You know the kind of movie that, when you describe it out loud to someone else, sounds utterly ridiculous? Well this is one of those films. Thing is, though, 'Live Again, Die Again' is actually a pretty decent film. Donna Mills, as always, is gorgeous as the main character who's been cryogenically frozen for over 30 years and comes home to find everyone changed. Even harder for her to come to grips with is the fact that her daughter is apparently certifiable. And what's worse, she's got a lot of angst from growing up sans mama and seems to be intent on destroying anything that reminds her of her mother...especially her mother herself. Even though the slight 'twist' is somewhat predictable, there's still a lot of fantastic suspense build up in this film. It held my attention quite well. My only complaint is in the editing of the final scenes. The odd choice to use multiple shots in one frame and over the top of one another actually made it hard to figure out what was going on....and that's not a good thing when you're dealing with the climax of the movie. This is certainly not one of the best movie ever made. It's not even the best TV movie ever made, but all in all, it's a forgotten film that's worth giving a go. You won't be disappointed.
8 Reviews
Donna Mills...married to Walter Pidgeon!?
planktonrules2 November 2016
Many, many, many years before, Thomas Carmichael (Walter Pidgeon) had his wife, Caroline (Donna Mills) put into suspended animation as she lay dying--in the hope that one day she can be revived from deep freeze and be cured. Now, 35 years later, she's awakened and her heart condition corrected and life is grand...right?! Well, maybe...maybe not. It seems that this pretty young woman is married to an old man and her children are older than she is! And, she knows very few people. Obviously, it will take some time to adjust to her new life. What takes longer to deal with is her deranged daughter...and that girl has some SERIOUS issues!!
I liked the idea of a woman waking up after decades and seeing how much things have changed as well as the strain this would put on a marriage. I really think the whole deranged daughter angle muddled this idea and was more of a distraction than anything else. Either do a psychotic daughter film OR make one about a woman frozen and then thawed decades later and her adjustment to life post-thaw...but not both. As a result, the film really lost me and it just seemed muddled. It could have been, and SHOULD have been, so much better.
I liked the idea of a woman waking up after decades and seeing how much things have changed as well as the strain this would put on a marriage. I really think the whole deranged daughter angle muddled this idea and was more of a distraction than anything else. Either do a psychotic daughter film OR make one about a woman frozen and then thawed decades later and her adjustment to life post-thaw...but not both. As a result, the film really lost me and it just seemed muddled. It could have been, and SHOULD have been, so much better.
Vaguest Memory of this Movie
richard.fuller113 August 2005
I have the vaguest recollection of this film when it came on TV. I remember Mike Farrell sitting at the dinner table, going "Mommy's home, Mommy's home" so I understood that she was supposed to be his mother.
And I remember her running to hug her husband, Walter Pigeon, who now was an old man.
Wouldn't mind seeing it again tho, now for it's nostalgia, but it did seem wonderfully melodramatic.
Donna Mills seemed more at ease in pieces like this than she did on Knots Landing.
It seems like there did emerge a mystery of some sorts, that someone was trying to kill her. I don't even recall how it ended, I was so young, but I often think of this movie when I think of other films like Five Deserpate Women and Elevator.
And I remember her running to hug her husband, Walter Pigeon, who now was an old man.
Wouldn't mind seeing it again tho, now for it's nostalgia, but it did seem wonderfully melodramatic.
Donna Mills seemed more at ease in pieces like this than she did on Knots Landing.
It seems like there did emerge a mystery of some sorts, that someone was trying to kill her. I don't even recall how it ended, I was so young, but I often think of this movie when I think of other films like Five Deserpate Women and Elevator.
Great TV Movie with a Young Donna Mills!
Hoohawnaynay2 January 2004
Donna Mills really was and is a good actress. Too bad she didn't get more roles like this and was stuck on "Knots Landing" for so long. This is another one of those great "Made for TV" movies. Here she plays a woman brought back to life after being frozen for many years, which in itself was ahead of it's time as the subject was in the news years later. Her kids are now older than she is, and are quite bitter that they were not only deprived of their mother but are somewhat jealous that she looks like a fashion model while they are old and saggy! The skeletons keep flying out of the closets in this "70's noir thriller". Good cast and direction keep your interest. It's sad there are not more actors around today who can compare with these. The story is a little hokey but the charisma and talent of cast keep this interesting. There ought to be a "Made for TV Movie" Channel on cable!
