Movie

The Movie pinball machine from Bell Games offers a glimpse into the lesser-known world of Italian pinball manufacturing. Bell Games, active between 1980 and 1985, was one of several European companies that emerged during this period to challenge the dominance of American pinball makers. Rather than an original design, Movie reuses the playfield from Zaccaria's 'Pinball Champ' and runs on a Gottlieb System 1 MPU — a common practice among smaller Italian manufacturers of the era, who often repurposed existing playfields or electronics.

In terms of gameplay, Movie likely follows the layout and rules established by Zaccaria's 'Pinball Champ,' upon which its playfield is based, though any specific differences between the two games are not documented. The theme, centered around movies, would have been a departure from more common subjects like sports, fantasy, or adventure, at least in its cabinet art and marketing.

As with many pinball machines from this period, Movie's cabinet and backglass artwork may be its most distinctive aspect, even if its playing field was borrowed. Unfortunately, due to the lack of information on Movie specifically, we can only speculate about its visual appeal. Nevertheless, as an example of how smaller European manufacturers adapted existing hardware and playfields during the early electronic pinball era, Movie remains an interesting piece for collectors and enthusiasts.