Erie" was made into a movie called "The Golden Boys" in which David Carradine played the leading role. It's great seeing some of the old books enjoyed by a younger generation even if only in a briefer form as a movie.
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dsgrundy14 May 2013
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What a relief to see a movie that was actually "made," not "digitally processed," although Blythe Danner still looks so terrific, it's tempting to believe she had help. Maybe Richard Dreyfuss puts on a "Kap'n Karl" growl a little more than necessary as an irascible woman-hater lighthouse keeper; but Tom Wisdom as his assistant-with-a-secret, with a Michael York voice coming out of a Keanu Reeves face, keeps up with him. The film manages--no easy feat in this day and age--to be a charming, sweet (maybe a tad too much), simple story about people, not special effects, without descending to the TV movie level. It's not an action-packed roller coaster ride, nobody farts or masturbates, nobody's naked, and nobody explodes, so it may confuse modern moviegoers (at least the ones under 30). But "The Lightkeepers," in its own modest way, has its own rewards, not the least of which being a rare--if short--screen appearance by Julie Harris toward the end.
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docm-323049 January 2021My wife and I really enjoyed this simple movie. No CGI, no swearing, drug use or gratuitous pandering. It's a fun look at the battle of the sexes and also the fencing among men when they get together. I loved the dialogue and the back and forth between the two men. For older audiences this would be a welcome entertainment. I could see how this movie would transfer easily onto the stage as well.
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Kittyman12 February 2017Plot from an old novel
Author: dsgrundy from United States 14 May 2013
I probably enjoyed this movie so much, because I'm an avid reader of old books and recognized this story the minute I saw it. This movie plot was taken almost verbatim, including most of the character names and main events from an old Cape Cod story by author Joseph C. Lincoln. The book was titled "The Women Haters" and the original copy-write was 1904.
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A cut-down (novella length) version with the same title was also published in Ainslee's Magazine, v. 27, May, 1911, pp. 1-37. (Dr. Charles G. Waugh) -
dawndances25 April 2010It was with high hopes that I drove an hour to see this movie. Well, all right... the true motivation was that Richard Dreyfuss was making an in person Q + A session appearance at the theater after the movie, and I was really pretty darned excited about that.
The movie itself was sweet enough, but the story was so contrived (right down to the poorly costumed 1920's swimwear) that it was hardly even remotely believable. It was a "cute little ditty", but no where near the caliber of blockbuster movie Drefuss has been involved in in the past. I guess we all mellow out as we age, but this movie was on par with "lights out" as it was occasionally putting me to sleep. The Q+A session afterward was interesting though. -
trevorhawes123 March 2016The plot is slow, boring, and there are no subtitles that I could find, as much of the films American audio is mumbling, hard to hear or not at all clear - which ruins enjoyment of the film.
The 'comedy' element is a little weak too. There are some funny moments if you are in that mood, but nothing really that funny.
The plot is too obvious, despite claiming 'twists and turns' - it was easy to read what was going to happen.
The acting too of a few actors is not that good either.
I feel it is a waste of time watching this as there are plenty of better films in the same genre. -
Sueso9 November 2018Take an old book "The Women Haters" and apparently faithfully reproduce it to film (or video?) (or dsc?) and you use actors that know how to act, enjoy their job, and give to the audience and you have THE LIGHTKEEPERS. I for one was so happy to see Mr. Dreyfus and Miss Danner in something again. Also Mamie Gummer, daughter of Meryl Streep...I knew I was in good hands. I had not had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Wisdoms work before but will certainly be looking for him, now. The movie was NOT of today, it was slow and pleasant and sweet with a bit of mystery and romance. My cup of tea! A nice change from what we usually see these days. Oh and of course the setting was lovely!
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ikell-3141415 April 2017The characters seem two dimensional, with the paper thin believability of a Popeye cartoon. The plot slowed down so much that I was able to discuss whether or not the paint (heritage blue) on the twee immaculate lighthouse suited the era or our view of what the era should emote. Sorry, not a recommend.
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karendht-246-23119322 December 2011This film is the kind of movie you wish you could see all the time. It was sweet, a bit slow but not obnoxiously so and well acted. Richard Dreyfuss is one of my favorites and he is perfectly curmudgeonly in this movie. Tom Wisdom is delightful and Blythe Danner was gorgeous! Mamie Gummer's face kept taunting me until I looked her up and discovered she is Meryl Streep's daughter. She was very understated in the film and is quite a good actress. There was mystery in the film, which was not what I expected. It reminded me of the old British comedy of manners films where there is misdirection and mistaken identities. It was a fun movie to watch and I would recommend it to anyone who likes films that are thoughtful and amusing. I just loved it!
