Just Imagine
by David Butler
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: El Brendel, Frank Albertson, John Garrick, Marjorie White, Maureen O'SullivanDirector: David Butler
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Full Screen, NTSC
Running Time: 108 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-01-06
Studio: PR Studios
Movie Reviews of Just Imagine
Movie Review: Recommended for fans of early talkies and all things weird
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the strangest films of the early talkie era. This is a sci-fi musical adventure about life fifty years in the future - 1980 at the time. The story revolves around John Garrick and Maureen O'Sullivan, whose characters are assigned alphanumeric names as is everyone else.
Garrick and O'Sullivan were also teamed romantically in "A Song O' My Heart" during the same year, another early musical by Fox. However, Fox is not the producer of this DVD. Instead it appears to be a public domain effort. There is no restoration of the video, although the sound is clear enough with some of the popping and hissing typical of early talkies.
At any rate, Garrick and O'Sullivan play lovers of the future that want to wed, but the state now intervenes when a woman accepts "competing bids" or proposals of marriage based on the merits of the applicants. Garrick has a competitor for O'Sullivan's hand, and the only way he can win in court is to do something outstanding. A nearby scientist needs a pilot for his spacecraft to Mars, and Garrick figures this is a way of distinguishing himself and winning the hand of his lady love.
As comic relief there is El Brendel, who has a vaudeville brand of humor. He comes along for the ride to Mars too. There are several musical interludes in the film including one ode to old fashioned girls - the girls of 1930 - showing flappers as moms in a none too flattering light. They still show prohibition being enforced in 1980 too, though with a promise of light beers and wines being legalized shortly.
I'd give the film 5/5 stars for being good but strange fun for the right audience. However, I'd give the video and audio quality of this unrestored film only 3/5 stars.
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