Lost in America (1985)

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writers:

Albert Brooks (written by) &
Monica Mcgowan Johnson (written by)

Release Date:

15 February 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A husband and wife in their 30s decide to quit their jobs, live as free spirits and cruise America in a Winnebago.

Plot Keywords:

Directed By Star | Trailer Park | Travel | Motor Home | Unemployment

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Albert Brooks	...	David Howard
Julie Hagerty	...	Linda Howard
Sylvia Farrel	...	Sylvia, Receptionist at Ross & McMahon
Tina Kincaid	...	Model
Candy Ann Brown	...	David's Secretary
Maggie Roswell	...	Patty, Linda's Coworker at Broadway
Hans Wagner	...	Hans, Mercedes Salesman (on phone) (voice)
Brandy Rubin	...	Paul Dunn's Secretary
Michael Greene	...	Paul Dunn, David's boss at Ross & McMahon
Tom Tarpey	...	Brad Tooley, Ford Account guy from New York Office
Robert Hughes	...	Security Guard at Ross & McMahon
Raynold Gideon	...	Ray, Friend making toast at farewell party
John Di Fusco	...	Motorcyclist on freeway flipping the bird
Michael Cornelison	...	Front Desk Clerk at Desert Inn
Radu Gavor	...	Bellman at Desert Inn

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Geffen Company, The

Trivia:

In his autobiography, Garry Marshall (who played the casino manager) wrote that he was initially exasperated by Albert Brooks demanding take after take of their scene. But once he saw the rushes and realized that his frustration made his character funnier, he acknowledged to Brooks's comic sense.

Goofs:

Continuity: The hair color, thickness and grooming of Paul Dunn, David's boss, changes radically several times in a matter of moments.

Quotes:

David Howard: I've seen the future! And it's a bald-headed man from New York!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)

Soundtrack:

IT'S YOU ALONE

The genius of the individual scenes add up to one comedy classic.

Albert Brooks' and Julie Hagerty's portrayals of the definitive yuppie couple are hilarious. They're so typical, especially with their attitude at the beginning about what is important in life, (a house with a tennis court and a Mercedes). Everything Mr. and Ms. Blue Collar America hates about the Reagan-era generation is portrayed here. They have everything, just to have it all blow up in their faces. The success of this film comes from the sum of its small parts. Brooks' phone conversation with Hans, the Mercedes salesman (voiced by Brooks himself), the firing scene with "Brad" and his ad jingle for Ford, the check-in at the Las Vegas hotel, and, of course, Brooks' sales pitch to the casino manager (Gary Marshall), are just a few of the gems, which, when added up result in one of the funniest films ever made.