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The Telephone ()


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A crazy out of work actress, Vashti Blue, spends all her time in her small apartment with her pet owl and her telephone, which she uses to try and solve all her problems with life.

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Complete, Cast awaiting verification

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Vashti Blue
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Max
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Honey Boxe & Irate Neighbor / Jennifer on the Answering Machine
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Rodney
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Telephone Man
Ronald J. Stallings ...
Saxophone Player
John Hattan ...
Sidewalk Vendor
Lina Chu ...
Sidewalk Vendor
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Voice on the Freeway / Larry on the Answering Machine (voice)
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Voice on the Freeway / Big Ray on the Answering Machine (voice)
Robin Menken ...
Voice on the Freeway (voice)
Danae Torn ...
Crying Woman / Midge on the Answering Machine (voice)
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Voice on the Freeway (voice) (as Herve VIllechaize)

Directed by

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Rip Torn

Written by

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Harry Nilsson ... (screenplay) &
Terry Southern ... (screenplay)

Produced by

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Steve Besser ... co-executive producer
Moctesuma Esparza ... producer
Joel Glickman ... associate producer
Robert Katz ... producer

Music by

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Christopher Young

Cinematography by

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David Claessen

Editing by

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Sandra Adair

Editorial Department

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Hope Moskowitz ... first assistant editor
Lynn Stevenson ... assistant editor

Production Design by

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Jim Pohl

Art Direction by

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Jim Pohl

Makeup Department

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Catherine Childers ... hair stylist
Elle Elliott ... makeup/hairdresser
Michael Germain ... makeup: Whoopi Goldberg
Julia L. Walker ... hair stylist: Whoopi Goldberg (as Julia Walker)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Lope Yap Jr. ... first assistant director

Art Department

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Todd McCune Bray ... painter
Richard W. Clot ... construction coordinator
Paul Dal Porto ... property master
Allen Gross ... carpenter
Elizabeth Hamilton ... lead set painter
Sandra Howell ... painter
Elizabeth Jennings ... painter
Jack Kostelnik ... construction foreman
John LaNoue ... carpenter
Ray Mondoux ... senior layout artist
David Ochoa ... set dresser
Chuck Ray ... carpenter
J. Michael Speakman ... carpenter
I.J. Van Perre ... carpenter

Sound Department

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Agamemnon Andrianos ... sound mixer
Patrick Moriarty ... boom operator

Stunts

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Candace Crump ... stand-in: Whoopi Goldberg

Camera and Electrical Department

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Gary M. Brickley ... key grip
Gregory M. Childers ... best boy grip
Michael Chin ... camera operator
Charles Eason ... lamp operator
Rick Fichter ... best boy electric
William Maley ... gaffer
Dennis Pope ... dolly grip
Bobby Powell ... electrician (as Robert E. Powell)
Michael Santy ... second assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Roz Baker ... costumer
Susan Becker ... costumes: Whoopi Goldberg

Music Department

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Jeff Vaughn ... score mixer

Script and Continuity Department

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Peggy Biocini ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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John Hattan ... transportation captain
John Lelko ... transportation

Additional Crew

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Elizabeth Ann Bundschu ... assistant production coordinator
Jim McCarthy ... post-production accountant
Franke Piazza ... assistant: Whoopi Goldberg
Joan Wellman ... production coordinator
Shannon Wilson ... production assistant

Thanks

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John Alonzo ... special thanks (as John Alonzo)
William House ... special thanks
Geraldine Page ... special thanks
Robert B. Radnitz ... special thanks (as Robert Radnitz)
Leonard Rosenman ... special thanks
Tony Torn ... special thanks (as Anthony Torn)
Robert M. Young ... special thanks

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

One evening, unemployed actress Vashti Blue (Whoopi Goldberg) returns to the apartment she shares with her pet goldfish and owl. On the answering machine, Vashti listens to her messages, and hears her agent remind her of an audition, as well as a notification about her overdue telephone bill. She also hears a voice she believes is her former lover, Larry (Don Blakely). Throughout the night, Vashti entertains herself by dialing different telephone numbers, talking to the local market, video store, police station, and her friend, Jennifer (Amy Wright). The noise from the calls causes Vashti's next-door neighbor to yell at her in frustration. Later, Vashti's former agent, Rodney (Elliot Gould), and his new client, "Honey Boxe," arrive, asking to use her telephone. However, Vashti refuses Rodney's request. Rodney tells Vashti that her bad attitude always made it difficult to find her acting jobs. Annoyed, Vashti asks Rodney and Honey Boxe to leave. But the best and the most is about to come.

Plot Keywords
Taglines Everybody's got one. Some people just know how to use it. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Allo, je craque (France)
  • Telefon Terror (Germany)
  • El telèfon (Spain, Catalan title)
  • El teléfono (Spain)
  • The telephone (Spain)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 96 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $2,200,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend United States $54,811, 24 Jan 1988

Did You Know?

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Trivia Whoopi Goldberg took director Rip Torn and the film's producers to court to prevent the film's release due to a disagreement over control over the final cut of the film. She lost. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in The Beach Boys & Little Richard: Happy Endings (1987). See more »
Soundtracks Sweet Georgia Brown See more »

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