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clearydale6 May 2019A few minutes into this film I became interested in it's origin. Lo and behold it dates back over a decade before the Great war. A somewhat simpler time to the century following that conflict.
This story is a novelization of an earlier short story perhaps a decade it's junior. I feel this an important fact to remember. Darwin is but a few years in the past and Orwell decades in the future... A simpler time. (Perhaps I give the era less respect than I should?)
It seems to me the original author enjoyed writing while wearing rose glasses. Certainly he enjoyed himself and the place in which his stories are portrayed...
But to the film you dolt, this is IMDB!!!
The film reflects it's origin. Ben Hur it is not. Nor does it want or intend to be. This is light entertainment. It does indeed call to mind actual people and events that can and do happen. It is not as unrealistic as some in this later age may think.
Bottom line. If you are relaxed, happen to simply wish to be entertained with a simple tale involving enjoyable characters, you may enjoy this. If however you expect the earth to shake and experience a life changing revelation, this is not for you.
I enjoyed it, was mildly surprised at times, and happy for the characters.
The cast is great. Bruce Dern is in it!!! More like a play than a film in many ways.
Nice. -
I would love to have watched this movie and given it a high rating - I'm fond of Dreyfuss, Danner, and movies set in this period. I am their target audience ... except that I am hard of hearing, and rely on closed captions or subtitles, which the DVD does not provide. Many people with normal hearing may enjoy the New England brogue that Dreyfuss uses here, but I can't decipher what he is saying, or even read lips given the facial hair.
Since 15% of all Americans are hard of hearing (closer to 50% for the older population who might love this movie), Dreyfuss (as producer and presumably financier) was poorly advised on how he spent his money producing this DVD. I hope he has enough money left to remaster and release a DVD with subtitles (French and Spanish also), so he can reach the other half of his audience.
I rated it 5, not because it was bad or good, but because that was the rating for my sex and age group when I wrote this. If I'm required to vote in order to write this review, I don't want to change the outcome. -
inkblot1121 May 2012Seth (Richard Dreyfuss) runs and lives in a lighthouse on Cape Cod. He is a self-declared "woman hater", having had a wife walk out on him long ago. One day, a man who says his name is John Brown (Tom Wisdom) washes up on shore. Its certain that Mr. Brown has been through an ordeal but he is mum about most of it. Since JB is somewhat "off women", too, the two gentlemen strike up a friendship and Seth invites John to bunk with him for a spell. In short order, two ladies come to stay at a cottage near the lighthouse. One is an artist named Ruth (Mamie Gummer) and the other is an older lady, Mrs. Bascom (Blythe Danner), who is Ruth's housekeeper. Wouldn't you know, Mrs. B is Seth's long lost wife while Ruth likes what she sees in John almost immediately. But, with secrets and tangles in abundance, will anyone merit a happily ever after? This is a gorgeous film, with a lovely setting on the Massachusetts shore. Its also a great look into the world of 100 years ago, when women were getting more freedom and gumption. All of the actors listed above and the other cast members, like Bruce Dern and Julie Harris, are quite fine, although Dreyfuss' Irish brogue comes and goes. Most importantly, I wanted to see this film for the director's current woes, for he has been sent to prison for falsifying expenses for his film production company. What a tragedy, for the man obviously has great talent. Hopefully, fifteen years from now, we all will be rewarded with another movie as beautiful as this one.
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superhoneyginger25 March 2024As the title suggests, this film deals with the essence of early 20th century patriarchy and its eternal vagaries that have, invariably, always been, and for the foreseeable future, will be; it will always be relatable just as the the fugitive spirit, which is at the heart of the film will be.
The Fugitives of love, which is what this film may justly be titled in a European Latin language, are the two protagonists at apposing sides of their life stories: one bewildered by the status quo of the imperious, self-satisfaction of upper-class England, and the other insecure in the ageing domesticity of traditional married life.
Enter the serenity of the female, the yang to counter the ying,or vice-versa; not sure which is which :) whichever way around it is, the balance needs re-addressed for all 4 participants in this story, and there is one outsider who mingles as a reminder of the dastardly rules and regulations of the patriarchal society, though his contribution is minor in the film, it's this societal tenet which he represents that is the stumbling block, or stormy sea, which has to be viewed closely for its value or un-value.
The film itself is shot on the littoral of the United States, Massachussets I think, and i think I've misspelt that, but i'm not going to check. It's picturesque and lovely and so on, so it lends itself graciously to the story of intimacy between people; somewhat secluded with a clement climate and the occasional storm - fitting for the human relationships in general.
