The Automat

First-time filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz was able to secure the star power of comedy legend Mel Brooks through her acquaintance with Brooks's friend Carl Gottlieb. Hurwitz had assisted Gottlieb when he was a guest at her local theater in Olympia, Washington, and the two became Facebook friends. When Hurwitz launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund this documentary film about the Automat, the Facebook post showed up in Gottlieb's news feed and caught his attention. With Hurwitz's blessing, Gottlieb mentioned the project to Brooks in conversation over dinner, and Brooks had such nostalgic enthusiasm for the Automat that he agreed to be interviewed for the documentary and even recruited his longtime friend Carl Reiner to be interviewed, as well.

Under Cast, the end credits list Carl Reiner twice.

Video of Mel Brooks singing his song dedication of the automat, the orchestra recording the music along with photo stills and video clips from the documentary accompany the ending credits.

Features The Early Bird (1925)