Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams

2013 1h 0m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 6

Documentary

Synopsis

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Documentary presented by Professor Simon Schaffer which charts the amazing and untold story of automata - extraordinary clockwork machines designed hundreds of years ago to mimic and recreate life. The film brings the past to life in vivid detail as we see how and why these masterpieces were built. Travelling around Europe, Simon uncovers the history of these machines and shows us some of the most spectacular examples, from an entire working automaton city to a small boy who can be programmed to write and even a device that can play chess. All the machines Simon visits show a level of technical sophistication and ambition that still amazes today.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Simon Schaffer
Himself - Presenter
Ilan Goodman
Jacques De Vaucanson
Laura Heath
Flute Player
Jonathan Betts
Himself - Senior Curator of Horology, Royal Observatory Greenwich

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Nic Stacey
Writers: Simon Schaffer
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 60-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 13 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Simon Schaffer and Ilan Goodman and Laura Heath carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2963906 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 6 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Nic Stacey directs. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 60-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 13 years ago.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Simon Schaffer and Ilan Goodman and Laura Heath carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt2963906 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 6 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.