A Switch in Time

Norman (Tom McCamus) is a nebbish Canadian junior scientist working at CERN in modern-day Geneva. His life takes a whole new turn when an attractive Canadian model named Erica (Lori Paton) and her Italian photographer boyfriend Umberto (Jacques Lussier) persuade him to allow them access to the plant for an Omni photo shoot. The next day, the three central characters are literally zapped back in time by a freak accident at the nuclear power plant in which none of them was an active participant. The three of them find themselves in an open field in the distant past at the exact spot where the nuclear power plant from the 20th century was. Their presence was not known to the scientists nearby, and time-travel was not the intent of the experiment at the nuclear facility. Therefore, Norman and his two friends are completely unable to return to their own time and they do not even bother seeking an attempt to get back, nor do they concern themselves with the possibility of changing history.

The area is about to be annexed by the Roman Empire at the time the protagonists arrive (during the reign of the Emperor Nero). The Roman soldiers who capture Norman, Erica, and Umberto actually speak Latin (presented with English subtitles). Only Umberto can speak Latin and is therefore able to effectively communicate and function in the society. The three are taken to a small village where several dozen local Gallic people native to the area live. But most of them speak a primitive tongue requiring Norman to communicate in gestures.

Finally, in addition to learning the ability to converse in Latin, Norman has a rudimentary technical understanding of many modern devices and is able to use his knowledge to actively alter history. Norman and the others stage a revolt and defeat the Roman soldiers garrisoning the village. But weeks later, a massive Roman army arrives to destroy the rebelling village in accordance with the Roman laws that all persons partaking in a revolt against the Roman Empire are to be put to death. Seeing to save themselves, Erica and Umberto attempt to flee only to be captured by the Romans. To save their own lives, the model and photographer become collaborators with the Romans to help put down the revolt that Norman has now taken over as the village's de facto leader, with the villagers naming him "Caesar Normanicus".

The Roman Army launches a massive attack against the village, but Norman and most of the villagers manage to escape by using hot air balloons. This activity is witnessed by the Roman commanding officer and the images of the balloons makes it into a book that Umberto and Erica are forced to help manufacture on a primitive printing press operated by a group of galley slaves of which they are now a part, having been sold into slavery due to their failure to stop Norman.

The villagers settle on a coastal area of Gaul safe from the Romans; Norman names the region Normandy and lives out the rest of his life with his new people in prosperity, and thus seals his name in History, while Erica and Umberto live out the rest of their lives as slaves.

A Switch in Time was a co-production between brothers Paul and Michael Donovan's Salter Street Films of Halifax, and Simcom/Norstar Entertainment of Toronto. It was stage actor Tom McCamus' feature film debut, and he felt that his expression of interest for the role was what sealed it for him.[8] Announced under the title Normanicus, it was originally slated to start filming in May 1986.[9] By February 1986, the budget was projected at US$3.5 million, but no filming location had yet been determined.[10]

The Donovans eventually settled on a November 1986 start date, with filming taking place in Argentina.[11][12] The bulk of the film was shot at Lanin National Park[13] near San Martín de los Andes, as the Patagonian region could pass for Switzerland without the high cost, and the local skiing industry provided the hospitality infrastructures needed by the production team.[7] In all, the North American crew was scheduled to spend thirteen weeks in Argentina.[14] The Roman costumes were imported from Italy, and the helvetic village was built specifically for the movie, as were some of the more complex props like catapults. The Roman cavalry was played by a mounted regiment of the Argentinian army.[7] Principal photography eventually began in December 1986 and extended into January 1987.[15][16] During production, the budget was pegged between US$2 and 3 million.[7]

According to Paul Donovan, bribes extorted by the Argentinian authorities greatly burdened the project. During post-production, Salter Street ran out of money and was bought out by its partner Simcom/Norstar. While the director contended that Normanicus was close to the finish line and in good shape, Simcom/Norstar writer Ron Oliver, who was tasked with overseeing completion of the film, thought the delivered footage was disjointed and could not be cut as is.[17]

Simcom/Norstar owner Peter Simpson called for reshoots. Donovan initially agreed to collaborate with Oliver on the new material, but the discarding of much of the film's dark satire in favor of the heavier-handed comedy demanded by Simpson led him to depart the project, at one point attempting to dissuade the actors from taking part in the additional sessions.[17] Oliver ended up directing five days' worth of new material in Toronto,[13] which changed about twenty minutes of the picture.[17] According to one source, filming was completed in June 1987.[6] As of July 1987, the film's budget was estimated at CDN$5 million (about US$3.8 million), and no release date had been set.[5] By the end of 1987, it had also been retitled A Switch in Time by Simcom/Norstar.[18]

Neither side expressed satisfaction with the finished product. By the time of its domestic release, Donovan had publicly distanced himself from the project.[19] Simpson, who had a surly reputation, retorted: "Donovan fucked up, what can I say?"[7] Oliver estimated that the film had lost his employer in the neighborhood of US$1 million.[17]

Writing for trade publication Variety upon the film's U.S. release, the reviewer identified as Lor. called the film an "entertaining time travel feature", noting that it was "nicely filmed in Argentinian locations" and that "the cast [did] a fine job". He also credited the soundtrack for its inclusion of licensed "golden oldies". However, he found the visual effects "modest" and deemed that the film's single jump to the past caused it to "lack variety" compared to works that featured a time hopping premise.[4]

In addition to the original score by Canadian composer Paul Zaza, the film features several classic rock 'n' roll songs:[4] "Hey Good Lookin'" by Hank Williams, "Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)" by Roy Orbison and "Runaround Sue" by Dion DiMucci.[13]

• A Switch in Time at IMDb
• A Switch in Time at AllMovie
• A Switch in Time at the TCM Movie Database
• Norman's Awesome Experience at Rotten Tomatoes