The Electric Grandmother (1982)

For the time in which it was written, it was a decent fantasy storyline by Ray Bradbury. Most called him a science fiction writer but he described himself, and rightly so, as more a fantasy writer than science fiction writer. Science fiction has stories that often hold possible future realities, fantasy story lines are supposed to be great imaginative admittedly unrealistic or impossible stories we can escape into.The movie was decent as well for 1982. I remember it mostly for the great song the grandmother sang to the kids in the movie. At the time my kids were 1 & 3 yrs old. I'm a male in my 50's & confess without shame that I stole that great song from this flick. It's one of the best lullaby tunes I've ever heard. I always sang it to my kids when I put them to sleep at night using their names and changing the word "grandmothers" to either "fathers" or daddies" in the one line when I sang it to them. It's short & it's memorable and there really aren't too many lullabies around to choose from. It served its purpose perfectly for me & my kids and for that I will always remember The Electric Grandmother movie fondly. If I am ever lucky enough to, I will surely sing it to my grandkids as well. If nothing else, the song left an impact and the nightly memories of bedtime with my kids. It has had a more lifelong real personal family effect for me than any other movie I've ever seen. A very strange thing to say about such a flick I know, but true.

I recently came across a copy of this at a convention and seemed to recall, as a child, watching this movie several times and enjoying it. What was I thinking? This might help to explain my depraved sense of film enjoyment as an adult. I have an even better question...what was Maureen Stapleton thinking when she agreed to make this atrocity? What was Ray Bradberry thinking (or smoking) when he wrote it? A robot is sent in to take care of three poor kids who just lost their mother. What sort of message does this send to kids? "If you're mother dies, don't worry about it because she can easily be replaced by a robot who squirts milk and orange juice from her fingers and can recite to you every word you have ever uttered your entire life" Now don't get me wrong I have a great deal of respect for Ray Bradberry and his work as well as the work of Maureen Stapleton but who told her that she could sing? They should be ashamed of themselves! In this movie she sounds more like someone who gargled with razor blades! There is a reason why films like this one are lost, they should remain that way! Do NOT show this movie to your kids or they will try to plug grandma into the wall at night when she goes to sleep!

Like most Ray Bradbury adaptations (Something Wicked This Way Comes), this story isn't perfectly wrapped up in a bow, but it is memorable and the performances are worth watching.I have always been fascinated with this film, mainly because of the visuals and the tender performances by Maureen Stapleton and Edward Herrmann.Sure it's flawed, and some folks may be creeped out by the subject matter, but I guess I just didn't see it that way. Sometimes children get tired of the same, fluffy, perfect kiddie fare, and this one fits the bill, for a story with a few dark tinges around the edge.

Like many others, I first saw this in grade school, in the 5th grade or so. Despite being male, and this being an emotional drama, I loved the flick, and it was even one of the reasons I went on to learn the violin. After only learning a few little songs (like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"), I went on to figure out one of the songs in this movie, because I liked it so much. I even played the song for my grandmothers, who I believe enjoyed it.To this very day, more than 20 years later, I can still remember and play that song, "Grandmother", even though I have never set my eyes on the score.