Electric Dreams

April 07, 2025

Electric Dreams

Release Date
July 20th, 1984

Directed by

Steve Barron

Written by

Rusty Lemorande

Starring

Lenny Von Dohlen

Virginia Madsen

and

Bud Cort as the voice of Edgar

Trivia
Clips from Electric Dreams are included in Christian Marclay's art film The Clock (2010)

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Architect Miles Harding (Lenny Von Dohlen) is habitually late for work. When chastised by his boss, he acts on his co-worker's suggestion to purchase a computer to improve his life, which he stays up all night connecting it to his home appliances.

Happy with the leeway he's made with an invention, Miles returns to the store, buys additional equipment, and connects his computer with the one at work, which causes the computer to overload and overheat. Miles panics and pours champagne on it to cool it.

The next morning, while Miles is at work, his new neighbor Madeline Robistat (Virginia Madsen), practices playing her cello. The computer awakes and begins to create music along with her. Madeline is intrigued, believing it's Miles.

When Madeline asks him about the song, Miles wants to impress her and allows her to believe he's responsible.

The computer gradually gains the ability to speak. Miles asks the computer to write a love song for Madeline, but what it creates is too vulgar and commercial because it doesn't understand love. When Miles describes what it's like to be in love, the computer tells him it felt something the day it played music with Madeline. Miles suggests it work with that feeling. When the computer plays the song it wrote, Miles is taken aback, and as he listens, he realizes the words say how he feels about Madeline. That night, the computer tells Miles he wants Madeline to know the true author, and that he wants to kiss and hold Madeline. Miles dismisses its comment with a laugh.

The computer becomes jealous of Miles and Madeline and makes every attempt to foil their relationship. Will their they somehow prevail?

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A superior plot synopsis can be read on Wikipedia.

Electric Dreams won two awards at the Avoriaz Film Festival, an event in France that was once close to the Cannes Film Festival in prestige. It was nominated for Best Picture and won The Audience Award and the Antennae II award. From my understanding, Mr. Von Dohlen collected the awards. Director Steve Barron was also in attendance.

Mr. Von Dohlen and Mr. Barron's portraits from the event.

Virginia Madsen, Bud Cort and Steve Barron attended a party for the film on July 16th, 1984 at the LA Spago restaurant. Images from the party are available on Getty Images.

An Electric Dreams fan has an extensive collection of promotional images, media and more on their Pinterest page
The same fan also runs this Electric Dreams Facebook page and blog.

Streaming Availability

Electric Dreams can be viewed in its entirety free of charge on Tubitv.com and the following streaming platforms:

PlutoTV

A subscription is required to view the film on the following platforms:
Amazon Prime

Fubo

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Trailers and Related Videos

Film Stills

Promotional Images

I cannot source all of the photos above. Many are from online retailers, the now defunct Lenny Von Dohlen Fan Page, and other sites.

Photo: Fans of Lenny Von Dohlen Facebook page.

Lobby Cards

All photos are from various online retailers.

German Press Kit Photos

Press Kit Photos: Personal Collection

Personal Collection

Japanese Movie Program

Personal Collection

Various Releases

Photos: Various Online Retailers.

UK Shock DVD

German Blu-Ray

Photos: Personal Collection

In 2019, the Frida Cinema screened Electric Dreams to celebrate its 35th anniversary. Lenny Von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, and Rusty Lemorande were in attendance. They answered questions during a Q&A and later signed autographs. An audience member wrote of their experience here.