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:

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

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Taglines:

Meet Edgar. He'll make you sing, make you dance, make you laugh, make you cry, make you jealous, make you nuts.

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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

Gross USA:

$2,193,612

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,193,612

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

Virginia Madsen revealed in a 2011 interview with Kevin Pollak that she had bought the remake rights to this film, but couldn't get any studio interested in making it.

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Goofs

At the Los Angeles International Airport, the departures board behind miles lists a flight to "Michigan", which is extremely unlikely, given that flight information displays usually list flights per city (not state). In fact, all the other domestic flights on the board are listed per city (New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Miami, Washington and Reno).

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Quotes

[Edgar is playing Jeff Lynne's "Let It Run" loudly from Miles' apartment]
Edgar: Yeah, we'll put your coats over there.
[In a neighboring apartment, an awakened couple argue]
Neighbor: It's *horrible*! That boy has no respect for anyone!
Neighbor: The music's not bad.
Neighbor: Oh, Howard!

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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 it aired on HBO, the opening card sequence identifying it as a Virgin Films production was removed and replaced with one for MGM with Leo the MGM Lion roaring twice during the opening music.

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Connections

Features Lost in Space (1965)

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Soundtracks

Johnny Too Bad
Performed by UB40
Composed by Winston Bailey, Derick Crook & Roy Beckford
(c)1968 Woodwater Music Ltd.
Courtesy DEP International/A&M Records, Inc./Virgin Records Ltd.

User Reviews

BACK TO POP 80'S!!!

With the one of the best romantic songs performed in the history of cinema..."Electric Dreams by Giorgio Moroder", who was also the composer of the soundtrack for this movie.

Yes, welcome to the pop 80's, with the first computers, who looks in todays "Internet era" slightly obsolete, simple, but cute romances and naturally, trendy pop music which gives a special push for love scenes. Sure, I was only a little boy, when I saw this one in 1984, but despite the simplicity I fell a love with it. Maybe it was, because of a very cute blond Madeline or maybe it was for computers, which was very popular in our country back than. Beats me. But, I'm sure that there was one thing I didn't forget. An above mentioned front song.

It followed me through all these years, and in October 2003 I finally get a chance to see my childhood love again. How was it?

Well, it didn't touched me, like back in the past, until the romantic ending where I felt again this great felling of the 80's when everything seemed so simple...

So, all in all, Electric dreams will always have a special place in my heart, although it has some flaws, simple script and some holes in the story...but hey, it's either you fall in love with this one or it will leave you cold...I had to decided it, so I rented it again, and the rest you know, if you read my critic:)

7 out of 10

(with a special ticket to my top 10 most special movies)