TODAY’S PINBALL ON FILM IS…
TARGET POOL (1969) Gottlieb
This game on film is a quick blink, and you’ll miss it example from the comedy classic, Cold Turkey (1971).
Firstly, the reason I’ve included pinball games as part of this blog series is quite simple: Pinball was around before video games and helped inform early arcades, along with other electromechanical games. Although, for the most part, these kinds of games have faded into obscurity.
Pinball remains relevant (although slightly diminished from its heyday). Many major franchises and new film releases still get themed pinball tables. So, pinball, it isn’t completely sunk yet. This entry also surpasses the previous oldest film, the hit (?) film, Vigilante Force (1976), which featured a Pong clone, “HOCKEY” (Williams, 1973). (Though it’s still the oldest example of what could be considered a video arcade.) The oldest pibnall is still Flying Chariots, from 1963. As seen in Rumble in the Bronx. (See GOF:19)
The scene
A kid watches as an old woman (possibly his grandma) plays a pinball machine. No doubt trying to distract herself from her nicotine craving. (Read my film review below to find out what that’s all about.)
This is the extent of the table’s screen time. It’s not shown in any detail, and it doesn’t come back later. The stack of coins suggests they have been and will be there for a while.
Oh yeah, that hand reaching in to frame, some guy takes the lollipop out of the kid’s hands, to have as a cigarette replacement.
These jokes still work in my opinion; the modern-day equivalent might be the old woman playing the latest Call of Duty game on PS5, while the grandson has to sit, bored, and watch.
Are they playing?
Probably yes, it’s a very short segment, but from what is seen, it does appear that the game is actually being played.
(Well, the lights are on at least.)
PIN on film
Despite its short screen time, I was still able to identify this table. It’s Target Pool, 1969, from Gottlieb. As the name suggests, this machine has a pool table theme.
Target Pool has a fairly unique layout with a singular pop bumper target at the top centre, surrounded by a sort of half oval of targets, which represent the pockets on a pool table (I think). Compared to more modern machines, Target Pool features quite short flippers, a design choice that was more common in pinball machines from this era. (Was the size difference worth the challenge?
COLD TURKEY in review
Directed by Norman Lear, written by Norman Lear and William Price Fox, Jr, starring Dick Van Dyke, Pippa Scott, and Tom Poston, Edward Everett Horton, Bob Newhart, and the comedy duo Ray Goulding and Bob Elliott, and Jean Stapleton, among others. The cast is a real who’s who for comedy fans, which is reason enough to watch the film. A real gem from the early 1970s. So what’s it all about? Well…
A cigarette company, in a marketing stunt and an attempt to change its image, offers up $25 million to any town that can go 30 days without smoking. One town takes on the challenge, led by the town’s reverend (Dick Van Dyke). News of the challenge brings a mass of media and tourism to the once quiet town. As the 30-day deadline gets closer and closer, the cigarette company schemes ways of making the town fail the challenge early.
When I first heard about this film, I thought the concept of a town giving up smoking would be too outdated, but I was surprised at just how well it holds up. This is a remarkable piece of social commentary, touching on themes of religion, commerce, small-town values, and the strength of willpower. It also shows how people can be easily led and become unaware victims. The film is about smoking, but could so easily be applied to almost anything, such as fast food, gambling, or even politics.
The film has style and moves at a decent pace, with visually interesting and inspired cinematography, particularly with its use of close-ups and low camera angles. Props to cinematographer Charles F. Wheeler.
The opening and closing theme is “He Gives Us All His Love” by Randy Newman. At first, the song’s lyrics may come across as a run-of-the-mill gospel ballad. However, despite the song’s title, God is portrayed as just an observer, seemingly indifferent to real-world suffering, which could be compared to the indifference of large companies to the consumers who buy their products. It’s just another example of the film’s excellent use of satire.
Oh, yeah, the opening credits are also accompanied by a dog that can pee on cue.
The film has a few outdated moments, but overall has aged quite well. Whether that says more about us as a society, or the quality of the film, being able to accurately depict human behaviour, I’ll leave you to decide.
No spoilers, but there is a decidedly dark ending, which, while still humorous, also provides a haunting message, one that is still relevant today.
Dick Van Dyke, having recently turned 100!, has had a varied and notable career, while he may be most recognised for his roles in musicals and the Dick Van Dyke Show. There was a time when he started in more contemporary films that were aimed at a more “adult audience” such as Divorce American Style, (With an screenplay by Norman Lear) Fitzwilly (1967) and some kind of nut (1969) So those who only know him from his musical work or his later roles, such as the crime-solving doctor in Diagnosis: Murder (1993-2001), I’d recommend checking this one out.
If you can find it, watch it. Also, play Target Pool…
Stay locked to this page for more Games on Film coming soon.
“COLD TURKEY” United Artists, Tandem Productions
“COLD TURKEY” Poster Sandy Kossin (Sourse IMDb)
Target Pool Flyer: arcade-museum.com
Target Pool Pics: pinside.com