Populuxe retro-futuristic movies
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In this surreal musical, a lovely brunette is introduced to the joys the "Kitchen of Tomorrow" furnished with a machine that reads recipes off computer cards, a glass-walled refrigerator, and an hemispherical glass oven that seems to be able to make a cake complete with lighted birthday candles on top. At Motorama, she gets quite excited by the looks of the Firebird II, calls the traffic dispatch center by radio, then, accompanied by her "prince charming", she rides onto the electronic highway of tomorrow and sings a duet linking their love to technological progress. Check also: Once Upon a Honeymoon (1956), a musical to promote colour telephones as a decorator accessory in the home; A Touch of Magic (1961), a Motorama film presenting new cars, appliances and futuristic ideas; American Look, another populuxe film on 1950s automotive, industrial, interior and architectural design. Part 1, 2 and 3. |
Set at the 1956 General Motors
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Don't miss the hilarious MST3K takes on Once Upon A Honeymoon ("Sort of a westerny, ginghamy, oriental, Danish, modernesque, prairie-school kind of thing.") and Design for Dreaming ("Future may not be available as seen. Personal fates may vary. Future not available in Africa, India, or Central and South America.")
Design for Dreaming is possible the greatest American film ever made. It's 100% positive and anyone trying to paint something negative about it is just going to wallow in their own complaints and negativity.
When I first saw it about 20 years ago, I can say without hesitation that my brain exploded.
Don
It's interesting that you make mention of Once Upon a Honeymoon (1956). We actually used a clip of the film in our mockumentary short "The Pink Plastic Flamingo: The Ambassodor of the American Lawn". Our short is online, and will be showing at ShockerFest International Film Festival. It just goes to show...old consumer films still have legs in the short film mockumentary world.