This movie of the week shows the power of belief and the gift of honor. Hershel Bernardi is the proprietor of a beloved ocean front restaurant on the verge of being taken away from him, and young family friend Jan Michael Vincent goes out of town to obtain cash so Bernardi can keep it open. On his way back, Vincent makes the mistake of hitchhiking and being picked up by the overly tipsy Gary Crosby who swerves into another lane to avoid hitting Bonnie Bedelia's car, and Vincent flies out, gravely wounded.
Before he dies, the blood-covered Vincent sees the tear dropping from Bedelia's face, and after pleading "Not like this" (desperate to get Bernardi the money, Vincent dies. Bedelia is taken in by Bernardi who witnessed Bedelia swerving but did not see Vincent flying out of the car. The next day, Bedelia is walking on the beach and comes along a beautiful sandcastle which Vincent had made. All of a sudden, she sees a vision. It is Vincent, and he is back to make sure that Bernardi and his girlfriend/hostess Mariette Hartley somehow gets the money back which Crosby happens to find.
Yes, this is outlandish in many ways with many questions remaining, but the basic story is so sweet that it is difficult to dismiss as just another movie of the week. Jan Michael Vincent, one of the most handsome young actors of any era, is practically angelic, and portrays the character with so much heart yet very much human. Bernardi shows again why he is one of the great stage actors of all time, and delivers a touching performance that is filled with strength and humor and compassion, yet also not completely flawless. Even the bad guy, Crosby, has his elements of decency. It's easy to forgive a film for the questions that it leaves you with when it touche your heart so deeply.
Before he dies, the blood-covered Vincent sees the tear dropping from Bedelia's face, and after pleading "Not like this" (desperate to get Bernardi the money, Vincent dies. Bedelia is taken in by Bernardi who witnessed Bedelia swerving but did not see Vincent flying out of the car. The next day, Bedelia is walking on the beach and comes along a beautiful sandcastle which Vincent had made. All of a sudden, she sees a vision. It is Vincent, and he is back to make sure that Bernardi and his girlfriend/hostess Mariette Hartley somehow gets the money back which Crosby happens to find.
Yes, this is outlandish in many ways with many questions remaining, but the basic story is so sweet that it is difficult to dismiss as just another movie of the week. Jan Michael Vincent, one of the most handsome young actors of any era, is practically angelic, and portrays the character with so much heart yet very much human. Bernardi shows again why he is one of the great stage actors of all time, and delivers a touching performance that is filled with strength and humor and compassion, yet also not completely flawless. Even the bad guy, Crosby, has his elements of decency. It's easy to forgive a film for the questions that it leaves you with when it touche your heart so deeply.