The Jetsons
16–26 April 2011
As part of the ‘21st Century Kids Summer Festival’, the Australian Cinémathèque presents selected episodes from the celebrated family sitcom ‘The Jetsons’ by Joseph Barbera and William Hanna. This animated series projected 1960s American culture and lifestyle into the twenty-first century and followed the adventures of a family living in a futuristic utopia of elaborate robotic contraptions and quirky inventions.
A typical morning starts with Jane having trouble with the Food-a-Raca-Cycle when preparing breakfast for the family. Jane goes to a robot maid centre and selects Rosey for a free one day trial.
George thinks Judy is too obsessed with her favourite rock star Jet Screamer, especially when she enters a song writing contest in which the winner will go on a date with him. George’s efforts to sabotage his daughter’s entry backfires as Judy wins the contest after all.
Jane and the kids want a dog for personal protection, George doesn’t believe in that, but he wants to keep everyone happy. Elroy brings home a big, dumb mutt who starts every word with an “R” sound.
Spacely buys a new robot ‘Uniblab’. This means George actually has to work the full three hour work day. Or so it seems, until but George’s janitor finds a solution.
George and Jane visit Las Venus for gambling and entertainment. The trip is paid by Spacely because George has to try to sell some sprockets to a female client. Now George has to please his wife and the client.
Astro turns out to be the long-lost dog of a millionaire. The Jetsons have to let Astro go. Now Astro has everything a dog can wish for, except the love of the Jetson family ...
Jane gets fed up with public transportation and decides to take driving lessons. After all, Elroy can get a learner’s permit when he’s 8 years old, so Jane should be able to get driving lessons, can’t she?
George and his boss arrange a beauty contest and decide to be the judges. Jane finds out and enters the contest without George knowing about it.
Jane badly needs some rest and goes to ‘Dude Planet’ with a friend. The rest of the family stays at home and tries to run the household.
A miserable student exchanges his report tape with Elroy’s. Elroy gets home and his George and Jane play the tape: ‘F, F, F, F’. Elroy cannot convince them there’s a mix up and decides to run away with Astro.
