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Marathon

  • TV Movie
  • 19801980
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
60
YOUR RATING
Marathon (1980)
  • Comedy
A middle aged man spends his free time running. Especially since his wife spends more of her time on her work. He later meets another runner, a younger woman who inspires to compete in a mar... Read allA middle aged man spends his free time running. Especially since his wife spends more of her time on her work. He later meets another runner, a younger woman who inspires to compete in a marathon.A middle aged man spends his free time running. Especially since his wife spends more of her time on her work. He later meets another runner, a younger woman who inspires to compete in a marathon.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
60
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jackie Cooper
  • Writer
    • Ron Friedman
  • Stars
    • Bob Newhart
    • Herb Edelman
    • Dick Gautier
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jackie Cooper
  • Writer
    • Ron Friedman
  • Stars
    • Bob Newhart
    • Herb Edelman
    • Dick Gautier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Bob Newhart
    Bob Newhart
    • Walter Burtonas Walter Burton
    Herb Edelman
    Herb Edelman
    • Saulas Saul
    Dick Gautier
    Dick Gautier
    • Budas Bud
    Anita Gillette
    Anita Gillette
    • Anitaas Anita
    Leigh Taylor-Young
    Leigh Taylor-Young
    • Barrieas Barrie
    John Hillerman
    John Hillerman
    • Gregas Greg
    René Enríquez
    René Enríquez
    • Manuelas Manuel
    Valerie Landsburg
    Valerie Landsburg
    • Annieas Annie
    Richard Roat
    Richard Roat
    • Litchfieldas Litchfield
    Bill Smillie
    • General Underhillas General Underhill
    Kathy Beaudine
    • Secretary #1as Secretary #1
    Jerry Colker
    Jerry Colker
    • Timekeeperas Timekeeper
    John Dukakis
    John Dukakis
    • Young Manas Young Man
    Gregory Enton
    • Smilin' Desk Clerkas Smilin' Desk Clerk
    • (as Gregory Enton Friedkin)
    Julia Jennings
    • Secretary #2as Secretary #2
    Don Keefer
    Don Keefer
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Jack Marston
    • Dignitaryas Dignitary
    John McCurry
    • Man in Whiteas Man in White
    • Director
      • Jackie Cooper
    • Writer
      • Ron Friedman
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Innocuous Late 70s Snapshot
    What can you say about a movie featuring 48 y.o. potbellied and balding Bob Newhart as the romantic lead in a story of a man who runs a marathon because he has chemistry with a sexy 20-something stewardess marathoner (Leigh Taylor Young). This is as lightweight and unlikely as sports movies get. Newhart is likable as always, but hopelessly miscast in this time capsule of the free-wheeling free-lovin' late seventies.

    The movie itself barely touches on training for the marathon, choosing instead to focus on the comedy of Newhart's midlife crisis ("heeding the life-force") and how it affects his job and family life. These explorations are highly predictable and boilerplate in the made-for-TV vein. After a series of torturous, forced "chance" meetings and awkward exchanges, Newhart and Young wind up meeting to run (and ostensibly have an affair) at the NYC marathon. Predictably, things don't go quite to form and the requisite "aren't we all the better for this" sequence is par for the course. The marathon climax features some NYC location footage but is never convincing (Newhart shuffling his way to a 3:55:30 marathon?? hah!)

    All in all, fairly lame but mostly harmless when it's not busy being preposterous. 4 / 10.
    helpful•5
    3
    • secragt
    • Oct 20, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 30, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La course impitoyable
    • Production company
      • Alan Landsburg Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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