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

The cabinet video game Madeline plays at the convenience store is a later version release of the original Space Invaders video game. In turn, Space Invaders' design was partly inspired by video game - Breakout - which involves destroying bricks. Madeline's love interest includes Miles - who is attempting to produce earthquake-proof bricks.

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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

[Miles, late for work, goes to leave, but the computer-controlled electronic lock is still engaged on the apartment door]
Miles Harding: Damn.
[Miles goes to the computer to unlock the door]
Computer's Monitor: hello moles // ever used a computer / before?
Miles Harding: God damn it!
Computer's Monitor: then we'll work
[camera pans away as Miles tries door again]
Computer's Monitor: [on green background, centered] HOME SECURITY // PROGRAM RESTRICTED // SCIENCE OFFICER / EYES ONLY.
Miles Harding: [flipping through manual] "Science officer eyes only"? I'll kill 'em. I'll kill 'em!
[...]

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Crazy Credits

After the closing credits have run, a multicolored question mark appears in the lower right corner of the screen with a computer-like sound. After this, the line "ELECTRIC DREAMS FINISHED" appears in green at the upper left corner. The question mark is replaced by the line "no more?" Then the green text is replaced by "TIME TO DISCONNECT". Both then disappear, and multicolored letters appear near the center of the screen reading "THE NED". The "N" is quickly deleted, the "E" moved over, and the "N" is reinserted to properly spell "THE END". As this disappears, Edgar's voice is heard laughing, and he says "H-hello? Hello? Good-goodbye."

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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

Features The Price Is Right (1956)

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Soundtracks

Let It Run
Performed, Composed and Produced by Jeff Lynne
(c)1984 Virgin Music (Publishers) Limited

User Reviews

Good fun, original 80's love comedy!!!

Electric Dreams (1984) is a good fun film about a geeky office worker Miles Harding who has problems with his organisation skills and buys a computer to help him out.

Meanwhile Miles has a new neighbour in the form of Madeline (Madsen), Miles soon falls in love with Madeline and the pair start dating.

Everything seems to be going OK for Miles but there is a problem, his COMPUTER!!!! The Computer called Edgar is alive and jealous of the relationship, he too has fallen in love with Madeline and will do anything to wreck the relationship, he wants Madeline all to himself, funny stuff!!! The film has a really good 80's feel about it and has a brilliant soundtrack, the film itself would be average but it's a lot better than average thanks to the computer. Edgar the computer makes this movie a winner and a guilty pleasure!!! Highly recommended for fans of 80's movies, 7/10 for Electric Dreams.