A couple fights for justice to get their injured daughter out of a foster care center.
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Title: Improper Channels (1981)
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1 win & 3 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Alan Arkin | ... | Jeffery Martley | |
| Mariette Hartley | ... | Diana Martley | |
| Monica Parker | ... | Gloria Washburn | |
| Harry Ditson | ... | Harold Clevish | |
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Sarah Stevens | ... | Nancy Martley |
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Danny Higham | ... | Jack |
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Leslie Yeo | ... | Fred Reeves |
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Richard W. Farrell | ... | Fraser (as Richard Farrell) |
| Martin Yan | ... | Sherman Hu | |
| Ruth Springford | ... | Mrs. Wharton | |
| Tony Rosato | ... | Dr. Arpenthaler | |
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Philip Akin | ... | Motorcycle Cop |
| Harvey Atkin | ... | Police Sergeant | |
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Richard Blackburn | ... | Fraser's Assistant |
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Jessica Booker | ... | Mrs. Gherkin |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
A father brings a young child to an emergency room to get treatment for a minor injury occurring in an innocent accident, but he gets accused of child abuse. Child welfare agencies commit grossly unfair over-reactions to remove the child forcibly from the Father (Arkin), who must brave the arcane system to reclaim his daughter. Written by Charles Lasner <lasner@sunsite.unc.edu>
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Ever try communicating with a doctor... a lawyer... a computer? See more »Parents Guide:
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Composed by Maribeth Solomon and Micky Erbe
Performed by Colina Phillips
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Did You Know?
Soundtracks
Make Your MoveComposed by Maribeth Solomon and Micky Erbe
Performed by Colina Phillips
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Details
Country:
CanadaLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
17 April 1981 (Canada) See more »Also Known As:
Cara mamma, caro papà See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
CAD3,600,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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I don't understand why this movie hasn't made it to DVD. I think people tend to take it too seriously. It's a hilarious satire aimed squarely at the nanny state attitude prevailing in much of the civilized world nowadays. Alan Arkin is masterful in a role that challenges his wonderful Sheldon Kornpet in the "In-laws" while Marriette Hartley looks cute and plays the straight role of the disbelieving wife and mother. The other characters are all wonderful caricatures put in place to harass the Martleys as their daughter is summarily taken from them by a bureaucratic boob ( Gloria ) who believes that her sole purpose in life is to help people whether they want it or not.( "Everyone in this country has the right to be helped" Her boss, the self important, sinister, amoral.ambitious and Infinitely geeky Harold Cleevish provides the other half of a social welfare system gone amok. Arkin, at first disbelieving of all the chaos erupting around him decides to take decisive action to get even and out from under a system gone mad. The ending is superb. Not to be missed!!!