Exhibition "Hollywood Dream Cars": No star had a chance against these cars

"A car. A computer. A man." Already in the German intro of the series "Knight Rider" it becomes clear who is playing the main role. Not the Michael Knight embodied by David Hasselhoff, but the "Knight Industries Two Thousand", or KITT for short. The black coupé not only looked good, thanks to artificial intelligence and a full gadget arsenal, the speaking car was also superior to all opponents.

Without his ability to drive silently or even over water, to control other cars and even helicopters, or without the invisible seat belt, Michael Knight would hardly have survived an episode. KITT's self-driving skills in series production almost 40 years ago far exceed today's maneuvers of autonomous cars. They will probably never drive between two opponents on two wheels or accelerate to over 300 km / h.

There would be Miami Vice without cars, but Knight Rider would not

In this way, KITT not only helped David Hasselhoff to make a breakthrough, but also became a television legend - and the car contained comparatively banal technology: 20 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am were converted into television stars in 1982 and became part of pop culture. Just like the DeLorean from "Back to the Future", which has long been part of the hall of fame for famous Hollywood dream cars.

"Both have one advantage over other famous film cars," explains Michaela Krützen, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Film and Television in Munich: "Unlike many other film cars, they are agents of action". This is particularly evident in comparison to another series from the eighties: "In 'Miami Vice', the main characters' cars are chic and part of their lifestyle, as are the jackets," explains Krützen. Although they characterize the main characters, they do not carry the plot - in contrast to Michael Knight's company car. "Miami Vice would also exist without cars, but Knight Rider would not be without KITT"

Bond films starred in cars

The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles is dedicating a special exhibition to these film stars, which also shows the original copy of the DeLorean time machine from "Back to the Future" and a Knight Industries Two Thousand from the first season "Knight Rider". The role of the car as the main actor is still relatively new in film history. "Cars played a role in the film from the start," explains Krützen, "but they have only really been in the foreground since the 1960s."

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This was mainly due to the first films in the "James Bond" series, which were inextricably linked to the cars - more precisely, the Aston Martin's innovative technical gadgets at the time. "The Bond cars are no longer just mere signs of masculinity - or failed masculinity - but also extremely technical, and can therefore also be marketed." Toy versions of the Bond cars thus generated additional income and thus also changed the role of the cars in films and series. They no longer served as mere means of transport or - like the red Alfa Spider in "Die Reifeprüfung" - reflected the character of the driver, but were able to take on the leading role.

The time of auto fixation is over

However, according to the media scientist, the car's film career has already peaked: "There is no longer any car fixation like Knight Rider in series, and the car no longer plays such a big role at James Bond either." This is also due to new technology gadgets such as laptops and smartphones, which are significantly more attractive to young people than a car, says Krützen. "Nevertheless, cars will continue to play a role in action cinema for as long as long as there are chases."

Because the new gadgets have one major disadvantage: They are relatively unattractive in terms of film, because they don't move - and you can't increase the tension on your smartphone by going 25 times in a row in the best "Fast and Furious" manner upshifts. Until March 2020, over 40 of these mobile screen heroes can be seen in the "Hollywood Dream Machines" exhibition at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, including the associated concept drawings and some costumes.