487:, Lisa Marie Bowman wrote, "The attempts to mix drama and comedy often lead to uneven results and Anne Archer, Parker Stevenson, and Stephen Young are stuck with underwritten characters…When the film does work, it’s due to the performances of Kathleen Quinlan and Sam Elliot. Though her character is a cliché (the rebellious teenager who isn’t as worldly as she thinks she is), Quinlan does a good job of giving the character a personality that makes her more than just a stock temptation."
269:
294:
Cathy rekindle their relationship with each other. The next day, Rick and Chris compete in the annual lifeguard relay races, but Rick is outrun by younger competitors. Rick shows up to interview at the
Porsche dealership. Mr. Gilmore, Larry’s partner, initially has doubts about Rick's qualifications, but reconsiders when Rick impresses him with how seriously he takes his lifeguard job.
42:
298:
He tries to comfort a distraught Wendy. A few days later, he sees Wendy swimming away from the beach and goes to rescue her. She admits she is trying to kill herself. He takes her to shore and walks her to her car. He reassures her that when school starts Monday she will "begin to make new friends" before she drives off.
301:
Rick visits Cathy at the art gallery to tell her about the incident with Wendy, which seems to have frazzled him. Cathy comforts him, then invites him to move in with her. While they are discussing the arrangement, a male client continually insists that Cathy wait on him. An annoyed Rick loudly tells
289:
Meanwhile, Wendy continues to pursue Rick. At her insistence, Rick gives in to her one day and it is implied that they have sex in the lifeguard tower. On the night of the reunion, Wendy surprises Rick at his apartment door before he leaves. He invites her in and she is somewhat surprised to discover
276:
Rick
Carlson is a 32-year-old career lifeguard in Southern California who enjoys a commitment-free life of casual relationships. For the summer, he trains Chris Randolph, a college student and temporary weekend assistant. Though Rick is content with his profession, he is needled by his father to get
463:
wrote, "It's not just about a man beginning to wonder whether it's time for him to start growing up but rather about a man who's tough-minded and honest enough with himself to question what maturity really is. Is it really doing what is expected of you or is it having the courage to be yourself, to
297:
After a brief absence, Wendy returns to the beach and asks Rick when they will be intimate again. He tells her plaintively that they are doing something illegal and it would be best if she found someone closer to her own age. He admits he is with someone else when she prods him about another woman.
285:
dealership. Larry brings up the school reunion and tells Rick his old high school flame, the newly divorced Cathy, is expected to attend. Larry also offers Rick a sales position at the dealership, suggesting he can double his salary. Rick decides to go to the reunion in the hopes of seeing Cathy.
305:
With the summer season winding down, Larry returns to the beach one more time to offer Rick a job selling
Porsches. Rick turns it down definitively, even though he realizes it will probably mean an end to his relationship with Cathy who has been encouraging him to become more upwardly mobile. He
293:
At the reunion, former classmates discuss their careers. Rick seems embarrassed about still being a lifeguard and begins to lie about why he is so tanned, claiming he works an outdoors job for the county. He reunites with Cathy and learns she works at an art gallery and has a young son. Rick and
280:
While on duty, Rick is approached by Wendy, a 17-year-old girl who has moved to the area from San Diego with her family. Wendy develops an infatuation with the older man. Though wary of returning her affections as she is underage, Rick remains friendly with her. He encounters Larry, an old high
309:
As the movie ends, Rick is summoned to the beach changing room as a hysterical woman tells him there is a man in there. Rick asks the man what he's doing in the ladies' room. The man claims to be a police officer working surveillance but doesn't have his badge because he's working undercover.
508:
patch of time when a significant segment of the singles scene actually treated sex as a kind of heightened recreational activity", and noted that some elements, including the relationship with Wendy and the lightness with which the screenplay treats
402:
movie. However, it was considered a breakthrough for
Elliott, with the actor saying, "Dan Petrie did a great job directing that movie; it was shot for something like only $ 900,000. Those were the days".
394:
completed filming in August 1975 but was held for release by
Paramount until the following year. Elliott held off on doing any TV in that time because he hoped the film would establish him in features.
445:
stated: "As a film, 'Lifeguard' is romantic twaddle, but as sociology it's a spontaneous assault on a very
American way of life. as entertainment it ranks somewhat above '
306:
tells Larry he will remain a lifeguard "just as long as they'll have me". On his last day on the assistant job, Chris thanks Rick for everything he taught him.
1180:
513:, are plainly dated. Though he said the film's drawback is "it leaves a thread or two unresolved", he reviewed the film positively and said "What makes
302:
the man off, jeopardizing Cathy's standing at the gallery. He apologizes to Cathy for losing his cool and says he will think over the living situation.
1373:
384:
Elliott's parents were lifeguards and he had worked as a lifeguard himself. He was cast after Dan Petrie and his wife saw
Elliott on TV in the film
1038:
1358:
1353:
1363:
1348:
1388:
1156:
625:
1378:
705:
1368:
1068:
944:
1393:
1383:
1298:
662:
1031:
860:
416:
Most of the lifeguard tower scenes were filmed at the Knob Hill and "Burnout" towers in the South Bay of Los
Angeles.
225:
1076:
886:
454:
24:
277:
a "real job" that pays more. One day, Rick receives an invitation to his 15-year high school reunion in the mail.
1290:
1196:
1100:
1306:
1204:
1132:
1108:
1024:
464:
do what you want—especially when you're fortunate enough to know what you want to do in the first place?"
472:
wrote the film "manages to perform an interesting autopsy on the psyche of the
American male". Filmmaker
989:
332:
245:
88:
1092:
890:
450:
1343:
1282:
1242:
921:
468:
257:
1274:
1266:
1258:
1124:
732:
630:
603:
437:
229:
137:
1172:
1140:
978:
809:
747:
598:
510:
459:
371:
365:
1320:
1250:
1116:
1060:
532:
399:
344:
338:
253:
249:
96:
92:
1212:
1011:
844:
686:
576:
425:
268:
260:
lifeguard who is prompted to reexamine his life when he attends his high school reunion.
497:
359:
290:
that he is in his 30s, but says she understands his concern over their age difference.
571:
1337:
1220:
1048:
657:
621:
501:
473:
442:
233:
106:
70:
52:
20:
517:
special is that Elliot convinces us that he's the nicest guy ever to walk a beach."
398:
Despite some of its serious subject matter, the film was marketed as a lighthearted
1084:
780:
446:
386:
353:
1016:
556:
Bobbin, Jay (April 9, 2006). "Movie star
Elliott does action flick by the book".
1228:
326:
320:
241:
237:
84:
80:
706:"Sam Elliott Reflects on His Career on Eve of Hands and Feet Imprint Ceremony"
1005:
807:
Berges, Marshall (July 30, 1978). "Home Q&A: Dorothea & Dan Petrie".
730:
Deans, Laurie (March 15, 1985). "LA CLIPS: Riding the waves to new success".
1188:
983:
839:
916:
500:
said the film "captures a particular So-Cal beach vibe during a brief post-
41:
1000:
785:
527:
505:
492:
410:
994:
972:
282:
1148:
267:
824:
Champlin, Charles (December 5, 1975). "The Mann Behind Chinese".
1020:
535:, which also originally featured Parker Stevenson in the cast.
19:
This article is about the 1976 film. For the 2013 film, see
945:"Cleaning Out The DVR: Lifeguard (dir by Daniel Petrie)"
272:
Sam Elliot in his breakthrough role in as Rick Carlson
209:
201:
193:
185:
175:
152:
144:
128:
120:
112:
102:
76:
66:
58:
48:
34:
406:Part of the film was shot in Petrie's own home.
684:Daly, Maggie (June 10, 1976). "Metropolitan".
1032:
8:
1181:Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
1039:
1025:
1017:
774:
772:
770:
768:
350:Steve Burns as Harold a.k.a. "Machine Gun"
236:from a screenplay by Ron Koslow. It stars
40:
31:
616:
614:
281:school friend who is now a partner in a
861:"'Lifeguard,' About Freedom and Vanity"
699:
697:
545:
432:holds a rating of 47% from 17 reviews.
943:Bowman, Lisa Marie (August 27, 2021).
652:
650:
648:
551:
549:
7:
779:Erickson, Glenn (August 28, 2013).
256:. The film follows Rick Carlson, a
704:Riley, Jenelle (January 7, 2019).
14:
531:, TV film and TV series starring
480:piece on favorite summer movies.
891:"'Lifeguard' Grapples With Life"
859:Canby, Vincent (July 24, 1976).
