LIGHTKEEPERS

My husband and I first rented this movie on Prime. After watching it we knew it was a movie that we would want to watch over and over. So, we purchased a DVD of the movie and look forward to watching many times in the future.

Looking at how Hollywood tried to depict this era in its 1940s-50s films, It's fascinating how much the film gets right about the language of the era--the contrast between the older couple and the "modern whippersnappers" of the Edwardian era. Blythe Danner is pitch perfect. Mamie Gummer and Tom Wisdom are the perfect fresh breeze lifting the wings of the older couple's romance. Without Richard Dreyfuss's deliberately over-the-top character, there would be no engine, because it becomes perfectly obvious when seen from the heart that these characters are a perfect match for each other. There's a Twelfth Night feel to the swept overboard element of Wisdom's entering into this Cape Cod charm. It would perhaps have been better not to have put in the heavy element in Wisdom's reason for going overboard. Finding oneself unsuitably matched, as in the 1911 book, is a good enough reason and keeps it more real. But in all other points, this is a great screenplay, getting all the tones right and a real delight to watch.

I love this movie and the actors who played the four main characters are superb. I read the book that the movie was based on and the actors portrayed the characters perfectly.I love how they changed the JohnBrown/Russell Brooks character in the movie to be British instead of an American in the book.The screenwriter did an excellent job of adapting the movie from the book.I also love the innocence of this movie.If you love the movie, then you should also love reading the book that the movie was based on. It was written in 1911 by Joseph C. Lincoln titled “The Woman Haters.”

The Lightkeepers is a love story from the bliss of Cape Cod. The story is inspired by a book by Joseph C Lincoln (famous Cape author), "The Women Haters." It's about a lighthouse keeper, Seth (Richard Dreyfuss) and his new secretive trainee, assistant, alias John Brown, literal beach flotsam. They are a pair of characters, both women haters, both with secrets connected to females. This is a delightful character driven period (1912 Cape Cod) story. Filmed on the Cape location, it is as scenic as any travelogue, and the music is wonderful too. Hallmark could not have done better. this is a romance set in a time and place that will make your heart drool. A film so pure it bleeds authenticity. PG because the Cape lightkeepers smoke pipes.Their women hater's world is interrupted by 2 ladies appearing for the summer in a neighboring cottage. Ruth Lowell (Mamie Gummer-Meryl Streep's daughter), a rich young girl, is cared for by her housekeeper Mrs. Bascom (Blythe Danner). Of course these women, of similar age to the men, pose a threat to their single gender coastal locale. The women provide some surprise twists to the story and their own characters are a study as worthy as the mens', but much more beautiful. New secrets are enjoined. Some brilliant role playing by these 4 actors.Joining the cast for short spots are Julie Harris, Bruce Dern, and even Ben Dreyfuss as a grocery boy. Yes Ben is Richard Dreyfuss' son.Bonus: TrailerInterviews of R. Dreyfus (9 min) and Writer/director Daniel Adams (5 min)Alas, such a crime it is...NO SDH SUBTITLES or CC. This is a HUGE fault, as this DVD is best suited for the older generations, and some of us can use the subtitles. What were they thinking? No movie of the 21st century should be without subtitles, especially when it markets to the over 30 or 40 or 50.Regardless, my wife and I will watch this one over again and again. Makes a senior want to snuggle.

Enjoyed it, but would not see it again.

♦ I loved Richard Dreyfuss in Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical "The Goodbye Girl" with Marsha Mason♦ I loved Blythe Danner in the USA high school history teacher's timeless smash hit musical "1776"♦ I love Cape Cod Maine, like the writer/director, so much that its lighthouse is my laptop screensaverBut other discriminating reviewers are right that this writing/directing is slow, I'd say amateur, and as a result over-acted even by this lifelong pros including Bruce Dern.Perhaps because the young are less experienced in being directed, or because they're more physically attractive, I ended up enjoying the unknown to me young British actor, and Meryl Streep's daughter more than my prior preference for the two oldtimers, though Mamie Gumer's eyes are too close-set and she exudes her mother's & her own next generation's critical superciliousness but the period hair & costumes for historical drama lovers redeemed all the players to bearably finish viewing the film.The Bonus Features of writer/director and Dreyfuss interviews must be watched first to prepare you for the molasses slow character development with little plot or action. That genre requires more nuanced and layered writing/direction than these other elements were given to work with here, and I'm left with the feeling that Dreyfuss thought his charisma (wistful echo of his light-years better "Goodbye Girl" though he's still much the same) could carry the deficit.If you like these actors, Edwardian Era American costume and rustic architecture & lifestyle, and New England Maine like Long Island NY coastal scenery and you are willing to indulge this like you would a local play or your own family, then you may enjoy this, if only for its genuinely artistic beauty leaving you with the feeling of sand in your toes and salt on your skin of having enjoyed a bit of a vacation there, yourself :)

I had never heard of this movie & watched it on TV because of Richard Dreyfuss. I was SO glad I did!!! It now my favorite!

I love Richard Dreyfus. Tremendous actor. The material and production didn't allow his brilliance to shine thru. Yawn.

Was bought for elderly group enjoyed by all

This DVD arrived on time and in good condition. We did start to watch this but it was very caustic and not very enjoyable so we turned it off. I love all the actors in this but everything seemed so stupid or bitter and not at all pleasant to watch, maybe I will try again later and have another go.l

Very good have watched several times

I really enjoyed this Period Piece film! It's a tale of the lighthouse keeper who is a "woman hater" and a mysterious British man who washes up on the beach, and how they both find love. There is excellent character development and acting, and the music and scenery in Cape Cod are beautiful. The mysteries in the story involving the characters really make it an interesting film. I found some of the dialogue, due to accents, a bit hard to hear at the beginning, and unfortunately this blu-ray does not have subtitles so I had to re-watch it a couple of times. There are only a couple of swears with God's name and My Lord another time. Other than that it's as clean as a whistle. There is a lot of comedy in this film, and the chemistry with impeccable comedic timing between Tom Wisdom and Richard Dreyfuss is second to none. There is also a forgiveness theme and one of the characters mentions what Jesus said in the Bible. It's a movie friendly for families, but there but the serious topic of suicide is referred to briefly. I'd recommend it and it is now one of my favourites.

It is an interesting movie. You never know what will happen in your life and who you will meet again.