Electric Dreams

1984
PG
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

10K

YOUR RATING

An artificially intelligent PC and his human owner find themselves in a romantic rivalry over a woman.

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1 Video

68 Photos

Comedy Drama Music Romance Sci-Fi

A young man buys a state-of-the-art computer that develops thoughts and emotions, and begins to turn its affections toward the man's attractive female neighbour.A young man buys a state-of-the-art computer that develops thoughts and emotions, and begins to turn its affections toward the man's attractive female neighbour.A young man buys a state-of-the-art computer that develops thoughts and emotions, and begins to turn its affections toward the man's attractive female neighbour.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

10K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total

Trivia
As the voice of the computer, Bud Cort had to deliver his entire performance from inside a box on the set; his co-stars were never allowed to see him during filming. The director was afraid that if the other performers associated a person to the voice, they would react to it as if they were talking to a human being instead of a computer and the difference in reaction would show on camera.

Goofs
In the final sequence when the theme song "Together In Electric Dreams" is being played, a person carrying an '80s boom box-styled hi-fi walks past; in the reflection of the tape deck of the hi-fi the crew and equipment are visible.

Quotes
Miles Harding: "You can play it for her, you can play it for me."
Edgar: What?
Miles Harding: Play it, Sam.
Edgar: What key?
Miles Harding: Your favorite.
Edgar: You want verses first, or the choruses?
Miles Harding: Any way you like.
Edgar: Yeah!
[instrumental bridge of Jeff Lynne's song "Video" plays]
Edgar: [singing] Hug, hold, squeeze and lick / Darling, I love you to bits / And I want to see your tits.

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."

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.

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: The Neverending Story/The Last Starfighter/Electric Dreams/That Sinking Feeling (1984)

Soundtracks
Electric Dreams
Performed by P.P. Arnold
Composed by Boy George (as George O'Dowd) and Phil Pickett
Produced by Don Was
©1984 Virgin Music (publishers) Limited/Warner Bros. Music Limited

User reviews102

Review

Featured review

If you consider yourself an 80's film buff, do not miss this

If you really LIVED the 1980's, "Electric Dreams" will probably bring back endless memories for you. For everyone else, this little bit of film magic is a quintessential period piece from the decade of decadence. It's worth seeing for anyone who appreciates movies that perfectly represent the time in which they were made (a la "Saturday Night Fever" to the late 70's, or "Singles" to the early 90's) San Francisco residents take note of the special cameos from old KJY DJs at the end of the film. The soundtrack is just as poppy and fun as the movie, including rare new wave gems from Culture Club, Human League, Jeff Lynne, Heaven 17 and more. The "dream sequence" in the middle of the film is still suprisingly moving to me. In spite of the hokey plot and computer animation that is downright archaic by todays standards, they don't really make em like this anymore. Catch it while you can.