Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? (1958)

★★★★★ · Cold, heartless and fascnating. · Spuzz · 2003-09-22

A very odd and troubling film, which, on the surface seems to tell about how wonderful automation is in 1958 America. But, as time goes on, what it REALLY is about is how automation seems to have detached everyone from everyone else. Very little is said to one other directly. Whenever someone DOES say something to each other it's either a) through technology or b) not responded to at all. The Husband, Wife, and Child in the film never seem to converse to each other (except when the Mother tells the kid to go to bed, the kid doesnt answer, he just goes off). Has technology led us to be robots…

★★★★★ · So who - or what - do you love? · Still Jinx · 2011-06-17

A superb treatment of "the modern life" in pre-transisterized L.A. The limits of human interaction for the father are a push of the button, nod of the head, mass media, or via telephone. The mother only speaks directly to her child one time - telling him it's time for bed. The son doesn't speak at all, and far prefers the company of his green glowing friend to any other, even other children. (Granted it could have been well over 100 degrees on a hot LA summer day, so playing is uncomfortable, and merely sitting still eating ice cream is the only relief.) No video games or Internet to create…

★★★★★ · I Enjoyed This · Molly McGee · 2017-06-17

The camera focuses on the many machines that help humans run their lives. So far, so good. With a few exceptions, the machines are working the way they are designed to. Eventually you realize that no one in the movie has any face-to-face interpersonal contact for more than a moment or two. But the machines are not to blame. They only allow people to ignore each other more efficiently. The movie is really about the inability of humans to truly connect with others on a personal level. The machines make this easier and more comfortable, but they are by no means the source of the problem. They…

★★★★★ · Technology in modern life - the b/w version · Steve Nordby · 2003-09-11

Had Jacques Tati made American industrial film noir, it would look like this.

★★★★★ · "Life is just a series of sensations, some to be desired, others to be avoided." · Ryan Mast · 2006-01-30

Many of the archived films on this site from this era are very obvious and direct in the message and filmmaking style. "Have I Told You" is quite unique for this era in its effective use of creative camera angles, rich irony, and silence. Despite all of the modern conveniences, communication technology, transportation, and entertainment, the family is so dysfunctional that no device can help them or make them happier. They are surrounded with the best of their times (which makes for fascinating historical reference or video sampling), which gives them more opportunity than ever to interact…

★★★★ · Depends on the Individual... · USABG58 · 2011-06-17

I'm not buying what the film is selling. My relatives, (I was born in 1958), laughed, danced, kissed, made love, played poker, pitched horseshoes, pinched asses, told jokes, got drunk, danced, sketched, discussed, read books and a million other things...in such surroundings, with modern conveniences, with stressful jobs, and houses to keep clean. They lived full, vibrant, happy lives in simular settings. The problem lies with the individuals in charge of their lives, not modernity.