Main Cast: Martin Mull, Tuesday Weld, Sally Kellerman
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
There are no cliff-hanging moments in Serial, but there's plenty of laughs in this trenchant comedy comment on 1970s lifestyles. Martin Mull plays the father of a Marin County family that succumbs to every silly fad coming down the pike. Mull tries to distance himself from his family's idiocies, but it's always the man who pays the piper. The film, based on a collection of newspaper essays by Cyra McFadden, is neatly tied up with a Capraesque ending allowing Mull to finally prevail. Some of the best moments involves Mull's tiltings with his trend-happy neighbor Bill Macy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Anthony Battaglia - Stokeley; Nita Talbot - Angela; Bill Macy - Sam; Pamela Bellwood - Carol; Barbara Rhoades - Vivian; Ann Weldon - Rachel; Peter Bonerz - Leonard; Jon Fong - Wong; Christopher Lee - Luckman/Skull; Patch MacKenzie - Stella; Tom Smothers - Rev. Spike; Clark Brandon - Spenser; Clyde Ventura - Donald; Bob Balhat-Chet; Sam Chew - Bill; Anthony Fusco; George American Horse - Indian Chief; Kevin Howard - Roger; Jennifer McAllister - Joan; Stacey Nelkin - Marlene; Kevin O'Brien - Jim; Scott Paulin - Hip Caterer; Mark Rasmussen - Tony Wilson; Paul Rossilli - Paco; Billy Sands - Bartender; Robin Sherwood - Woman; Mark L. Taylor - Cult Member 1; Lee Wilkof - Brian; Jophery Brown - Stunt Biker; Kenny Endoso; Steve Holladay - Stunt Biker; Buddy Joe Hooker - Biker; Peter Horton - Cult Member 4; Donna Ponterotto - Daphne; Bill Jelliffe - Man on Ferry; John Thompson - Store Manager
Credit
Jerry Sobul - First Assistant Director, Bill Persky - Director, John W. Wheeler - Editor, Lalo Schifrin - Composer (Music Score), Bruce Miller - Musical Arrangement, Norman Gimbel - Songwriter, Lalo Schifrin - Songwriter, William Sandell - Production Designer, Rexford Metz - Cinematographer, Sidney Beckerman - Producer, Paul Dal Porto - Set Designer, Jack Solomon - Sound/Sound Designer, Michael Elias - Screenwriter, Rich Eustis - Screenwriter, Robert Gould - Set Decorator, Cyra McFadden - Book Author
