Starring the Computer

Starring the Computer is a website dedicated to the use of computers in film and television. Each appearance is catalogued and rated on its importance (ie. how important it is to the plot), realism (how close its appearance and capabilities are to the real thing) and visibility (how good a look does one get of it). Fictional computers don't count (unless they are built out of bits of real computer), so no HAL9000 - sorry.

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, or have any tips about films not mentioned here that feature computers.

James Carter <james@starringthecomputer.com>

News

2024-11-10 20:48 60's Machines

Here's a small collection of 1960's computers appearing in the 70s and 80s. Frankie and Johnnie... Were Lovers has some nice shots of a IBM System/360 model 30. Brief library shots of an RCA Spectra 70 appear in "The Bionic Woman" in the episode Jaime's Shield. Finally The Cannonball Run offers us shots of a panel from a GE 635.

2024-11-03 23:53 Various Commodores and a couple of others

There is are Commodore 64 in an episode of Grange Hill and the "Wandavision" episode On a Very Special Episode.... There's an Commodore Amiga 1000 in Les visiteurs and an Commodore Amiga 500 in Robot Ninja. The "Pennyworth" episode Many Clouds has a PET 2001 and an Amstrad PCW 8256, and the "Halo" episode Reach has a 64C, a CBM-II and an Apple eMac.

2024-10-20 18:04 IBMs, an ICT and UNIVACs

Here's a small collection of big iron. Charly has a couple of IBM machines: a 7094 and a System/360. There's a really hard to spot ICT 1301 panel in the "Doomwatch" episode No Room for Error. Finally the "Blake's 7" episode Space Fall (for which we had already recorded an ICT 1301) also has panels from a Sperry Univac 9400 and, making its Starring-the-Computer debut, the Sperry UNIVAC 9200/9300.

2024-09-15 23:13 Some Apples and a Fujitsu

This update is mostly Apples with a Fujitsu debutante at the end. Basic Instinct 2 has an iMac G5 and a Powerbook G4, The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh has a Macbook Pro and the first episode of season six of The Flash has an eMac. Finally, Women Talking Dirty has a iMac G3 and, making its debut appearance, a Fujitsu Lifebook 656Tx.

2024-09-01 14:35 Much Avenging

Here are three episodes of "The Avengers". The Wringer has panels from a ICT 1201. Second Sight has some shots on an NCR 315. Finally, Death at Bargain Prices, gives Starring the Computer its first and probably only appearance of the LEO 1 computer.

2024-08-18 14:46 The Day the Earth Stood in Motion

The 2008 remake of the classic film The Day the Earth Stood Still gives the Motion Computing LE1700 its debut Starring-the-Computer appearance.

2024-07-28 17:33 Computers, ordenadores and datamaskiner

Here's a collection of features in other languages. Scuola di ladri has a IBM System/370 panel, as does its sequel Parte seconda, along with a Commodore Amiga 1000. There's an Atari 65/130 XE in Quando Alice ruppe lo specchio. Patrik Pacard has a good collection of machines: an Apple IIe, a Commodore 64, a Olivetti M20 and a Tandy TRS-80 Model III. Irma Vep has an Apple Macintosh SE and Madres paralelas has more Apple machines: a Macbook Air, a Macbook Pro and a Unibody iMac.

2024-07-08 00:29 Some Tandys

Here's a small collection of Tandy TRS-80 appearances. The TRS-80 Model I appears in an episode of Fridays and a few episodes of I'm a Big Girl Now. Air has the TRS-80 Model III and TRS-80 Model 4 as well as an Apple II and a Macintosh.

2024-06-23 11:47 Fortresses

Here are some computer appearances in the film Fortress and its sequel Fortress: Sniper's Eye. The first film has an Apple Macbook Pro and some Unibody iMacs. Those iMacs also appear in the second film, along with a Panasonic Toughbook.

2024-06-16 15:14 80s Assortment

Here's a collection of features from the 1980s. Silent Madness has an important role for a Vector Graphic Vector 4. Switching Channels has a Compaq Portable II, Compaq Portable III/386 and a Toshiba T3200. There is a GE 635 panel in The Return of the Living Dead. The second episode of Damon and Debbie has a couple of Amstrads - a CPC 6128 and a PCW 8256. Finally, Big Trouble in Little China sees the Xerox Star 8010 make its Starring-the-Computer debut.