Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Improper Channels

  • 1981
  • PG
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
167
YOUR RATING
Improper Channels (1981)
ComedyDrama

A couple fights for justice to get their injured daughter out of a foster care center.A couple fights for justice to get their injured daughter out of a foster care center.A couple fights for justice to get their injured daughter out of a foster care center.

  • Director
    • Eric Till
  • Writers
    • Morrie Ruvinsky
    • Ian Sutherland
    • Adam Arkin
  • Stars
    • Alan Arkin
    • Mariette Hartley
    • Monica Parker
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    167
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Eric Till
    • Writers
      • Morrie Ruvinsky
      • Ian Sutherland
      • Adam Arkin
    • Stars
      • Alan Arkin
      • Mariette Hartley
      • Monica Parker
    • 4User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Photos14

    1 sheet movie poster
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Alan Arkin in Improper Channels (1981)
    Mariette Hartley in Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Improper Channels (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Jeffery Martley
    Mariette Hartley
    Mariette Hartley
    • Diana Martley
    Monica Parker
    Monica Parker
    • Gloria Washburn
    Harry Ditson
    Harry Ditson
    • Harold Clevish
    Sarah Stevens
    • Nancy Martley
    Danny Higham
    • Jack
    Leslie Yeo
    • Fred Reeves
    Richard W. Farrell
    • Fraser
    • (as Richard Farrell)
    Martin Yan
    Martin Yan
    • Sherman Hu
    Ruth Springford
    Ruth Springford
    • Mrs. Wharton
    Tony Rosato
    Tony Rosato
    • Dr. Arpenthaler
    Philip Akin
    • Motorcycle Cop
    Harvey Atkin
    Harvey Atkin
    • Police Sergeant
    Richard Blackburn
    • Fraser's Assistant
    Jessica Booker
    • Mrs. Gherkin
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    • City Official
    • (as Ken Camroux)
    Leslie Carlson
    Leslie Carlson
    • Bucci
    • (as Les Carlson)
    Eugene Clark
    Eugene Clark
    • Security Guard #1
    • Director
      • Eric Till
    • Writers
      • Morrie Ruvinsky
      • Ian Sutherland
      • Adam Arkin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Simon
    6.3
    Simon
    Fire Sale
    5.3
    Fire Sale
    Full Moon High
    4.7
    Full Moon High
    Big Trouble
    5.1
    Big Trouble
    Chu Chu and the Philly Flash
    4.2
    Chu Chu and the Philly Flash
    Hearts of the West
    6.5
    Hearts of the West
    Bad Medicine
    4.6
    Bad Medicine
    The Magician of Lublin
    5.8
    The Magician of Lublin
    Popi
    6.6
    Popi
    Joshua Then and Now
    6.5
    Joshua Then and Now
    Last of the Red Hot Lovers
    6.0
    Last of the Red Hot Lovers
    The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
    6.6
    The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in Vintage Video: Improper Channels (1981) (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Make Your Move
      Composed by Maribeth Solomon and Micky Erbe

      Performed by Colina Phillips

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    very funny yet disturbing
    I remember viewing this movie as a kid when it first came out and thinking how hysterical it was. I recently had the opportunity to view it again (I am now the father of a 4 year-old) and I still find it amusing but in a more sinister way. The dark side of this 1980 movie..how well- intentioned but terribly misguided people can completely turn an individuals life upside-down with their lack of forethought is an interesting premonition to our paranoid and callous society of today.

    I also recently (through a friend) met Alan Arkin and relayed to him this disturbing sense I had about the movie and its (although admittedly unintentional) parallel to our current society of wiretapping and "erring on the side of caution." His response, although not unexpected, was that the subject of government intruding on the lives of individuals has always been one to interest him in films. Improper Channels is certainly in that vein.
    helpful•7
    1
    • tavives
    • Feb 16, 2006

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 17, 1981 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Datakuppen
    • Filming locations
      • Burger King Restaurant, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Paragon Motion Pictures
      • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$3,600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Improper Channels (1981)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Improper Channels (1981) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.