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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, Charles Penniman, 83, caretaker of the approximately 210-year-old automaton, views it in action during an interview at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. The mechanized doll, animated by a complex Matt Rourke, Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, the head of an approximately 210-year-old automaton is shown at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. The mechanized doll, animated by a complex system of spring-driven motors and brass cams, can writ Matt Rourke, Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, an approximately 210-year-old automaton is shown at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. The mechanized doll, animated by a complex system of spring-driven motors and brass cams, can write three poem Matt Rourke, Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, Charles Penniman, 83, caretaker of the approximately 210-year-old automaton, poses for a photograph at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. The mechanized doll, animated by a complex system of spring Matt Rourke, Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, the inner workings of an approximately 210-year-old automaton are shown at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. The mechanized doll, animated by a complex system of spring-driven motors and brass cam Matt Rourke, Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, the hand and pen of an approximately 210-year-old automaton is shown at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. The mechanized doll, animated by a complex system of spring-driven motors and brass cams, Matt Rourke, Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, a drawing made by an approximately 210-year-old automaton is shown at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. The mechanized doll, animated by a complex system of spring-driven motors and brass cams, ca Matt Rourke, Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 photo, Charles Penniman, 83, caretaker for nearly four decades of the approximately 210-year-old automaton views it in action during an interview with the Associated Press at The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadel Matt Rourke, Associated Press
By Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — An Academy Award-nominated movie is casting a bright spotlight on an unusual machine at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

The science museum's 200-year-old automaton is a mechanical doll animated by a complex system of motors and cams. It can write three poems and draw four pictures.

Martin Scorsese's movie "Hugo" is nominated for 11 Academy Awards including best picture. The story has a similar machine playing a key role.

The film itself is based on Brian Selznick's award-winning "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," an illustrated novel about a Parisian boy and a broken automaton with a secret buried inside its mechanical memory.

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The author visited the Philadelphia automaton while researching his book.

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