Jeremy (1973)

hyped garbage

A Disappointing Continuation

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

"I've got The New York Times," warbles Jeremy, the angelic Jewish teenager who gets straight As, reads Thomas Mann and Emily Dickinson, plays classical cello and falls in love with a ballet student. But don't think that Jeremy isn't a Regular Guy: he also likes rock music, plays basketball, hangs out with street-smart Ralphie and has a knack for picking winning horses (although he never bets: that wouldn't be sweet). This preening New York self-love, this compound of populism and culture-vulturism--this ingratiating depiction of the ideal Manhattan adolescent--is more irritating now than when I was Jeremy's age: too often, it strikes me as tony, cute and smug. Nevertheless, after 37 years, the movie still has winning moments, and the young Robby Benson and Glynnis O'Connor give appealing performances (which they never equalled). So I'll give it a pass.

Seemingly little-known, Jeremy is a film I encountered through the recommendation of a radio critic to one of his lovelorn listeners (not me, I promise). Sounding rather interesting, I decided to give it a go.The tale of first love and the enamouring wonder of teenage affection, Jeremy follows the titular character's rapid fall to the beauty of his beloved Susan. Starting with the first shy introductions, we follow the adventure of this fledgling couple. Our opening scene introduces us to the main character via his bedroom and possessions as he slumbers on in the background, lightly romantic music giving us a gentle introduction. Once we are satisfactorily au fait with the young chap, scenes of a more verbal nature present us with one of the major themes of the film. The insistence of Jeremy's music teacher that "there's nothing wrong with being a good musician, you don't have to be great", as well as his father's claims that "you can't do two things at the same time and do 'em both well", lay a poignant foundation for later scenes. The first time we meet Susan coincides with her and Jeremy's first meeting, an amusingly sweet scene that might, in other less well constructed circumstances, have seemed sickeningly saccharine. It is from this point that the film's general tone becomes apparent: a tone which almost forces us to feel the same emotions as the characters. Never overbearing, the film keeps us on the same emotional tier as Jeremy and Susan, their growing love an accurate mirror of the audience's gradual inclination towards loving the movie itself. From start to finish, the scenes which feature the young couple are wholly convincing, the performances of both actors never wavering in quality, at least not in the scenes they share. Generally, the film would not suffer from a slightly more proficient cast, though this is almost completely forgotten in the warming aura of love's allure. Perhaps suffering from shortness a tad, the film gives its hero and heroine a little too little time together, though a wonderful central scene of physical culmination represents the beautiful peak of the piece, and of teen romance films in general.Not without its flaws (though what movie ever was?), Jeremy is an eminently likable film which portrays one of the most realistic and memorable relationships the big screen has seen. Amicable, amiable, affable, and adorable, the film is in every way to us what Susan is to Jeremy: beautiful; irresistible; unforgettable.

This is a movie we had to see with our class. Most of the times these movies were dull and boring, but then... they send us to "Jeremy". And I still am looking for a chance to see the movie again. I remember that they showed it on television in the mid 70's, before the VHS era. I recorded the soundtrack on compact cassette (inferiour quality, the recording was lost). I still remember however how the movie touched me, and I still can do the "horse-sound" by clicking with my fingers as Jeremy did. Does anybody know if this movie can be bought on DVD? I am looking for a copy since many years, but cannot find it in Europe anywhere.

JEREMY is the most realistic and touching film of it's kind, that I had the pleasure of seeing when I was 19. I understand that it was filmed in 16mm and blown up to 35mm for theatre presentation, which gives the movie an almost documentary - type look and feel. Combined with understated performances by all involved, and an excellent "real-feeling" script, JEREMY avoids all the schmaltz and hyper-melodramatics usually associated with stories of this type. I hate to use the phrase "little film", but it does have the charm of a smaller, independently - produced movie. Before there was "FAME", this film about two students from the New York High School For The Performing Arts, who spend some time together and fall in love, only to be cruelly seperated in the end by unforseen circumstances, has remained a favorite of mine to this day. I have a cherished copy on VHS - I just hope a copy on DVD is forthcoming.