Somewhat Murky
Uriah4315 February 2014
Having contracted a deadly case of rheumatic fever a young wife and mother by the name of "Caroline Carmichael" (Donna Mills) is cryogenically frozen awaiting the right time when medical technology can bring her back to life. Eventually, 34 years later she is revived and returns to her wealthy husband "Thomas Carmichael" (Walter Pidgeon) and their two children "James Carmmichael" (Mike Farrell) and "Marcia Charmichael" (Vera Miles). But things are clearly not the same as when she last saw them. Thomas is much older and in very bad health. And while James has turned out to be a fine young man Marica has been mentally ill since her mother's incapacitation and Caroline's return seems to exasperate her condition. Two other characters have also become quite prominent within the family as well. The first is the nanny named "Sissy O'Neill" (Geraldine Page) who has looked after Thomas and the children since Caroline essentially passed away. The other person is a man by the name of "Joe Dolan" (Cliff Potts) who serves as Thomas' right-hand man and takes care of any problems that might occur. Even so, something is dreadfully wrong within the house and Caroline's reappearance seems to be the catalyst that produces the mayhem that follows. Anyway, rather than reveal the rest of the story and possibly spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was more of a mystery-thriller than a science-fiction movie. Donna Mills looked great and performed quite well. Unfortunately, the movie itself was somewhat murky and the ending was also a bit confusing. Likewise, I would have preferred to see more of Vera Miles. That said I suppose it was a decent enough movie for the time spent and I rate it as about average.
You cannot step into the same family twice
myriamlenys9 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
In "Live again, die again" a young woman gets resuscitated out of a long cryogenic sleep. The movie is a blend of mystery thriller and science fiction. Viewed as a mystery thriller, "Live again, die again" finds itself somewhere on the spectrum between hothouse Gothic and grand guignol. Near the end the grand guignol wins out. Most of the plot can be followed without trouble but the ending feels muddled, probably as a result of editing choices.
Some of the elements mentioned in the course of the movie, such as the secret garden designed by the loving husband, are never fully exploited. Another element that remains under-used is the difference between past and present with regard to fashion, culture, technology, environment... More inventive writing might have seen the heroine do battle with a new type of alarm system, a new type of toll booth or a new type of escalator.
The science fiction premise serves mainly as a starting point for a tale about twisted family dynamics growing even more dangerous. Here, the sudden reappearance of a wife and mother arouses strong emotions, not all of them happy.
The family context depicted in "Live again, die again" is far from typical but still, one wonders how one would react to the resurrection of a deceased relative. After the first open-mouthed shock had worn off, what would become the predominant emotion - joy, anger, envy, gratitude ? Or perhaps just a pervasive sense of wrongness and unnaturalness ?
People interested in another exploration of some of the same themes - this time from a comedy angle - can take a look at the French "Hibernatus" with Louis de Funès. In "Hibernatus" a deep-frozen ancestor returns from the dead, with far-reaching consequences for his descendants. (Wrote a small review there too.)
Some of the elements mentioned in the course of the movie, such as the secret garden designed by the loving husband, are never fully exploited. Another element that remains under-used is the difference between past and present with regard to fashion, culture, technology, environment... More inventive writing might have seen the heroine do battle with a new type of alarm system, a new type of toll booth or a new type of escalator.
The science fiction premise serves mainly as a starting point for a tale about twisted family dynamics growing even more dangerous. Here, the sudden reappearance of a wife and mother arouses strong emotions, not all of them happy.
The family context depicted in "Live again, die again" is far from typical but still, one wonders how one would react to the resurrection of a deceased relative. After the first open-mouthed shock had worn off, what would become the predominant emotion - joy, anger, envy, gratitude ? Or perhaps just a pervasive sense of wrongness and unnaturalness ?
People interested in another exploration of some of the same themes - this time from a comedy angle - can take a look at the French "Hibernatus" with Louis de Funès. In "Hibernatus" a deep-frozen ancestor returns from the dead, with far-reaching consequences for his descendants. (Wrote a small review there too.)
