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Heartbeeps (1981)

 
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2018 5:49 pm    Post subject: Heartbeeps (1981) Reply with quote

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Here's the most obscure sci-fi movie in existence, bar none! Shocked

It's one of those rare science fiction comedies that came from time, none of which were ever blockbusters — even though several of them were actually very good.

Examples of the good ones are (in my opinion) *batteries not included, Space Camp, Short Circuit, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Inner Space.

I saw Heartbeeps on a cable channel back in the 1980s after waiting for years to finally have that highly coveted new technological development installed in my neighborhood.

I'd never even heard of this movie before, but I enjoyed it — even though it seemed pretty silly overall. But it did offer a laugh or two, and the music was a big plus. The score, believe it or not, was done by . . . John Williams!

The movie is held in such low regard today that the trailers on Youtube are from old VHS tapes, but the clip below looks pretty good and has a few laughs.


_________________ Heartbeeps Movie (1981)


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But here's the really good news. Amazon offers a double-feature DVD which has both Heartbeeps and Thunderbirds (2004) for the low low price of only $4.66!

Naturally I ordered it, because I spend that much on my tip for breakfast at Waffle House once a week!

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And here's more good news. YouTube offers the full John Williams score, which is (of course) as beautiful as everything else Mr. Williams has done.


______________ hHeartbeeps | Soundtrack Suite


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17016
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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Don't ask me why, but when I saw this movie on one of my newly acquired cable channels several decades ago, I kinda liked it. I suspect the John Williams score was part of the reason.

About a year ago I bought the DVD from Amazon for a few bucks . . . but when I tried to watch it I was appalled by how bad it was! Shocked

I threw the DVD in the trash . . . Sad

IMDB has several interesting trivia items for this production. Very Happy
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~ Because this movie was so poorly received at the box office, Andy Kaufman's "The Tony Clifton Story," a movie about the life and times of his alter-ego Tony Clifton, was scrapped by the movie studios.

Note from me: That must have been a blow to the talented Mr. Kaufman. Sad

~ Sigourney Weaver was offered the role of Aqua, and was interested in being in the film. Her agent talked her out of taking the part.

Note from me: Dear lord, I can't imagine Miss Weaver in the female robot makeup, delivering the inane dialog that poor Bernadette Peters uttered! Shocked

~ Andy Kaufman felt that the movie was so bad that he personally apologized for it on [error]. As a joke, he promised to refund everyone who paid to see it. Letterman responded that if Kaufman wanted to issue such refunds, Kaufman had "better have change for a $20."

Note from me: Andy realized how bad the movie was . . . and so did Dave Letterman. Laughing

~ Universal executives were horrified by the cut Allan Arkush presented them with. Their final cut was 79 minutes with credits.

Note from me: Yes, I get it. The movie seemed MUCH longer than 79 minutes . . . Rolling Eyes

~ Universal executives were horrified by the cut Allan Arkush presented them with. Their final cut was 79 minutes with credits.

Note from me: Yep, that was the problem. Watching this movie leaves the viewer with time to grab a snack from the kitchen, clip his fingernails, go to the bathroom, make a call to his mother, and create a to-do list for tomorrow's chores . . . without missing a single scene worth watching.

~ Universal Pictures gave Andy Kaufman a blank check to make this film after focus group testing indicated that children liked robots, apparently in the wake of R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Note from me: I'll bet those guys lay awake nights regretting that decision!

~ Because of the weather at the Colorado shooting location, Stan Winston's elaborate robot makeup, which took several hours to apply, gradually wilted in the heat, limiting how much footage could be shot in a day.

Note from me: If ever there was a production plagued by bad luck, this was it!

~ The picture was nominated for Worst Picture at the Hastings Bad Cinema Society's 4th Stinkers Bad Movie Awards in 1981.

Note from me: Well, if you do something that sucks, maybe you'll get an award for it!

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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If you're young enough to have children — or old enough to have grandchildren — they might enjoy this somewhat misguided comedy.

Then again, if you're middle-aged and drink enough beer, you could get a kick out of it. Maybe. Rolling Eyes


_____________________ Heartbeeps (1981)


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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Maurice
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Location: 3rd Rock

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only redeeming elements in this stinker are the Stan Winston robot makeups — even though they limit the actor's expressions — and the score.

For the fourteen people who saw this, a few probably thought the "Crimebuster" robot looked familiar. That's because it was a redress of the Venus Probe from The Six Million Dollar Man.

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