In 1984, watching Siskel and Ebert, they reviewed a new film called ELECTRIC DREAMS. Both of them loved the film, went on and on about the joy of discovering it, how they had zero expectations for the film and ended up having a lot of fun with it.
I don't even think it opened near me, but I caught it on cable and many times thereafter.
In the film, a guy (Lenny Von Dohlen) gets a new computer (back in the days before computers were all that popular). He ends up hooking it up to control all the lights and appliances in his home. He even gives it a voicebox (voiced by Bud Cort).
Cellist Virginia Madsen moves into the building, and both Von Dohlen and the computer develop a crush on her. Madsen's boyfriend is played by Maxwell Caulfield of GREASE 2.
Director Steve Barron was one of the pioneers of music videso. He directed the videos for Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", A-ha's "Take On Me", and other videos for ZZ TOP, Human League, and Bryan Adams. He only made a few feature films after, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and THE CONEHEADS among them, but worked in TV, including Jim Henson's THE STORYTELLER.
It was a fun little 80's film that, since then, has essentially disappeared. It doesn't even show up on cable.
The video for the theme "Together in Electric Dreams", performed by Phil Oakley of Human League is popular. It airs on VH1 Classics every now and then, and is on the Human League DVD of their music videos.
MGM/UA released the film (if you can't tell from the product placement in the video). Yet, it remains on their shelf.
It could be the fact that it is dated. Not having seen it in over 20 years, I don't know how it would play today.
There is the common excuse of music rights, but if MGM/UA could clear the rights to LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN (which had music from U2, the Police, and countless artists) there really is no excuses for this one.
It was a good film, that deserves to be seen. With Virginia Madsen's career resurgence, I was hoping for a release. But nothing. Bootlegs are out there on EBAY, but that isn't the same.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
FORGOTTEN FILM: ELECTRIC DREAMS (1984)
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8 comments:
Every now and then a group of us at work asks if anyone knows if Electric Dreams has been released on DVD yet. It's really still rather futuristic -- everyone may have computers, but not computerized homes (other than Bill Gates.) This film needs to be out there on DVD. WAKE UP MGM/UA!!!!
I'm so glad this website is here for me to express this!
I love this film and the theme by Human League is one of my fav songs! I agree, I would love to see a dvd release of this.
It's finally getting a DVD release in the UK April 6th this year (2009). The movie was produced by Virgin (UK) along with a batch of others (like '1984') which is why it had so many Virgin artists on the soundtrack. I think the film failed primarily because Virgin didn't have the clout to break into the US theatrical market.
I had seen this movie when it first came out and found it a very enjoyable, but never heard of it again..it deserves to be on DVD,,much less deservering movies are out on DVD
Does anyone else remember that the copy that was shown on cable was a little different from the VHS one that Blockbuster rented?
There was a shower scene in one version that wasn't in the other. It was after Virginia Madison's character hooked up with Miles. It wasn't that long of a scene but it featured a naked Virginia Madison!
Also, it is getting released on DVD in the Land Down Under in June.
Mark, I have no memory of that scene! Although, I only saw it on cable, I believe.
I'm surprised this hasn't been released by the Warner Archive yet. It is available in the UK as well, but I keep waiting for a US version.
The famous shower scene takes place in Miles apartment. Both leads are making out in the shower but it is Virginia Madison that is the one closest to the camera. If I remember correctly, it is part of a montage.
hey i have found electric dreams on dvd on hmv's website it says it was realeased in 2009, so i googled it too make sure i had the right film. same actors so this must be it
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