Car movie: Flash of Genius
Last week, I was invited to preview the movie Flash of Genius. It's the story of Robert Kearns, the man who invented the intermittent windshield wiper and had his design stolen by Ford. It's a pretty typical David vs. corporate Goliath story, except Goliath didn't have a team lawyers to do his fighting for him. The acting is very good and there are some great shots of 60s-era cars (though a couple are temporally misplaced -- look for the '76ish Buick Electra and, if you're a real nerd like me, the Greyhound bus, a late 70s/early 80s MC-9 Crusader II). I thought the movie dragged on a bit; it was certainly no Tucker. If I was going to pay to see it, I'd wait until it came out on DVD. But what do I know? I'm a car critic, not a movie critic. Luckily, About.com does have a real movie critic -- check out this review of Flash of Genius from Rebecca Murray, About.com's Guide to Movies. Flash of Genius is rated PG-13 and opens today. -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Universal Studios
Do you happen to know the model year of the blue Continental in the movie?
I’m not 100% sure, but I think it’s a ‘68. — Aaron
Well I just finished watching the movie. I thought that it was quit nice to actually watch a movie where no one was murdered, no explosions, no (real) swearing,
no end of the world as we know it. But that”s not why I am commenting. I tend to always find myself “screening” period films while watching them for accuracy. This film was done very nicely…….except for the scene where the family is sitting at the restaurant having dinner congratulating themselves. In the background outside the large plate glass window the viewer can see a white 2008 Toyota corolla coming out of the buildings garage!!! What the !!!??? Doesn’t anyone in Hollywood screen movies anymore?? I mean come on,, Couldnt the director of the film yell CUT!! and retake the scene WITHOUT the new Toyota? Hey Hollywood,, if you are really interested I am great at “proof watching period films, and am available anytime! Oh…. the lincoln was a 1969
Lesson from this movie is that Ford so controlled Detroit at that time that poor Kearns had to take the case himself. All attys must have been pressured by Ford to avoid this case like the plague!