The Adding Machine (1969)

An accountant whose job is about to be taken over by a computer starts to re-examine his life and his priorities.

Director:

Jerome Epstein

Writers:

Elmer Rice (play), Jerome Epstein (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Milo O'Shea, Phyllis Diller, Billie Whitelaw

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Milo O'Shea	...	Mr. Zero
Phyllis Diller	...	Mrs. Zero
Billie Whitelaw	...	Daisy Devore
Sydney Chaplin	...	Lieutenant Charles
Julian Glover	...	Shrdlu
Raymond Huntley	...	Smithers
Phil Brown	...	Don
Paddie O'Neil	...	Mabel
Libby Morris	...	Ethel
Hugh McDermott	...	Harry
Bill Nagy	...	Lawyer
Carol Cleveland	...	Judy
Bruce Boa	...	Detective
Kenny Damon	...	Joe
John Brandon	...	First cell jailer

Storyline

An accountant whose job is about to be taken over by a computer starts to re-examine his life and his priorities.

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Plot Keywords:

accountant | adding machine | employment | afterlife | electric chair | 

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Taglines:

The motion picture that adds up to an excursion into the absurd.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bay Sifir

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated London Films, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the director of this film Jerome Epstein, it was the idea of comedian Charles Chaplin to portray the scenes in Heaven the way they turned out in the film, with hot dog stands among other things.

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Connections

Edited into The Clock (2010)

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Soundtracks

Peanuts and Popcorn
(uncredited)
Music by Frank Talley
Published by Boosey & Hawkes

User Reviews

A great dramatic role for Phyllis Diller

When I was in high school in the early 70s, we studied The Adding Machine in an English class. For some reason, I remember that we focused on the scene where Mrs. Zero nags Mr. Zero mercilessly. We kept reading that scene over and over. A few months later, this movie aired on PBS. I was mesmerized by Ms. Diller's portrayal of Mrs. Zero, particularly that scene that had bored me to tears in English class. I had every word in her lines memorized. She brought the role to life.

It's too bad that she didn't get more dramatic roles. I understand that she was a concert pianist and was a trained singer, but her trademark laugh ruined her singing voice. What a shame.