1374:Films directed by Daniel Petrie
781:"DVD Savant Review: Lifeguard"
560:(Final ed.). p. 16W.
1:
1359:American romantic drama films
626:"Cherishing Sun-Baked Cinema"
409:It was executive produced by
1354:1970s English-language films
663:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
905:– via newspapers.com.
1410:
1364:Films about class reunions
949:Through the Shattered Lens
485:Through the Shattered Lens
453:.'" In a positive review,
25:Lifeguard (disambiguation)
18:
16:1976 film by Daniel Petrie
1349:1976 romantic drama films
1055:
599:"Lifeguard – film review"
39:
1389:Paramount Pictures films
1101:The Spy with a Cold Nose
476:selected the film for a
1379:Films set in California
451:Godzilla Versus Megalon
161:July 23, 1976
1369:Films about lifeguards
1205:Fort Apache, The Bronx
1133:The Gun and the Pulpit
1109:A Howling in the Woods
435:Reviewing the film in
273:
23:. For other uses, see
490:In a 2013 review for
271:
232:. It was directed by
1394:1970s American films
1384:Films set on beaches
1157:Eleanor and Franklin
1283:Kissinger and Nixon
1077:The Main Attraction
1069:A Raisin in the Sun
258:Southern California
224:is a 1976 American
1267:My Name Is Bill W.
1259:Cocoon: The Return
1125:The Neptune Factor
1047:Films directed by
990:TCM Movie Database
865:The New York Times
733:The Globe and Mail
658:"Lifeguard (1976)"
631:The New York Times
438:The New York Times
274:
230:Paramount Pictures
148:Paramount Pictures
138:Paramount Pictures
1331:
1330:
1141:Buster and Billie
895:Los Angeles Times
889:(June 13, 1976).
826:Los Angeles Times
810:Los Angeles Times
511:indecent exposure
460:Los Angeles Times
366:George D. Wallace
341:as Chris Randolph
217:
216:
1401:
1314:Walter and Henry
1299:Inherit the Wind
1251:Rocket Gibraltar
1117:Moon of the Wolf
1061:The Bramble Bush
1041:
1034:
1027:
1018:
960:
959:
957:
955:
940:
934:
933:
931:
929:
913:
907:
906:
904:
902:
883:
877:
876:
874:
872:
856:
850:
849:
836:
830:
829:
821:
815:
814:
804:
798:
797:
795:
793:
776:
763:
762:
760:
758:
744:
738:
737:
727:
721:
720:
718:
716:
701:
692:
691:
681:
675:
674:
672:
670:
654:
643:
642:
640:
638:
618:
609:
608:
595:
589:
588:
586:
584:
568:
562:
561:
553:
533:David Hasselhoff
345:Kathleen Quinlan
339:Parker Stevenson
254:Kathleen Quinlan
250:Parker Stevenson
168:
166:
97:Kathleen Quinlan
93:Parker Stevenson
44:
32:
1409:
1408:
1404:
1403:
1402:
1400:
1399:
1398:
1334:
1333:
1332:
1327:
1307:Seasons of Love
1236:Half a Lifetime
1051:
1045:
1012:Rotten Tomatoes
969:
964:
963:
953:
951:
942:
941:
937:
927:
925:
915:
914:
910:
900:
898:
885:
884:
880:
870:
868:
858:
857:
853:
845:Rotten Tomatoes
838:
837:
833:
823:
822:
818:
806:
805:
801:
791:
789:
778:
777:
766:
756:
754:
746:
745:
741:
729:
728:
724:
714:
712:
703:
702:
695:
687:Chicago Tribune
683:
682:
678:
668:
666:
656:
655:
646:
636:
634:
624:(May 4, 2012).
620:
619:
612:
607:. May 26, 1976.
597:
596:
592:
582:
580:
577:Box Office Mojo
570:
569:
565:
558:Journal–Gazette
555:
554:
547:
542:
523:
426:Rotten Tomatoes
422:
382:
377:
374:as Jack Gilmore
362:as Mrs. Carlson
323:as Rick Carlson
316:
266:
178:
171:
164:
162:
155:
140:
133:
131:
95:
91:
87:
83:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1407:
1405:
1397:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1336:
1335:
1329:
1328:
1326:
1325:
1317:
1311:
1303:
1295:
1287:
1279:
1271:
1263:
1255:
1247:
1239:
1233:
1225:
1217:
1209:
1201:
1193:
1185:
1177:
1169:
1161:
1153:
1145:
1137:
1129:
1121:
1113:
1105:
1097:
1089:
1081:
1073:
1065:
1056:
1053:
1052:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1036:
1029:
1021:
1015:
1014:
1003:
992:
981:
968:
967:External links
965:
962:
961:
935:
908:
878:
851:
831:
816:
813:. p. q24.
