IMDb > Serial (1980)

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   441 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Bill Persky

Writers:

Cyra McFadden (novel)
Rich Eustis (screenplay) ...
more

Contact:

View company contact information for Serial on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

28 March 1980 (USA) more

Genre:

Comedy more

Tagline:

"Honor thy wife, and everyone else's." more

Plot:

It's the end of the 70s. Hippies are assimilating, women are raising their consciousness, and men are becoming confused and ineffectual... more | add synopsis

User Comments:

One (make that more than one) funny movie--and ahead of its time! more (29 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Martin Mull ... Harvey Holroyd

Tuesday Weld ... Kate Linville Holroyd
Jennifer McAllister ... Joanie Holroyd
Sam Chew Jr. ... Bill
Sally Kellerman ... Martha
Anthony Battaglia ... Stokely
Bill Macy ... Sam Stone
Nita Talbot ... Angela Stone
Pamela Bellwood ... Carol
Barbara Rhoades ... Vivian
Ann Weldon ... Rachel
Peter Bonerz ... Dr. Leonard Miller
Jon Fong ... Wong

Christopher Lee ... Luckman Skull
Patch Mackenzie ... Stella
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R


Fun Stuff

Quotes:

Stokely: In an insane society, the sane man must appear insane.
Harvey Holroyd: Where'd you get that?
Stokely: Star Trek.
[leaves the room]
Harvey Holroyd: [to himself] God, I miss that show.
more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fade to Black (1980) more

Soundtrack:

A Changing World more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
One (make that more than one) funny movie--and ahead of its time!, 1 January 2000
Author: Thomas Clement (Mr. OpEd) from Los Angeles

I must have seen Serial a half dozen times when it hit theatres. Ads were run wondering why not enough people were going to see it (hey, I was only one guy, I did my best). It should have been a monster money maker!

As others have said, this movie has fun with the Politically Correct. I thought it might have been a wake-up call (albeit a funny one) about the excesses of muddled thought and trend-of-the week morality, but it was sadly just a cataloging of PC in its infancy. Political Correctness has actually grown to be just as wacky (and all too prevalent) as Serial painted it. That said, don't think you've seen it all and heard it all from the PC crowd because so well made is Serial that it still keeps its edge

Serial also has some of the most shocking uses of profanity I've ever heard (and I loathe profanity), but is done in such a new way (still) that it's amazingly funny. Speaking of new, so far ahead of its time was Serial that it introduced gags that have since been done to death. Tired of "Born to Be Wild" used as a joke instead of a rebel anthem. The joke started here (for gay bikers, no less).

So when the PC crowd gets you down, grab Serial, sit down with your other of the moment (you-ness, me-ness, us-ness, we-ness) and enjoy.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (29 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Serial (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
D/J on the radio as Harvey and Kate wake up tenglish61
Keep coming back to it- a Classic moore2772
Where's the dvd?! dekkard8
Released on this date... 44yearoldscotch
anyone read the book? cagle94
Name that tune... derek_one
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Last Picture Show My Summer of Love Heavenly Creatures Enemies: A Love Story La hija del caníbal
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.