Utilities

Utilities

Year: 1983

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Harvey Hart

Comedy

When a neighbor’s electricity is shut off because she can’t pay, the community rallies and pays the bill in pennies. The utility refuses the coin payment and, due to a communication error, fails to restore power, leaving the elderly woman hospitalized with hypothermia. Enraged, Bob Hunt launches a campaign of sabotage against the company’s support systems.

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Timeline & Setting – Utilities (1983)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Utilities (1983). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

early 1980s

The events are set in the early 1980s, a pre-digital era when households faced manual billing and long-distance calls were expensive. Public commissions and regulatory hearings anchor the plot, reflecting the period's political processes. Media coverage and neighborhood activism frame the tempo of social conflict during this time.

Location

Mid-sized North American city

The story unfolds in a bustling urban area with a visible electricity grid and a courthouse environment. Neighborhoods, streets, and local services anchor the drama as power and billing disputes disrupt daily life. Public spaces become stages for citizen action and community support around the central medical case.

🏙️ Urban setting ⚖️ Public institutions

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:52

Main Characters – Utilities (1983)

Meet the key characters of Utilities (1983), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bob Hunt (Robert Hays)

A social worker who becomes a driven, vengeful force after witnessing systemic neglect. He targets failing support networks to expose vulnerabilities in public services, believing drastic action can force reform. His methods blur the line between justice and obsession, and his identity as 'The Finger' becomes a citywide symbol.

🧭 Justice-seeker 🕵️ Investigator 🧰 Reform-advocate

Dr. Martha Louise Rogers (Jane Mallet)

An elderly physician whose electricity is cut off, putting her health at risk. She becomes a focal point for community sympathy and a tangible example of how utility failures affect vulnerable individuals. Her plight motivates neighbors to rally and supports the broader call for accountability.

👵 Elderly 🩺 Doctor

Marion Edwards (Brooke Adams)

A police officer involved in upholding order, who also uncovers a larger manipulation within the utility saga. She embodies authority and determination, and her actions help reveal the extent of corporate and regulatory games. Her involvement ties law enforcement to the fight for public welfare.

🛡️ Authority 👮 Police ⚖️ Law & justice

Kenneth Knight (James Blendick)

A power broker behind the utility, rumored to orchestrate substation sabotage to gain public sympathy and influence rate decisions. He represents corporate manipulation and political calculation, driving much of the film's antagonistic pressure. His plans test the boundary between strategic exploitation and ethical governance.

💼 Corporate 🗳️ Politics

Roy Blue (John Marley)

An older neighbor whose experience and community involvement anchor local resistance to unfair utility practices. He participates in discussions and public demonstrations, reflecting collective resilience. His perspective emphasizes solidarity and pragmatic support for those affected by outages.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Community 👥 Neighborly

Ruby Blue (Helen Burns)

Roy Blue's partner, a compassionate voice in the neighborhood who aids neighbors facing hardship. She embodies communal care and the importance of shared resources during a crisis. Her presence underscores the role of everyday citizens in driving public accountability.

👪 Family 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Community

Tom Walker (Shelby Gregory)

A citizen who participates in the broader protest and public discourse surrounding the utility dispute. He personifies civic engagement and the collective voice of residents. His involvement highlights how ordinary people shape the outcome of policy debates.

👥 Citizen 🗳️ Activism

Eddie (Benjamin Gordan)

A neighbor who contributes to the community effort to support those affected by power outages. He represents ordinary citizens who mobilize resources and lend assistance during a crisis. His presence reinforces the theme of community resilience.

🤝 Supporter 🏚️ Community

Walt (Steve Pernie)

A neighbor whose role adds texture to the urban tapestry, reflecting how ordinary people observe and respond to the unfolding events. He contributes to the sense of a living, interconnected community under pressure. His character helps illustrate everyday scrutiny of power and fairness.

👥 Community 🗣️ Witness

Reporter #1 (John Corbett)

A member of the press covering the trial and public hearings. He helps shape the narrative through questions and coverage, highlighting the media’s influence on public perception. His presence reinforces the blurred line between journalism and societal drama.

🗞️ Media 🧭 Public voice

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:52

Major Themes – Utilities (1983)

Explore the central themes of Utilities (1983), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Vigilantism

A social worker's quest to force reform evolves into a vendetta against failing social systems. The Finger becomes a symbol exposing weaknesses in civic infrastructure and accountability. The narrative probes whether individual action can catalyze change or foster chaos. It questions who should police public welfare and at what cost.

🗞️ Media & Public Opinion

Media coverage drives the mystery and shapes how the public perceives the conflict between citizens and utilities. Sensational reporting magnifies small clues, influencing fear, sympathy, and outrage. The courtroom and street protests become stages where information and rumor compete for power. The film suggests media narratives can propel reform or manipulate sentiment.

💡 Utilities & Power

Central to the plot are the operations and decisions of a public utility and its rate hikes. Corporate interests and regulatory maneuvering frame the struggle between profit and public welfare. Sabotage reveals the fragility of essential services and tests the resilience of the city’s infrastructure. The public commission embodies a critical check on power.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:52

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Utilities Summary

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Utilities Summary

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Utilities Timeline

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