''The Price of Life'' is a 1987 38-minute long American drama and

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

film made by Chanticleer Films, directed by

Stephen Tolkin Stephen Tolkin is an American television writer, director and composer. He worked on a number of American television series including '' Brothers & Sisters'', ''Perception'', ''Legend of the Seeker'' and '' Switched at Birth''. He has been nomin ...

and produced by Jana Sue Memel (story by Stephen Tolkin and Michel Monteaux). The film has music composed by Ken Fix. The film stars

Dana Andersen Dana Andersen is a Canadian actor, improvisor, filmmaker, writer and director. He has served as director of the live improvised soap opera Die-Nasty, and has been a core member of the troupe since its founding in 1991. From 1995-1999, he co-hoste ...

Diana Bellamy Diana Alice Bellamy (September 19, 1943 – June 17, 2001) was an American character actress of stage, film, and television, during the 1980s and mid-2000s, who was often cast in both comedic and dramatic roles to great acclaim. Bellamy is know ...

Roy Brocksmith Roy Brocksmith (September 15, 1945 – December 16, 2001) was an American actor. Life and career Brocksmith was born in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Vera Marguerite (''née'' Hartwig) and Otis E. Brocksmith, who was a mechanic. He graduated from ...

and Ron Campbell in the lead roles.

Premise and plot

The basic premise of the film is that a time account is physically linked to every infant at birth, with death automatic when the balance drops to zero. An elite upper-class is portrayed as living hundreds of years or more. The protagonist is given a certain amount of time as an infant, and as a young boy adds days and years to his time account by buying valuables from people and selling them to visiting tourists from the rich enclave. After his sister dies after gambling away her time, the protagonist (now a young man) sets out on a journey to the enclave of "the Old Ones" in order to save the life of his mother, who is (literally) running out of time. He gets there and meets a beautiful older woman who co-opts him into the immortal lifestyle.

Later, similar work

The basic concept and basic plot elements of ''The Price of Life'' are practically identical to the later-made 2011 film ''

In Time ''In Time'' is a 2011 American science fiction action film written, directed and produced by Andrew Niccol. Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake star as inhabitants of a society which uses time from one's lifespan as its primary currency, with ...

'', which does not acknowledge being a remake of ''The Price of Life''.

Cast

as Alice *

as Mother *

as The Old One * Ron Campbell as Stiles *

Dustin Diamond Dustin Neil Diamond (January 7, 1977 – February 1, 2021) was an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his role as Samuel "Screech" Powers throughout the ''Saved by the Bell'' franchise. Early life and family Diamond was born i ...

as Young Stiles * Elizabeth Farley as Customer * John Fleck as Walter * Ray Galvin as Old Man *

Willie Garson William Garson Paszamant (February 20, 1964September 21, 2021) was an American actor. He appeared in over 75 films and more than 300 TV episodes. He was known for playing Stanford Blatch on the HBO series ''Sex and the City'', in the related fi ...

as Father

References

External links

* 1987 films 1987 short films 1980s science fiction drama films American science fiction drama films Films with screenplays by Stephen Tolkin 1987 drama films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films English-language science fiction drama films {{1980s-drama-film-stub