The Adding Machine (film)

The Adding Machine is a 1969 British fantasy comedy drama film produced, written, and directed by Jerome Epstein and starring Milo O'Shea, Phyllis Diller, Billie Whitelaw, Sydney Chaplin, and Raymond Huntley.

The Adding Machine
Directed byJerome Epstein
Written byJerome Epstein
Based onThe Adding Machine
by Elmer Rice
Produced byJerome Epstein
StarringMilo O'Shea
Phyllis Diller
Billie Whitelaw
Sydney Chaplin
Raymond Huntley
CinematographyWalter Lassally
Ronnie Fox Rogers
Edited byGerry Hambling
Music byMike Leander
Lambert Williamson
Production
company
Associated London Films
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
23 September 1969
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$500,000[1]

It is based on a stage production of the 1923 Elmer Rice play The Adding Machine directed by Epstein in Los Angeles in the 1940s.

The setting of The Adding Machine takes place on both Earth and in Heaven. For the film, Epstein set the earthly action in Manhattan in the 1930s during the Great Depression.

The movie was shot at Shepperton Studios outside London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jack Shampan. It was distributed in the United Kingdom by Universal Pictures.

Plot edit

An accountant whose job is about to be taken over by a comptometer (a primitive adding machine) starts to re-examine his life and his priorities.

Cast edit

Reception edit

The film (and the play) received a critical 1969 review from Roger Greenspun.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Alexander Walker, Hollywood, England, Stein and Day, 1974 p346
  2. ^ Greenspun, Roger (24 September 1969). "The Adding Machine (1969)". The New York Times.

External links edit