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Seems Like Old Times (1980) movie poster

Timeline

Seems Like Old Times (1980) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1980 · 100 min · English
JustWatch #21,625 10
Directed by
Jay Sandrich
Starring
George Grizzard, Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Harold Gould, Charles Grodin, T.K. Carter

A writer's life takes a chaotic turn when he’s unexpectedly embroiled in a bank robbery and must flee. Seeking refuge, he turns to his ex-wife Glenda, a compassionate lawyer. However, her home holds unexpected complications: Glenda is now married to a rigid district attorney who’s hosting a party for law enforcement, putting Nick in a precarious and hilarious situation.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Seems Like Old Times
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Seems Like Old Times (1980)

Where can you watch Seems Like Old Times? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on TCM, YouTube TV and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Seems Like Old Times Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Seems Like Old Times (1980) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Nick's Hideaway

    Nick Gardenia retreats to an idyllic cabin in Big Sur, California at the suggestion of a friend. This peaceful setting becomes the backdrop for an unexpected turn of events as his life quickly spirals into chaos.

    Where
    Big Sur, California
  2. The Bank Heist Begins

    Two desperate bank robbers break into Nick's cabin, forcing him into their scheme targeting a bank in Carmel. Their plan includes the abduction of an innocent bystander, showcasing the lengths they are willing to go for a successful heist.

    Where
    Carmel
  3. A Mishap at the Bank

    During the robbery, Nick's clumsiness results in a disaster when he accidentally locks eyes with a security camera, jeopardizing their entire operation. This fateful moment seals his involvement in the crime unbeknownst to him.

    Where
    Carmel Bank
  4. Incriminating Evidence

    The fallout from the robbery leads to Ira Parks receiving incriminating photos of Nick. The situation worsens as Fred, his assistant, identifies Nick as Ira's wife's ex-husband, complicating Ira's political ambitions.

    Where
    Los Angeles
  5. Glenda's Dilemma

    Glenda, a public defender, is torn between her instinct to help Nick and her husband's political aspirations. The shocking news about Nick's alleged criminal involvement adds to her emotional turmoil.

  6. Nick's Escape

    With the robbers gone, Nick makes a desperate run towards the home of Ira and Glenda in Brentwood. Exhausted, he stops at a gas station to grab candy bars, hoping to regain some energy.

    Where
    Brentwood
  7. Hiding in the Garage

    During a party at Glenda's house, she discovers Nick hiding in her garage while looking for one of her dogs. Despite the risk, she sneaks him some food, but refuses to help him further until he surrenders to the police.

    Where
    Glenda's Home
  8. Secreting Away

    Reluctantly, Glenda hides Nick in a guest room over the garage while he plans to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, she struggles to keep his presence a secret from her maid, Aurora.

    Where
    Glenda's Home
  9. Confrontation at Dinner

    As the governor's visit approaches, Nick attempts to turn himself in, but his plans spiral out of control during a disastrous dinner. The event escalates into chaos, leaving Fred caught unaware on the floor.

    Where
    Glenda's Home
  10. Courtroom Revelations

    In court, Judge John Channing is perplexed by the day's events when the robbers are identified due to evidence provided by Aurora and her dogs. This pivotal moment finally clears Nick's name as the truth emerges.

    Where
    Court
  11. Bittersweet Farewell

    In the aftermath of the case, Nick and Glenda share an emotional farewell as Glenda resolves to support her husband Ira. They acknowledge their complex feelings, leading to an unexpected parting kiss.

  12. Road Trip Chaos

    Ira and Glenda attempt a road trip to alleviate their troubles, but they face an unexpected challenge when they nearly collide with a cow resulting in an accident that leaves Ira injured.

  13. A Twist of Fate

    In search of help, Glenda finds a glowing cabin that unexpectedly leads her to Nick. This serendipitous encounter offers the potential for help and a chance to revisit their complicated relationship.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 18:08

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Timeline questions answered

Seems Like Old Times Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Seems Like Old Times (1980): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Nick forced into the bank robbery?

Nick was relaxing at his cabin in Big Sur when two desperate bank robbers forced their way in and compelled him to participate in their heist at gunpoint. He had no choice but to go along with their plan, which included abducting an innocent bystander.

  • nick gardenia
  • bank robbery
  • forced
  • gunpoint
  • big sur
Q2

Why does Ira Parks care that Nick is Glenda's ex-husband?

Ira is the district attorney of Los Angeles and is running for Attorney General. When his assistant Fred identifies Nick as Glenda's ex-husband from the incriminating photo, Ira fears the scandal could ruin his political ambitions, especially since Nick is now implicated in a crime.

  • ira parks
  • glenda
  • ex-husband
  • attorney general
  • political ambitions
Q3

Why does Glenda help Nick despite being married to Ira?

Glenda is a public defender who instinctively wants to defend those she believes are innocent. Though she loves her husband Ira, she still has feelings for Nick, her ex-husband. Her professional instincts combined with her unresolved emotions drive her to hide Nick in her garage and later in a guest room.

