''Improper Channels'' is a Canadian

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

film, directed by

Eric Till Eric Till (born 24 November 1929) is an English film and television director working in Canada, the United States, and Europe since the 1960s. His 1977 film ''It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet'' was entered into the 10th Moscow International Film Fes ...

and released in 1981. The film stars

Alan Arkin Alan Wolf Arkin (born March 26, 1934) is an American actor, director and screenwriter known for his performances on stage and screen. Throughout his career spanning over six decades, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award ...

as an architect named Jeff Martley, and

Mariette Hartley Mary Loretta Hartley (born June 21, 1940) is an American film and television actress. She is best known for work with Bill Bixby on '' The Incredible Hulk'' (1978) and ''Goodnight, Beantown'' (1983–1984), an original ''Star Trek'' episode (1 ...

as his estranged wife Diana. After their daughter Nancy is mildly injured in a car accident, an overzealous social worker (Monica Parker) wrongly accuses him of

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to a ...

, and takes custody of the child away. The film received four

Genie Award The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for scu ...

nominations at the

3rd Genie Awards The 3rd Genie Awards were awarded on March 3, 1982, at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto,Jay Scott, "Academy lists Genie nominees". ''The Globe and Mail'', February 4, 1982. and honoured Canadian films released in 1981.Liam Lacey, "Ticket to ...

in 1982, for Best Foreign Actor (Arkin), Best Foreign Actress (Hartley),

Best Original Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best screenplay not based upon previously published material. It was created in 1940 as a separate writing award from the Academy Award for Best Story. Beginning with the ...

(

Adam Arkin Adam Arkin (born August 19, 1956) is an American actor and director. He is known for playing the role of Aaron Shutt on '' Chicago Hope''. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Tony (Best Actor, 1991, ''I Hate Hamlet'') as well ...

, Morrie Ruvinsky and Ian Sutherland) and Best Art Direction/Production Design ( Ninkey Dalton and Charles Dunlop). Arkin won the award for Best Foreign Actor."Ticket To Heaven top movie". ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'', March 5, 1982.

Cast

as Jeffrey Martley *

as Diana Martley * Monica Parker as Gloria Washburn *

Harry Ditson Harry may refer to: TV shows * ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...

as Harold Clevish * Sarah Stevens as Nancy Martley *

Danny Higham Danny is a masculine given name. It is related to the male name Daniel. It may refer to: People * Danny Altmann, British immunologist * Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator, director, producer, and writer *Danny Baker (born 1957), English journal ...

as Jack *

Leslie Yeo Leslie may refer to: * Leslie (name), a name and list of people with the given name or surname, including fictional characters Families * Clan Leslie, a Scottish clan with the motto "grip fast" * Leslie (Russian nobility), a Russian noble famil ...

as Fred * Richard W. Farrell as Fraser *

Ruth Springford Margaret Ruth Springford (September 1921 November 20, 2010) was a Canadian radio, stage, television and film actress.Martin Yan Martin Yan (; born 22 December 1948) is a Hong Kong chef and food writer. He has hosted his award-winning PBS-TV cooking show ''Yan Can Cook'' since 1982. Early years and education With ancestral roots in Taishan, Yan was born in Guangzhou, ...

as Hu *

Tony Rosato Antonio Rosato (26 December 1954 – 10 January 2017) was an Italian-Canadian actor and comedian, who appeared in television and films. He was best known as a cast member on both '' SCTV'' and ''Saturday Night Live'', and for voicing Luigi in '' ...

as Dr. Arpenthaler *

Philip Akin Philip Akin (born April 18, 1950) is a Canadian actor. Akin has had roles in major American films such as '' The Sum of All Fears'', ''S.W.A.T.'', and '' Get Rich or Die Tryin. He has also done much voice work, including voicing the character ...

as Cop *

Harvey Atkin Elliot Harvey Atkin (18 December 1942 – 18 July 2017) was a Canadian actor best known for his roles as Morty Melnick in '' Meatballs'', Sergeant Ronald Coleman in ''Cagney & Lacey'', and for voicing King Koopa in ''The Super Mario Bros. Super S ...

as Sergeant *

Richard Blackburn Sir Richard Arthur Blackburn, (26 July 1918 – 1 October 1987) was an Australian judge, prominent legal academic and military officer. He became a judge of three courts in Australia, and eventually became chief justice of the Australian Capit ...

as Fraser's Assistant * Eugene Clark as Security Guard #1

References

External links

* 1981 films English-language Canadian films 1981 comedy-drama films 1981 independent films Canadian comedy-drama films Canadian independent films Crown International Pictures films Films about children Films about couples Films about families Films about miscarriage of justice Films directed by Eric Till Films scored by Maribeth Solomon Films scored by Micky Erbe Films set in hospitals 1980s English-language films 1980s Canadian films {{1980s-comedy-drama-film-stub