The 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, the inspiration for Starbucks, where generations of Americans ate and drank coffee together at communal tables. From the perspective of former customers, we watch a business climb to its peak success and then grapple with fast food in a forever changed America.
Directed by Lisa Hurwitz
new york city
food
food industry
vending machine
automat
food culture
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.4 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Mel Brooks
Self
Carl Reiner
Self
Elliott Gould
Self
Howard Schultz
Self
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Self
Colin Powell
Self
Jack Benny
Self (archive footage)
George Coe
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Crew
Mel Brooks
Songs
Popular Reviews
12 reviews
MyNeighborDUSK
9.2★ · 11/02/24
Ever been to a vending machine? Same thing.
Ever been to a vending machine? Same thing.
Jacob Dickens
5.9★ · 07/14/24
There's something nice about something that would otherwise be a footnote to a footnote in other histories get this expanded, loving tribute. Also I will always remember the director of this film randomly hanging around our theatre not long after we showed it. Incredible stuff.
There's something nice about something that would otherwise be a footnote to a footnote in other histories get this expanded, loving tribute. Also I will always remember the director of this film randomly hanging around our theatre not long after we showed it. Incredible stuff.
MyNeighborDUSK
9.2★ · 08/01/23
Really good documentary with some charm.After a Q&A with the director it’s pretty clear that she is genius and will make renowned films in the future.
Really good documentary with some charm.After a Q&A with the director it’s pretty clear that she is genius and will make renowned films in the future.
Connor lyon
7.0★ · 12/19/22
I could watch Mel Brooks talk about coffee for easily another 9 hours.
I could watch Mel Brooks talk about coffee for easily another 9 hours.
Max
2.8★ · 12/12/22
Great idea so it's really disappointing it wasn't executed well
see: CEO of Starbucks co-opting the Automat to define his own mission as being "a storyteller of discovery and romance"
Great idea so it's really disappointing it wasn't executed well
see: CEO of Starbucks co-opting the Automat to define his own mission as being "a storyteller of discovery and romance"