  • glenda parks
  • nick gardenia
  • ex-husband
  • feelings
  • public defender
Q4

How does Nick get caught on camera during the robbery?

During the robbery at the bank in Carmel, Nick's inherent klutziness causes him to tumble onto the floor. When a security guard helps him up, he accidentally locks eyes with a security camera, capturing his face on film and sealing his involvement in the crime.

  • security camera
  • klutziness
  • bank
  • carmel
  • caught
Q5

How does Aurora help prove Nick's innocence?

Aurora De La Hoya, the household maid recovering from surgery, provides crucial evidence through her dogs that helps police identify and capture the real bank robbers. This evidence is presented in court to Judge John Channing, finally clearing Nick's name.

  • aurora de la hoya
  • dogs
  • evidence
  • real robbers
  • innocence
Q6

Why does Glenda decide to stay with Ira at the end?

After Nick is cleared of all charges, Glenda and Nick share an emotional farewell kiss, acknowledging their complex feelings for each other. However, Glenda ultimately chooses to stand by her husband Ira, deciding to support him despite her lingering feelings for Nick.

  • glenda
  • ira
  • marriage
  • choice
  • farewell kiss
Q7

Why does Nick reappear at the cabin at the end?

After Ira and Glenda's car accident leaves Ira with a broken leg, Glenda goes searching for help and finds a glowing cabin. When she knocks on the door, Nick opens it, revealing they have come full circle, he's now at the cabin where the entire adventure began, offering a hopeful, open-ended future for their connection.

  • cabin
  • reunion
  • nick
  • glenda
  • accident
Q8

What causes the chaos during the governor's dinner?

As the governor's visit approaches, Nick decides to turn himself in to clear his name. However, his attempt spirals out of control during a chaotic dinner with the governor present. The situation escalates into a fracas between Ira and Nick, leaving Fred helplessly flat on the floor.

  • governor
  • dinner
  • chaos
  • turn himself in
  • ira parks
Q9

Why does Nick go to Glenda's house after the robbery?

With the robbers gone and nowhere else to turn, Nick makes a desperate escape toward Glenda and Ira's home in Brentwood. Exhausted and hungry, he stops at a gas station for candy bars before ultimately hiding in Glenda's garage, hoping she would help him prove his innocence.

  • brentwood
  • hide
  • glenda
  • garage
  • desperation
Q10

Why is Aurora's surgery recovery significant to the story?

Aurora is recovering from surgery while working at the household, adding her own brand of chaos to the eventful home. Despite her recovery, she still manages to gather evidence through her dogs that helps crack the case, proving crucial to Nick's exoneration.

  • aurora
  • surgery
  • dogs
  • evidence
  • household chaos

Movie threads

More Movies Like Seems Like Old Times, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Seems Like Old Times tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Farcical Fugitive Comedies like Seems Like Old Times

Hilarious stories where someone on the run hides in a wildly inappropriate place. If you enjoyed the chaotic humor of Seems Like Old Times, you'll love these movies featuring fugitives causing domestic mayhem. This list includes similar screwball comedies and farces where someone hiding from the law creates hilarious tension among unsuspecting hosts, perfect for fans of lighthearted, fast-paced stories.

  • farcical
  • frantic
  • misunderstandings
  • close calls
  • lighthearted
  • screwball
  • Tone: light, hilarious
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist forced into hiding, triggering a series of close calls, mistaken identities, and comic deceptions. The story is propelled by the tension between the need to remain concealed and the increasingly difficult challenges of maintaining the charade, often culminating in a public unraveling and a resolution that clears the protagonist's name.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared core premise of a 'fish out of water' fugitive, their fast-paced and farcical tone that prioritizes laughs over genuine tension, and the specific comedic structure of hiding in plain sight. They deliver a consistent experience of lighthearted chaos and frantic energy.

Screwball Reunion Comedies like Seems Like Old Times

Fast-talking ex-lovers thrust into chaotic situations that rekindle their spark. Fans of the witty dynamics and romantic chaos in Seems Like Old Times will enjoy these screwball reunion stories. Discover movies where ex-couples are thrown back together by madcap circumstances, blending sharp dialogue, farcical plots, and a bittersweet yet hopeful look at second chances.

  • witty banter
  • ex-lovers
  • chaotic reunion
  • romantic tension
  • screwball
  • bittersweet
  • Tone: lighthearted, witty, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, dialogue-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey typically begins with the ex-couple living separate, seemingly settled lives. A disruptive, often comedic incident throws them back together, forcing collaboration and reminding them of their chemistry. The plot tests their new circumstances against their old bond, leading to a conclusion that is open-ended or bittersweet, acknowledging the complexity of their history.

Why they belong together: These films are united by the specific character dynamic of ex-lovers reunited, the blend of romantic tension with screwball comedy pacing, and a tone that is light yet infused with the poignant possibility of rekindled romance. They share a unique mix of verbal wit, physical comedy, and emotional nuance.

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Every angle

Seems Like Old Times (1980) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Seems Like Old Times in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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