If you like romantic fantasy, even though this is grounded in tangible reality, interesting and engaging dialogue, a touch of frivolity, and fine representations of character then this film is one you should watch.
It's the nuances of pathos that inspire the spirit of progress. -
moonspinner5513 September 2017In 1912 Cape Cod, an irascible old lighthouse keeper and his young assistant have a parting of the ways; fortunately, another young man washes up on the beach the next day and is offered the position. The two disparate men have a smooth-and-scratchy relationship, eventually revealing old wounds from the past that have brought them to this point, such as why the old man is resolutely anti-female. Sporting a neatly-trimmed snow white beard, Richard Dreyfuss, who also served as an executive producer, is darkly-tanned like a life-sized Band-Aid; he doesn't have the New England accent down, nor does his manner or his general personality match up with the character he's portraying, but he gives this staunchly theatrical piece whatever life it has (it would be dead-on-arrival without him). Daniel Adams wrote and directed, as if he lived his entire life in front of the footlights. *1/2 from ****
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Vincentiu27 August 2012virtue - the cast. but it is not a great virtue. Richard ZDreyfuss is a kind of Santa in a strange story. the script is a tunnel without beginning or end.the Hallmark atmosphere and the slices of Summer dream are not convincing. it is a nice film. but expectations are not very small. and the result is an easy - amusing tale about love as turkey in which ingredients are too many.an ordinary ring with a precious stone. is it enough ? not exactly. in fact, it is a yellow picture , with few nostalgic words, in which faces, houses, light are absent. and imagination is the instrument to create reality of that time. sure, details are good thing. but a bath costume or a happy end are not reasonable price.
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steiner-sam27 October 2023It's a romantic comedy set on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, during the summer of 1912. It follows the interactions of a lightkeeper and his assistant with two women vacationing in a nearby cottage.
Seth Atkins (Richard Dreyfuss) is Cape Cod's grizzled, cantankerous old lighthouse keeper. His assistant has just left after a tirade by Atkins about women. A tall, well-spoken young man who calls himself John Brown (Tom Wisdom) washes up on shore after falling off a passing freighter. They both know the other has secrets about his negative history with women.
Ruth Lowell (Mamie Gummer) is a young, well-off artist who has come to use the cottage that her brother usually utilizes in the summer. She has brought along an older companion, Emeline Bascom (Blythe Danner).
"The Lightkeepers" follows the relationships that develop as the two men interact in their own way with the woman. We learn the secrets of the men and the consequences of the escalating relationships. Bruce Dern has a minor role as Emeline's brother-in-law.
"The Lightkeepers" is a lightweight comedy that is entirely predictable and not as funny as a better script could have made it. Dreyfuss's accent is difficult to understand at times. The scenery around the lighthouse is lovely. It's too bad; I quite like Richard Dreyfuss. -
sooz60693 July 2020This has to be the worst film of Richard Dreyfuss' career. The Cape Cod setting is wonderful but the storyline is pedestrian and the acting is particularly bad. Mamie Gummer tried her best with the little she had to work with, but as for the rest....such a shame.
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dshultz-8392819 June 2022This movie moves incredibly slowly and my copy had no captions, which kept me from understanding about 50% of the dialog. We kept waiting for it to pick up, but it never did. We decided to try it a second time--you know, give it a chance. We gave up after about 30 minutes.
The glowing reviews encouraged me to buy it. A big disappointment. -
I don't normally watch movies like this. I watched it because I liked Tom Wisdom in Dominion. This is a sweet story of two men (one older, one younger) who have lost themselves and lost love and find it all again. The costumes are beautiful, especially the women's dresses, and the setting is beautiful and the various accents are well done.
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mossbeach-3767528 February 2023It's so rare these days to find a film with real acting, instead of cartoon-like characters. Richard Dreyfuss is at his best here, and watching he and Blythe Tanner put on an acting clinic is a real treat. The setting is simple, but breathtaking - a lighthouse, a cottage, and a beach. It could easily be adapted to the stage, but benefits from fine cinematography. In contrast to the usual fare of fast paced pyrotechnics and CGI, this gentle story rolls out at a sedate pace, peeling away the outer layers of the characters to reveal what makes them tick. I loved this movie. I wish more were made like it.
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Kirpianuscus5 January 2018The scent of a lost world. this is the only motif for see it. because the acting, the story, the dialogues are only sketches. sure, the sweat humor, the pieces from an old period, the nice looking for a sense or few drops of realism for his role from Robert Dreyfuss, in the run to escape from Santa clothes are nice things. but something missing. the story has not roots and no purpoise. it is like a story of real old lady about hier youth . and the good intentions are lost in the low humor. so, a scent. from a real old world. but , maybe, not the real scent.