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The rubber keyed wonder - The story of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum

Dir Anthony Caulfield, UK, 2024, 2h 24 mins, Cert 12

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Sat 19 October // 19:30

Tickets: £7 (full)

THE RUBBER KEYED WONDER tells the story of Clive Sinclair’s now legendary ZX Spectrum home computer.  First released in 1982, the ZX Spectrum sold millions of units worldwide and because of its low cost and accessibility it quickly became one of the most important technological innovations of its time, opening the door to a whole new world of possibilities for millions of people. The ZX Spectrum enabled many users to learn how to program and create their own games, which helped kickstart the British video games industry of the 1980’s.

THE RUBBER KEYED WONDER charts the development and creation of the ZX Spectrum from concept through to its first release, and the financial and reputational success it brought Clive Sinclair. It also examines the impact of subsequent versions of the computer and features a huge array of games that were developed on the Spectrum including: Jet Set WillyKnightloreChuckie EggAnt AttackSaboteur and many more.

The film is highly nostalgic and features rare archive material combined with new interviews with the Spectrum’s original designers, Sir Clive’s son and nephew, and some of the Spectrum's greatest game developers, all sharing their memories of the spectacular rise of the ZX Spectrum and its extraordinary inventor, Sir Clive Sinclair.

Whether you are a fan of the ZX Spectrum, grew up in the 80’s or 90’s or just love video games or tech history this film is for you!

“My objective is to find people's real needs, to develop products which are of real benefit to people in whatever way and to do that at a price they can afford‘’. (Clive Sinclair)