The 20th Century: Yesterday's Tomorrows (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

2.9/10   

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers:

Richard Berge (writer)
Kenn Rabin (writer)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

This documentary by Barry Levinson and producers Berge and Rabin takes a look at what we, as Americans...

Plot Keywords:

Number In Title

Cast

Richard Belzer	...	Himself
Octavia Butler	...	Herself
Phyllis Diller	...	Herself
Spalding Gray	...	Himself
Charlton Heston	...	Himself
Robert Klein	...	Himself
Fran Lebowitz	...	Herself
Isaac Mizrahi	...	Himself
Walter Mosley	...	Himself
Martin Mull	...	Himself
Ralph Nader	...	Himself
Bob Newhart	...	Himself
Andrew Rooney	...	Himself
Alvin Toffler	...	Himself
Heidi Toffler	...	Herself
John Waters	...	Himself

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

5759 Productions

Intriguing and overlooked

I believe this film was a companion to a Smithsonian exhibit/road show, and based upon the exhibit book by the same name. It has some great footage from 20th century sci-fi films, and magazines. The theme follows how the concept of "the world of tomorrow" changed through the events of the century: World War, Depression, World War, post-war industrial boom, tumultuous Sixties, etc. The visions of the future by artists, industrial designers, inventors, and consumer product mavens tells more than you'd think about the society at the moment.

Wish I could find this on DVD -- and get the book --as they are quite memorable, and rather unique.