The Census Taker (1984)

Exasperated by his intrusions, a family shoots a census taker and tries to hide his body from a detective.

Director:

Bruce R. Cook

Writers:

Bruce R. Cook, William Kerwin,

Stars:

Greg Mullavey, Meredith MacRae, Garrett Morris

Cast

Cast overview:
Greg Mullavey	...	George
Meredith MacRae	...	Martha
Garrett Morris	...	Harvey
Austen Tayler	...	Eva
Timothy Bottoms	...	Pete
Troy Alexander	...	Edward
Erin-Bruce Tolcharian	...	Robert
William R. Bremer	...	Sheriff
Laine Walker-McGrew	...	Woman with Broom
Laura Sorrenson	...	Woman in Leopard-skin Pants (as Roxanne Rolle)
Anne Dubroff	...	Women in Robe
Roxy Kim	...	Punk Girl
Jennifer Finch	...	Punk Girl

Storyline

George and Martha Day (Greg Mullavey, Meredith MacRae) are a typical suburban couple who live in the peaceful neighborhood of Appleton located above Los Angeles. Harvey McGraw (Garrett Morris) is the census taker who's in charge of checking the community's population. The Days willingly invite McGraw in, but the simple questionnaire turns more personal that it angers the couple and they accidentally shoot him in the forehead. They are then forced to hide McGraw's body and remove any evidence from their guests, one is an detective. Before long, the detective discovers the body and George and Martha's future is in jeopardy.

---

Plot Keywords:

body | detective | couple | census | anger | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Husbands, Wives, Money & 'Murder'

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argentum Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Peyton Place (1957)

User Reviews

was garrett morris vehicle, now residents music gem

I remember the original appearance of this film - it had all the corporate venality of the SNL product we've come to accept as so much saturation in movies over the last two decades, and was DOA in theatres when released.

Today however, the movie has a bizarre level of subliminal black humor that manages to play pretty entertainingly; it also has incidental music by the Residents throughout (mostly stuff from the Commercial Album), which works surprisingly well.

Overall, the movie is similar in feel to Eating Raoul, or the late 70s tv show Mary Hartman, in terms of questionable funniness but sustained 'edginess'. Speaking of MH, MH, the husband reprises his role here, more or less; his Martin Mull-ish cop buddy, IMO, was the comic highlight of the film.