The Automat
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| The Automat | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster featuring Mel Brooks | |
| Directed by | Lisa Hurwitz |
| Written by | Michael Levine |
| Produced by | Lisa Hurwitz |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Philip Lucas |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Hummie Mann |
| Distributed by | A Slice of Pie Productions |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $257,221[1][2] |
The Automat is a 2021 American documentary directed and produced by Lisa Hurwitz and written by Michael Levine. It is about the automats once operated by Horn & Hardart. It features an original song by Mel Brooks. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021. It was released in the United States on February 18, 2022, by A Slice of Pie Productions. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
Horn & Hardart, founded in 1888 by Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart, was noted for operating the first food service automats in Philadelphia and New York City. The restaurant chain was well known in the U.S. for serving food out of a vending machine for a nickel. The last New York Horn & Hardart Automat closed in April 1991.
Appearances
Production
The documentary details the rise and fall of the Horn & Hardart automats. Director Lisa Hurwitz was inspired to create the documentary because she loved eating in her school cafeteria day after day during her college days. The film features an original song titled "At the Automat" written and performed by Mel Brooks.[3]
Release
The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021.[4] It was released in the United States on February 18, 2022, by A Slice of Pie Productions.[5]
