Lost in America (1985)

A husband and wife in their 30s decide to quit their jobs, live as free spirits and cruise America in a Winnebago.

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writers:

Albert Brooks, Monica Mcgowan Johnson (as Monica Johnson)

Stars:

Albert Brooks, Julie Hagerty, Sylvia Farrel

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Brooks	...	David Howard
Julie Hagerty	...	Linda Howard
Sylvia Farrel	...	Receptionist
Tina Kincaid	...	Model
Candy Ann Brown	...	David's Secretary
Maggie Roswell	...	Patty
Hans Wagner	...	Hans (voice)
Brandy Rubin	...	Paul Dunn's Secretary
Michael Greene	...	Paul Dunn
Tom Tarpey	...	Brad Tooley
Robert Hughes	...	Security Guard
Raynold Gideon	...	Ray
John Di Fusco	...	Motorcyclist
Michael Cornelison	...	Front Desk Clerk
Radu Gavor	...	Bellman

Storyline

David and Linda Howard are successful yuppies from LA. When he gets a job disappointment, David convinces Linda that they should quit their jobs, liquidate their assets, and emulate the movie Easy Rider, spending the rest of their lives travelling around America...in a Winnebago! (This is a kind of large, luxurious mobile home which suits a 1980's yuppie more than the counterculture dropout approach of Easy Rider.) His idealized, unrealistic plans soon begin to go spectacularly wrong.

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Plot Keywords:

crossing guard | travelling | journey | married couple | location in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Drive (2011) director Nicolas Winding Refn has said he cast Albert Brooks as a gangster in Drive (2011) because when Refn saw Brooks in this film as a teenager, he got really frightened by Brooks in the scene where he screams at his wife (Julie Hagerty). Refn said in an interview with 'LA Weekly' in September 2011 that "Albert was like a volcano of emotions. There was something really unique-and threatening. I felt that this guy, eventually, he will kill somebody-so let's make it in a movie."

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Goofs

In the final montage, between Newnan, Georgia (where David tosses the map out the window), and the approach to Atlanta, there is a shot of a water tower shaped like a giant peach. They would likely pass this water tower on their journey, but it is located in Gaffney, South Carolina, and not southwest of Atlanta as implied.

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Quotes

David Howard: In the campaign you make a clear distinction between the bold, who would be my wife and l, and then all the other schmucks who come here to see Wayne Newton.
Desert Inn Casino Manager: I like Wayne Newton.
David Howard: I said Wayne Newton?
Desert Inn Casino Manager: What? What are you talking about? I heard you say, "Schmucks see Wayne Newton." I like him. That makes me a schmuck?

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Connections

References It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

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Soundtracks

New York, New York
Written by John Kander (uncredited) and Fred Ebb (uncredited)
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Courtesy of Bristol Productions, Inc. and Reprise Records

User Reviews

Ok, this movie rocks!

After reading the reviews I couldn't believe that there are people that found this movie boring. To me it has some of the best dialog in any movie.

Favorite scene? hard to pick, but probably when Albert Brooks comes down to the casino in his bathrobe looking for Julie Haggerty and finds her chanting..."22,22,22,22." When asked how down she is she says "Down." When asking the casino operator how down she is he says "Down."

Another player says "She really likes 22"

I have seen this movie over and over again and it just keeps getting funnier each time I see it. I am a big Albert Brooks fan, Defending your life is very good and Real Life is also a favorite.

If you like dry humor and great dialog see this one for sure!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lost in America

Filming Locations:

13400 Kismet Ave, Sylmar, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$154,877, 17 March 1985

Gross USA:

$10,179,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,179,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Geffen Company, Marty Katz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1