Electric Dreams (1984)

An artificially intelligent PC and his human owner find themselves in a romantic rivalry over a woman.

Director:

Steve Barron

Writer:

Rusty Lemorande

Stars:

Lenny von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, Maxwell Caulfield

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lenny von Dohlen	...	Miles Harding
Virginia Madsen	...	Madeline Robistat
Maxwell Caulfield	...	Bill
Bud Cort	...	Edgar (voice)
Don Fellows	...	Mr. Ryley
Alan Polonsky	...	Frank, Co-Worker
Wendy Miller	...	Computer Clerk
Harry Rabinowitz	...	Conductor
Miriam Margolyes	...	Ticket Girl
Holly De Jong	...	Ryley's Receptionist
Stella Maris	...	Woman at Airport
Mary Doran	...	Millie
Diana Choy	...	Check-Out Girl
Jim Steck	...	Removal Man
Gary Pettinger	...	Removal Man

Storyline

Miles buys himself a state-of-the-art computer that starts expressing thoughts and emotions after a having champagne spilled down on him. Things start getting out of hand when both Miles and Edgar, how the computer calls himself, fall in love with Madeline, an attractive neighbour.

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Plot Keywords:

cello | smart house | artificial intelligence | boy wearing glasses | human versus computer | 

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Taglines:

The most unusual triangle in the history of love: a boy, a girl, and a computer.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 July 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amor é Música

Filming Locations:

1115-1117 Mason Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,009,586, 22 July 1984, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$2,193,612

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,467,664

Company Credits

Production Co:

Virgin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Phil Oakey of the Human League admitted in an interview that he put a joke in the song "Together in Electric Dreams" that no one ever got. The line "Although you're miles and miles away" was word play on the lead character's name.

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Goofs

Miles and Edgar both quote the wrong release dates to each other for the respective Sleeping Beauty and Cinderalla movies they are referencing.

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Quotes

Edgar: [with a progressively more frowning face] I *want* to *meet* her! Moles?
[Miles, brushing his teeth, rolls his eyes]
Edgar: Moles?
Edgar: [sending a power surge through the electric toothbrush] Moles, I want to meet her!
Miles Harding: [in pain and surprise] Oh!
Miles Harding: [turns off the toothbrush] Oh, that is really sick!
Miles Harding: [yanks the computer control module off the toothbrush cord and throws it under Edgar's desk] From now on stay out of this room!
[Miles slams the bathroom door]

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Crazy Credits

Dedicated to the memory of the UNIVAC I

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Alternate Versions

When released on DVD in region 2, distributed by Hollywood Classics on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC and made available to the UK exclusively by Second Sight Films, the opening card was again the MGM lion, with URL added, but omitting the a capella opening lyrics entirely. The opening text starts at "A VIRGIN PICTURES PRODUCTION".

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Connections

Featured in Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder: Together in Electric Dreams (1984)

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Soundtracks

Together In Electric Dreams
performed by Giorgio Moroder with Phil Oakey
Music by Giorgio Moroder
Lyrics by Phil Oakey
Produced by Giorgio Moroder
(c)1984 GMPC/Virgin Music (Publishers) Limited

User Reviews

If you consider yourself an 80's film buff, do not miss this

If you really LIVED the 1980's, "Electric Dreams" will probably bring back endless memories for you. For everyone else, this little bit of film magic is a quintessential period piece from the decade of decadence. It's worth seeing for anyone who appreciates movies that perfectly represent the time in which they were made (a la "Saturday Night Fever" to the late 70's, or "Singles" to the early 90's) San Francisco residents take note of the special cameos from old KJY DJs at the end of the film. The soundtrack is just as poppy and fun as the movie, including rare new wave gems from Culture Club, Human League, Jeff Lynne, Heaven 17 and more. The "dream sequence" in the middle of the film is still suprisingly moving to me. In spite of the hokey plot and computer animation that is downright archaic by todays standards, they don't really make em like this anymore. Catch it while you can.