This is a gentle, innocent film about the reflections of an aging man, who returns to his home town after the death of his best friend. Memories of life at age 11 floods back as it was a magical time that changed his life. Three 11 year old children (Bobby, Carol, and Sully) share their lives. Carol and Bobby have a special affection for one another including sharing a kiss "by which all others will be measured". Bobby lives with his mother, a bitter, vain woman who looks for pleasures for herself without sharing much with her son. Into their lives comes a mysterious new boarder, who befriends the boy but generates distrust from the mother. As time passes, the man and boy share confidences and special powers are revealed. The man warns the boy to be on the lookout for the "lowmen", who were seeking him. The two share a summer's adventures and come to love one another before the inevitable happens. A confrontation with a school bully also changes everyone.

The monologue which Anthony Hopkins gives about the footballer who returns from retirement is from the novel "Magic", by William Goldman, who wrote the screenplay for this film as well as the movie version of "Magic" (Magic (1978)). In addition, Hopkins also played the lead role in "Magic".

Ted:
Sometimes when you're young, you have moments of such happiness, you think you're living in someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been? then we grow up and our hearts break into two.

Continuity: On the front porch, Bobby's newspaper switches from folded to unfolded between shots.

(1955)
Written by David Bartholomew and Fats Domino (as Antoine "Fats" Domino)
Performed by Fats Domino
Courtesy of EMI Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets