Lost in America (1985)

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writers:

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

Release Date:

22 August 1985 (Argentina)

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:

Winnebago | Yuppie | Mobile Home | Speeding Ticket | New York City

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Albert Brooks	...	David Howard
Julie Hagerty	...	Linda Howard
Sylvia Farrel	...	Receptionist
Tina Kincaid	...	Model
Candy Ann Brown	...	David's Secretary
Maggie Roswell	...	Patty
Hans Wagner	...	Hans (voice)
Brandy Rubin	...	Paul Dunn's Secretary
Michael Greene	...	Paul Dunn
Tom Tarpey	...	Brad Tooley
Robert Hughes	...	Security Guard
Raynold Gideon	...	Ray
John Di Fusco	...	Motorcyclist
Michael Cornelison	...	Front Desk Clerk
Radu Gavor	...	Bellman
John Reade	...	Casino Security Guard (as John C. Reade)
Pat Garrison	...	Roulette Croupier
Garry Marshall	...	Casino Manager (as Garry K. Marshall)
Byron Tong	...	Roulette Player
Gayle Lanza	...	Hostess
Donald Gibb	...	Ex-Convict
Charles Boswell	...	Highway Patrolman
Zeke Manners	...	Couple in Trailer Park
Bea Manners	...	Couple in Trailer Park
Ernie Brown	...	Pharmacist
Art Frankel	...	Employment Agent
Mark Sydney	...	Boy on Bicycle
David Michael Katz	...	Boy on Bicycle (as David Katz)
Raul Flores	...	Boy on Bicycle
Herb Nanas	...	Mercedes Driver
Joey Coleman	...	Skippy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rex Reed	...	Himself (on radio) (voice)
Priscilla Cory	...	Model (uncredited)
Bob Hughes	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Larry King	...	Himself (on radio) (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Albert Brooks

Writing credits
Albert Brooks		(written by) &
Monica Mcgowan Johnson		(written by) (as Monica Johnson)

Produced by
Marty Katz	....	producer
Herb Nanas	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Arthur B. Rubinstein

Cinematography by
Eric Saarinen		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Finfer

Casting by
Barbara Claman

Production Design by
Richard Tom Sawyer		(as Richard Sawyer)

Set Decoration by
Richard C. Goddard		(as Richard Goddard)

Makeup Department
K.G. Ramsey	....	hairdresser (as Ramsey)
Rick Sharp	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Marty Katz	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Daves	....	first assistant director
Robert J. Doherty	....	second assistant director (as Robert Doherty)
Timothy J. Lonsdale	....	second assistant director: New York (uncredited)

Art Department
Matty Azzarone	....	assistant propman (as Matt Azzarone)
William M. Bell	....	construction coordinator (as Bill Bell)
Ronnie Chambers	....	leadman
Pat O'Connor	....	property master
John Schacht	....	leadman

Sound Department
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor (as Dino Di Muro)
Fred Judkins	....	sound effects editor
David Kelson	....	cable person
John Kline	....	sound effects editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joseph Melody	....	supervising sound effects editor
Bill Nelson	....	sound mixer
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
Clive Smith	....	sound effects editor
Russ Tinsley	....	supervising sound effects editor
Rusty Tinsley	....	sound effects editor
Scott A. Tinsley	....	sound effects editor (as Scot Tinsley)
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Val Kuklowsky	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Richard Albain	....	special effects (as Dick Albain)

Camera and Electrical Department
Fredrick Albrecht	....	grip best boy (as Fred Albrecht)
Mike Amorelli	....	electrician
Dave Anderberg	....	company grip (as David Anderberg)
Ralph Barone	....	electrician
Tom Barone	....	electrical best boy (as Thomas Barone)
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Ray De La Motte	....	camera operator
Gary R. Dodd	....	key grip (as Gary Dodd)
Gary Holt	....	gaffer
Jan Koshay	....	dolly grip
Bob E. Krattiger	....	electrician (as Robert Krattinger)
Lee Redmond	....	first assistant camera
Michael G. Riba	....	second assistant camera (as Michael Riba)
Roger Schweitzer	....	video technician
Joseph F. Valentine	....	panaglide operator (as Joe Valentine)

Casting Department
Jaki Brown	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cynthia Bales	....	costume supervisor
Julie Glick	....	costumer

Editorial Department
John Currin	....	assistant film editor
Jamie Forester	....	apprentice film editor (as Jamie Gelb)
Betsy Wood	....	post-production secretary

