Neon-Lit Films

For this rainy Sunday, I put together five Hungarian films featuring glimpses of neon signs:

1. Állami Áruház /State Department Store (1953)
This 1953 production is a propaganda film with musical numbers, a Stalin statue, and, of course, neon signs appearing in the background.

2. Ripacsok/The Clowns (1981)
Starring András Kern and Dezső Garas, several scenes in the film take place in the world of the Savoy Bar, where the neon glow shimmering in the dark adds to the atmosphere.

3. Dögkeselyű/The Vulture (1982)
An absolute cult classic from the 1980s, in which the neon-lit Rákóczi Road appears in the background during the car chase.

4. Könnyű testi sértés/Light Bodily Harm (1983)
In György Szomjas’s 1983 film, there is a scene featuring this wonderful exchange:

– What the hell is flashing here?
– My wife had it installed while I was inside. It clicks and flashes all night long.
– And what is it, Orion’s helmet?
– The “O” from Ottó.*

5. Besúgó/The Informant (2022)
And finally, a bit of an odd one out: in this series, released in 2022, the neon signs are not original period pieces, but props created to match the 1980s setting of the story. Still, they are well worth a look.

The list is far from complete, of course. If you know any other Hungarian films or series in which neon signs appear, let me know and I’ll expand the selection.