Caroline Carmichael is not Mrs. Miniver.
mark.waltz10 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Cut the Disney jokes. This is not about Walt, laying cryptically frozen and brought back from the dead. Having supposedly died of rheumatic fever years ago, she was placed in a tank, and now a cure has brought her back to life. Caroline Carmichael is played by the lovely Donna Mills, then one of the queens of the movie of the week, and quite gorgeous, who would expect her to wake up to find herself married to the old Walter Pidgeon? Having co-starred with Greer Garson and half a dozen or so MGM films, Pidgeon was best known as mr. Men over and having played Florenz Ziegfeld in "Funny Girl" just a few years before this. Mills gets to play mother two actors older than her, Mike Farrell and Vera Miles, and her crazy daughter is definitely not ready to have a mother who is by a matter of science younger than her.
I'm going to give this movie an A for its audaciousness, and it certainly has the potential of being campy to some viewers. There's also the legendary Geraldine Page as the former Nanny and Cliff Potts as Pidgeon's creepy assistant. I don't know what category to put this in because it emulates the supernatural horror films of the 70s with a touch of melodrama and science fiction. Mills is lovely, and she wisely plays the character as a woman from another generation waking up to find herself in a world completely foreign to her. The story is indeed ahead-of-its-time because it seems like something that the remaining soap operas of today would dry, or possibly one that could have been done on "Dark Shadows" several years before this. Quite a lot of fun with a ton of surprises.
I'm going to give this movie an A for its audaciousness, and it certainly has the potential of being campy to some viewers. There's also the legendary Geraldine Page as the former Nanny and Cliff Potts as Pidgeon's creepy assistant. I don't know what category to put this in because it emulates the supernatural horror films of the 70s with a touch of melodrama and science fiction. Mills is lovely, and she wisely plays the character as a woman from another generation waking up to find herself in a world completely foreign to her. The story is indeed ahead-of-its-time because it seems like something that the remaining soap operas of today would dry, or possibly one that could have been done on "Dark Shadows" several years before this. Quite a lot of fun with a ton of surprises.
"Where Have I Been?"...
azathothpwiggins18 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Revived after having been cryogenically frozen for many years, Caroline (Donna Mills) awakens to a world in which her husband (Walter Pidgeon) has grown old while she's remained young. As it turns out, this is the least of her problems. Upon returning to the family mansion, the real troubles begin.
Caroline has a son named James (Mike Farrell) and a daughter named Marcia (Vera Miles), who are now older than their mother. While James seems pleasantly amazed, Marcia isn't overly happy to see Caroline up and around. In fact, she wishes that things had remained as they were, before the big "miracle". Caroline soon realizes that Marcia has some serious mental issues.
It appears that a lot has changed since Caroline went into cryo-sleep. Not all of it for the better. It also becomes clear that there's more going on than just Caroline's resurrection. Something that no one seems to want to discuss.
LIVE AGAIN, DIE AGAIN is an exceptional thriller with sci-fi elements. It's full of mystery and drama. It's also quite poignant. Then, it takes a turn into horror territory in the final act. It gets pretty creepy when murder enters the picture! As others have already stated, the montage-style climax does make the action a bit confusing. Too many shots bleeding together! In spite of this flaw, this is still a great made-for-TV movie. Ms. Mills is terrific throughout, as are her co-stars, including the wonderful Geraldine Page as the house mistress, Mrs. O'Neill...
Caroline has a son named James (Mike Farrell) and a daughter named Marcia (Vera Miles), who are now older than their mother. While James seems pleasantly amazed, Marcia isn't overly happy to see Caroline up and around. In fact, she wishes that things had remained as they were, before the big "miracle". Caroline soon realizes that Marcia has some serious mental issues.
It appears that a lot has changed since Caroline went into cryo-sleep. Not all of it for the better. It also becomes clear that there's more going on than just Caroline's resurrection. Something that no one seems to want to discuss.
LIVE AGAIN, DIE AGAIN is an exceptional thriller with sci-fi elements. It's full of mystery and drama. It's also quite poignant. Then, it takes a turn into horror territory in the final act. It gets pretty creepy when murder enters the picture! As others have already stated, the montage-style climax does make the action a bit confusing. Too many shots bleeding together! In spite of this flaw, this is still a great made-for-TV movie. Ms. Mills is terrific throughout, as are her co-stars, including the wonderful Geraldine Page as the house mistress, Mrs. O'Neill...
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