799:
764:
739:
736:. p. E.7.
722:
693:
690:. p. a10.
676:
644:
622:Frankel, David
610:
590:
563:
544:
543:
541:
538:
537:
536:
522:
519:
498:Glenn Erickson
478:New York Times
421:
418:
381:
378:
376:
375:
369:
368:as Mr. Carlson
363:
360:Lenka Peterson
357:
351:
348:
342:
336:
330:
324:
317:
315:
312:
265:
262:
215:
214:
211:
207:
206:
203:
199:
198:
195:
191:
190:
187:
183:
182:
179:
176:
173:
172:
170:
169:
158:
156:
153:
150:
149:
146:
145:Distributed by
142:
141:
136:
134:
129:
126:
125:
122:
118:
117:
114:
110:
109:
104:
103:Cinematography
100:
99:
78:
74:
73:
68:
64:
63:
60:
56:
55:
50:
46:
45:
37:
36:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1406:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1382:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1341:
1339:
1323:
1322:
1318:
1315:
1312:
1309:
1308:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1296:
1293:
1292:
1291:The Assistant
1288:
1285:
1284:
1280:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1269:
1268:
1264:
1261:
1260:
1256:
1253:
1252:
1248:
1245:
1244:
1240:
1237:
1234:
1231:
1230:
1226:
1223:
1222:
1221:The Dollmaker
1218:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1202:
1199:
1198:
1194:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1183:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1174:
1170:
1167:
1166:
1162:
1159:
1158:
1154:
1151:
1150:
1146:
1143:
1142:
1138:
1135:
1134:
1130:
1127:
1126:
1122:
1119:
1118:
1114:
1111:
1110:
1106:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1087:
1086:
1082:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1071:
1070:
1066:
1063:
1062:
1058:
1057:
1054:
1050:
1049:Daniel Petrie
1042:
1037:
1035:
1030:
1028:
1023:
1022:
1019:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1004:
1002:
998:
997:
993:
991:
987:
986:
982:
980:
976:
975:
971:
970:
966:
950:
946:
939:
936:
924:
923:
918:
912:
909:
897:. p. 280
896:
892:
888:
887:Thomas, Kevin
882:
879:
866:
862:
855:
852:
847:
846:
841:
835:
832:
828:. p. h1.
827:
820:
817:
812:
811:
803:
800:
788:
787:
782:
775:
773:
771:
769:
765:
753:
749:
743:
740:
735:
734:
726:
723:
711:
707:
700:
698:
694:
689:
688:
680:
677:
665:
664:
659:
653:
651:
649:
645:
633:
632:
627:
623:
617:
615:
611:
606:
605:
600:
594:
591:
579:
578:
573:
567:
564:
559:
552:
550:
546:
539:
534:
530:
529:
525:
524:
520:
518:
516:
512:
507:
503:
499:
495:
494:
488:
486:
481:
479:
475:
474:David Frankel
471:
470:
465:
462:
461:
456:
452:
449:' but below '
448:
444:
443:Vincent Canby
440:
439:
433:
431:
427:
419:
417:
414:
412:
407:
404:
401:
396:
393:
389:
388:
379:
373:
370:
367:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
340:
337:
334:
333:Stephen Young
331:
328:
325:
322:
319:
318:
313:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
284:
278:
270:
263:
261:
259:
255:
251:
247:
246:Stephen Young
243:
239:
235:
234:Daniel Petrie
231:
227:
223:
222:
213:$ 5.4 million
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
189:United States
188:
184:
180:
174:
160:
159:
157:
151:
147:
143:
139:
135:
127:
123:
119:
116:Art J. Nelson
115:
111:
108:
107:Ralph Woolsey
