Deep Dive: The Automat (2021)
Film Lens
The Automat is a documentary directed by Lisa Hurwitz that focuses on the history of the Horn & Hardart automats, which were popular food service establishments in Philadelphia and New York City. Founded in 1888 by Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart, these automats provided meals through vending machines for a nickel, making dining accessible to many. The film includes an original song by Mel Brooks and features notable appearances from figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Colin Powell.
The documentary premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021, and was released in the United States on February 18, 2022. It received generally positive reviews, with a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 79 on Metacritic, indicating favorable reception. The film captures the nostalgia of a bygone era while examining the social impact of the automats on American culture.
Why Watch
- •See Mel Brooks perform an original song
- •Meet notable figures like Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- •Find out about the first food service automats
Did You Know
•Horn & Hardart was founded in 1888 by Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart.
•The last New York Horn & Hardart Automat closed in April 1991.
•The film earned $13,917 in its opening weekend at the Film Forum theater.
•The documentary features an original song titled 'At the Automat' by Mel Brooks.
Perfect For
Food history enthusiastsFans of Mel BrooksNew York City nostalgia