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The Light Bulb Conspiracy

Original title: Prêt-à-jeter
  • 2010
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
The Light Bulb Conspiracy (2010)
Documentary

This is the story of companies who engineered their products to fail.This is the story of companies who engineered their products to fail.This is the story of companies who engineered their products to fail.

  • Director
    • Cosima Dannoritzer
  • Writer
    • Cosima Dannoritzer
  • Stars
    • Richard Jones
    • Molly Malcolm
    • Steve Bunn
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Cosima Dannoritzer
    • Writer
      • Cosima Dannoritzer
    • Stars
      • Richard Jones
      • Molly Malcolm
      • Steve Bunn
    • 10User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Jones
    • Self - Livermore Lightbulb Committee
    Molly Malcolm
    Molly Malcolm
    • Narrator (English version)
    • (voice)
    Steve Bunn
    • Self - Collector
    Markus Krajewski
    • Self - Weimar's Bauhaus University
    Lynn Owens
    • Self
    Thomas A. Edison
    Thomas A. Edison
    • Self - Inventor
    • (archive footage)
    Helmut Höge
    • Self - Lightbulbs Historian
    Warner Philips
    • Self - Great-grandson of the Founders of Philips
    Nicols Fox
    • Self - Essayist and Journalist
    Marcos López Merayo
    • Self - Computer Expert
    • (as Marcos López)
    Giles Slade
    • Self - Author 'Made to Break'
    Dorothea Weitzner
    • Self - - Daughter of Bernard London's Associate
    Kipp Stevens
    • Self - Chairman Brooks Stevens Design Associates
    Brooks Stevens
    • Self - Industrial Designer
    • (archive footage)
    • (voice)
    Boris Knuf
    • Self - Industrial Designer
    • (as Dr. Boris Knuf)
    Serge Latouche
    • Self - Emeritus Professor of Economics University of Paris
    John Thackara
    • Self - Designer and Philosopher…
    Mike Gurman
    • Self - Computer Expert
    • Director
      • Cosima Dannoritzer
    • Writer
      • Cosima Dannoritzer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Alternate versions
      Shorter version, 52m52s long, edited for 1 hour slot on television. Has been broadcast on at least NRK (Norwegian Television).
    • Connections
      Features The Man in the White Suit (1951)

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A critique of consumer society and planned obsolescence
    As for being an informative and well made documentary, The Light Bulb Conspiracy suffers a bit from the choice the creators made when naming it something that includes the word conspiracy.

    The documentary itself does not focus only on light bulbs, but exemplifies how manufacturers of products make products wear out faster, so that the demand in consumer society increases - making profit for their own company.

    Other products that have been adjusted from being long-lasting to wear out within a given time or after a number of uses include printers (which is portrayed in an amusing way in the documentary) and nylon stockings. Products that could last long, are made short-lasting, to keep a high demand, thus keeping up high production.

    A number of people who a critical to this way of thinking tells how they think production should be based around sustainability.

    Anyone that has been annoyed by things that stop working for no good reason will find this documentary informative.
    helpful•10
    0
    • evenborv-401-723923
    • May 30, 2013

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 16, 2010 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Spain
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
      • Catalan
      • Spanish
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Pyramids of Waste
    • Filming locations
      • France
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Article Z
      • Media 3.14
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1
      • 16:9 HD

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