Starring the Computer is a website dedicated to the use of computers in film and television. Each appearance is catalogued and rated on its importance (ie. how important it is to the plot), realism (how close its appearance and capabilities are to the real thing) and visibility (how good a look does one get of it). Fictional computers don't count (unless they are built out of bits of real computer), so no HAL9000 - sorry.

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, or have any tips about films not mentioned here that feature computers.

James Carter <james@starringthecomputer.com>

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News

2008-06-30 22:44 Fantastic Voyage

A Fantastic Voyage into the world of 1950s computers is now logged in the database with appearances by a Burroughs B205 and an IBM AN/FSQ-7 (SAGE).

2008-06-13 07:50 Indy Maguire

The Toshiba Satellite actually plays a fairly important role in the plot of Jerry Maguire, but I was watching it for the SGI Indys.

2008-06-11 08:58 The Saint

The Saint features more Apple laptops (yawn), and a more interesting Nokia Communicator.

2008-06-11 08:31 Naploleon Dynamite

The TRS-80 Model 4 make its first appearance on Starring-the-Computer (albeit a very fleeting one) in the film Napoleon Dynamite.

2008-05-30 07:35 Legally iBlonde

Yet more Apple product placement is in evidence in Legally Blonde: a Clamshell iBook.

2008-05-14 07:11 Palm Breach

Breach, the true story of American FBI agent Robert Hanssen who spied for the Soviet government, features the historically accurate Palm III.

2008-04-25 00:03 Dark Season

The BBC children's series Dark Season is notable for being an early work of Russel T. "Dr Who" Davis, and an early role for Kate Winslet. It also stars an Acorn Archimedes and a Toshiba T1000 laptop.

2008-04-23 09:20 The Rachel Papers

This poor rendition of a Martin Amis novel is slightly redeemed by the inclusion of a Commodore Amiga 500 playing Battle Chess.

2008-04-22 23:00 Angry Red Planet

Of its many cinematic appearances, this must be the Burroughs B205's finest hour, being on screen for a very significant part of The Angry Red Planet.

2008-04-19 18:29 Turn that Coco up to 11!

The Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer makes a fleeting appearance in This is Spinal Tap, something that I'd not spotted in the many times I've seen it.