105:
101:
98:
94:
90:
89:Stephen Young
86:
82:
79:
75:
72:
71:Ron Silverman
69:
65:
61:
57:
54:
53:Daniel Petrie
51:
47:
43:
38:
33:
30:
26:
22:
21:The Lifeguard
1319:
1313:
1305:
1297:
1289:
1281:
1273:
1265:
1257:
1249:
1243:Square Dance
1241:
1235:
1227:
1219:
1211:
1203:
1197:Resurrection
1195:
1187:
1179:
1171:
1164:
1163:
1155:
1147:
1139:
1131:
1123:
1115:
1107:
1099:
1091:
1085:Stolen Hours
1083:
1075:
1067:
1059:
1006:
995:
984:
973:
952:. Retrieved
948:
938:
926:. Retrieved
920:
911:
899:. Retrieved
894:
881:
869:. Retrieved
867:. p. 12
864:
854:
843:
834:
825:
819:
808:
802:
790:. Retrieved
784:
755:. Retrieved
751:
742:
731:
725:
713:. Retrieved
709:
685:
679:
667:. Retrieved
661:
637:September 2,
635:. Retrieved
629:
602:
593:
581:. Retrieved
575:
566:
557:
526:
514:
491:
489:
484:
482:
477:
467:
466:
458:
455:Kevin Thomas
447:Bikini Beach
436:
434:
429:
423:
415:
408:
405:
397:
391:
385:
383:
354:Sharon Weber
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
279:
275:
220:
219:
218:
177:Running time
154:Release date
29:
1229:The Bay Boy
917:"Lifeguard"
840:"Lifeguard"
752:TVGuide.com
748:"Lifeguard"
572:"Lifeguard"
400:beach party
327:Anne Archer
321:Sam Elliott
242:Anne Archer
238:Sam Elliott
124:Dale Menten
85:Anne Archer
81:Sam Elliott
67:Produced by
49:Directed by
1344:1976 films
1338:Categories
540:References
380:Production
226:drama film
210:Box office
181:96 minutes
165:1976-07-23
130:Production
62:Ron Koslow
59:Written by
1321:Wild Iris
1189:The Betsy
1165:Lifeguard
1007:Lifeguard
996:Lifeguard
985:Lifeguard
974:Lifeguard
515:Lifeguard
430:Lifeguard
420:Reception
392:Lifeguard
372:Paul Kent
221:Lifeguard
205:$ 900,000
113:Edited by
35:Lifeguard
1213:Six Pack
1093:The Idol
1001:AllMovie
954:July 17,
928:July 17,
922:Time Out
901:July 17,
871:March 4,
792:July 17,
786:DVD Talk
757:July 17,
715:July 17,
669:July 17,
583:July 17,
528:Baywatch
521:See also
493:DVD Talk
469:Time Out
411:Ted Mann
347:as Wendy
335:as Larry
329:as Cathy
228:made by
194:Language
121:Music by
77:Starring
988:at the
710:Variety
604:Variety
457:of the
356:as Tina
283:Porsche
197:English
186:Country
163: (
132:company
1324:(2001)
1316:(2001)
1310:(1999)
1302:(1999)
1294:(1998)
1286:(1995)
1278:(1994)
1275:Lassie
1270:(1989)
1262:(1988)
1254:(1988)
1246:(1987)
1238:(1986)
1232:(1984)
1224:(1984)
1216:(1982)
1208:(1981)
1200:(1980)
1192:(1978)
1184:(1977)
1176:(1976)
1168:(1976)
1160:(1976)
1152:(1974)
1149:Mousey
1144:(1974)
1136:(1974)
1128:(1973)
1120:(1973)
1112:(1971)
1104:(1966)
1096:(1966)
1088:(1963)
1080:(1962)
1072:(1961)
1064:(1960)
504:, pre-
252:, and
202:Budget
1173:Sybil
387:Frogs
979:IMDb
956:2023
930:2023
903:2023
873:2022
794:2023
759:2023
717:2023
671:2023
639:2014
585:2023
506:AIDS
502:pill
314:Cast
264:Plot
1010:at
999:at
977:at
483:In
424:On
1340::
947:.
919:.
893:.
863:.
842:.
783:.
767:^
750:.
708:.
696:^
660:.
647:^
628:.
613:^
601:.
574:.
548:^
496:,
441:,
428:,
413:.
390:.
248:,
244:,
240:,
1040:e
1033:t
1026:v
958:.
932:.
875:.
848:.
796:.
761:.
719:.
673:.
641:.
587:.
167:)
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
