Seize the Day *** (1986, Robin Williams, Joseph Wiseman, Jerry Stiller, Glenne Headly, Tony Roberts, Jo Van Fleet, William Hickey, Eileen Heckart) – Classic Movie Review 7663

Director Fielder Cook’s 1986 drama Seize the Day stars Robin Williams, who is stupendous as a Tommy Wilhelm, man in the middle of a personal and business crisis as he reaches 40, in this rewarding, overlooked film, with the screenplay by Ronald Ribman based on Saul Bellow’s novel.

The 1950s-set tale may be sombre but it holds the attention and the film is full of good performances, especially from Williams, who gives the piece real appeal as the salesman whose marriage has broken up and who has lost his job. He gets the cold shoulder when he goes to New York to ask for the help of his doctor father, Dr Adler (Joseph Wiseman).

Also in the cast are Jerry Stiller, Glenne Headly, Tony Roberts, Jo Van Fleet, William Hickey, Eileen Heckart, John Fiedler, Fran Brill, Tom Aldredge, Richard B Shull, David Bickford and Jayne Heller.

It is one of three obscure, virtually forgotten films Williams made in the year before his breakthrough in 1987 with Good Morning, Vietnam and Dead Poets Society. The other two are The Best of Times and Club Paradise.

Curiously, the title Seize the Day [carpe diem] is the catchphrase of Williams’ teacher character in Dead Poets Society.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7663

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