Music Department
Mark Hoder	....	orchestrator
Ted Roberts	....	music editor

Transportation Department
John Reade	....	transportation coordinator (as John C. Reade)
Randy White	....	transportation captain
Roger Wooge	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Neil Antin	....	assistant location manager
Ernie Fuentes	....	first aid
Janet Garland	....	first aid
Karen Hale Wookey	....	script supervisor
Campbell Hull	....	assistant to producer
Mario Iscovich	....	location scout
Saul Kahan	....	unit publicist
Charles B. Katz	....	production office assistant (as Chuck Katz)
Duane Katz	....	production office assistant
Melissa Kaye	....	assistant auditor
Mollie McCall	....	production secretary: Las Vegas
Victor T. Salant	....	production comptroller (as Victor Salant)
Todd Schneider	....	production office assistant
Cheryl Smith	....	production secretary: Los Angeles
Amy Lynette Speiser	....	pre-production secretary (as Amy Speiser)
Barbara Spitz	....	production office coordinator
Douglas E. Stoll	....	location manager (as Douglas Stoll)
Ron Weber	....	craft service
Randi Wilens	....	promotion coordinator
Mary Woods	....	assistant: Mr. Brooks
Campbell Katz	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Thanks
Burton Cohen	....	special thanks: hotel accomodations, The Desert Inn Country Club & Spa, Las Vegas
Gary Morris	....	special thanks: hotel accomodations, The Desert Inn Country Club & Spa, Las Vegas

Production Companies

• Geffen Company, The
• Marty Katz Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1985) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1985) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• Guardian Television Network (GTN) (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (through)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Atmosphere Agency  extras casting: Los Angeles
• Desert Inn and Country Club, The  hotel accomodations: Las Vegas (as The Desert Inn Country Club & Spa)
• Donah Bassett and Associates  negative cutting (as Donah Bassett & Associates)
• Echo Film Services  music editing
• Echo Film Services  sound effects
• Film Outfitters Inc.  production services: New York
• Ford Motor Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge the promotional assistance provided by
• Goldman & Associates  extras casting: Las Vegas
• Goldwyn Sound Facility  re-recorded at (as The Goldwyn Sound Facility)
• Hollywood Rentals Productions Services  grip and lighting equipment (as Hollywood Rentals)
• I. Magnin & Co.  the producers gratefully acknowledge the promotional assistance provided by (as I. Magnin)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panasonic  the producers gratefully acknowledge the promotional assistance provided by
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex cameras (as Panavision®)
• Petite Caterers  caterer: Los Angeles
• Production Payments  production services
• Realty World  the producers gratefully acknowledge the promotional assistance provided by
• Talent Payments  production services
• The Caterers Inc.  caterer: Las Vegas (as The Caterers)
• Toshiba America Consumer Products  courtesy of: televisions and stereo equipment (as Toshiba America)
• United Van Lines  the producers gratefully acknowledge the promotional assistance provided by
• Wienerschnitzel  the producers gratefully acknowledge the promotional assistance provided by (as Weinerschnitzel)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | 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 deferred to Brooks's comic judgment.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the characters are supposedly arriving in New York, it can be clearly seen from the position of the Empire State Building that they are travelling the wrong way.

Quotes:

Pharmacist in Safford AZ:I don't believe an older man in a motor home would work out.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.9" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Bubbles in the Wine

Great comedy, and quite an 80's time capsule.

Lost In America is one of those movies that I always meant to see, but never remembered to rent. A few weeks ago, I finally got a chance to see it, and I loved it.

Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty are perfect as the classic yuppie couple that decide to set out on the open road after a series of strange circumstances. Brooks' rave-out on his boss at the beginning of the film is priceless, as is his interaction with the unemployment office worker in the midwest... "I'll just check my $100,000 a year job file." Brooks is also great when he tries to reason with the casino owner, and arguing with Hagerty over her inability to use the words "nest" and "egg". "From now on, birds live in ROUND STICKS!!!, for breakfast, you will have THINGS over easy!!!!"

Most of the best dialogue and scenes are delivered from Brooks, but Hagerty is quite good as well, as the timid wife whos honest, yet HUGE blunder sets the tone for the rest of the film.

My only complaint is that it seemed about a half hour too short. When they decide to return to New York, I would've allowed one more wacky situation on the way back home, but it was not to be. It left me feeling that the ending was a bit rushed. But this is a minor complaint from a great film that deserves to be seen over and over.