The Phone Call

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Scott starts work at a drive-in burger and ice cream restaurant when his paper route proves inadequate to raise the money he needs for a mail order karate course. He has determined that this... Read allScott starts work at a drive-in burger and ice cream restaurant when his paper route proves inadequate to raise the money he needs for a mail order karate course. He has determined that this course will help him gain the self-confidence he needs to get up the courage to call and ... Read allScott starts work at a drive-in burger and ice cream restaurant when his paper route proves inadequate to raise the money he needs for a mail order karate course. He has determined that this course will help him gain the self-confidence he needs to get up the courage to call and ask Pam out to see a movie. Although at first just commenting on his mistakes, Becky, a co... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

152

YOUR RATING

7User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos26

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User reviews7

7.4152

Featured reviews

8usa_dr

The phone call is a classic!

I had a conversation with an individual about his 16 yr old daughter, who went on a very awkward homecoming date that lasted two hours from start to finish. I brought up this movie and we both had a laugh. The phone call is a short classic that anyone LDS who grew up with a VCR knows about. As others discussed, It is full of great one liners and shows a lot of what not to do and say when dealing with, "the Ladies." My favorite line is, "would you like to go on a date at absolutely no cost to you? Only for you though, not your friend." Also, while working at the drive-in, asking some young women with a California plate, "how are the oranges(not a metaphor)? The oranges in California! Well since we haven't heard anything, we have to assume they are doing OK." This show is worth seeing and makes Nacho Libre look like he has some serious dating skills. I look forward to the great day when I can see this film again; that and Jonny Lingo!

8whe98005

Napoleon who?

I too was fortunate enough to see this growing up, and look forward to the blessed day of it's inevitable blu-ray/hd-DVD premiere. I'm going to go ahead and go out on a limb here and state that without the phone call, there would be no Napoleon Dynamite. The whole visual look and feel of the film, the awkwardness of the characters etc. is all comedy gold, the same concept in both.

Watch the two of them back to back if you can, and tell me otherwise. Great short. Anyone who can find this in an old church or seminary library should really throw it up on youtube for the world to see and enjoy.

10sorrogrande

Best LDS movie ever

Back in the 1970s, the Mormon church put out plenty of movies with a lot of yuk-yuk value, but this is the best among them. Nigh unto every line is a classic in and of itself. "I play the bassoon. It's like a balloon with esses" is just one of the classics. Anyway, the acting is as cheesy as the costumes, but it makes the movie fun. Trivia for the discriminating viewer: Ripple's is an actual drive in on Canyon Road in Provo, right by Timpview High School.

7Spoon-5

A Feel Good Highschool Movie

I'd be happy to be the second to comment on The Phone Call. Yes, I'm LDS and so I watched this several times in my Church Educational System classes. It seems to be so likeable because we (uh... I) can relate to the character's indominable fear of talking to girls. Extremely dated due to hair and clothes styles, but overall funny, corny, and happy. Best line in my opinion: "That's what I like about you... you're really very thorough." If you ever have the chance, just see it.

MrColJ

If you're Mormon, this is a very famous movie!

Back when the church made a lot of feel-good warm&fuzzy movies with no mention of itself, there was made The Phone Call; whence comes the line, "I play the bassoon. It's like a balloon with S's." Because of his fabulous work, Mark McClure went on to make 30ish other movies and TV shows. Really, this isn't Citizen Kane, but it's a cute and hilarious movie that's more than appropriate to have been shown in a whole lot of high school classes for the past 20 years.

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Trivia
This BYU Church video was filmed in Provo Utah at Ripples by Canyon Road. Across the street from Ripples Drive in, you can see the Horse ranch before the business buildings replaced the Horse Ranch. Also There used to be an Orchard Store with the Orchard trees before Day's Market, Top Hat Video (Now a Personal Fitness Gym), Papa Murphys pizza, The bank, Maxi Mart gas station (Now a Pharmacy store) Replaced the Orchard Store and the orchard trees. Ripples Drive in is around at this time.

Quotes
Becky: [Becky walks up to Scott who is depressed] Hey. kids really like it here.
Scott: I should be home practice on my bassoon soon.
Becky: What?
Scott: It's bassoon, it's like a balloon with S's. It's an instrument. You think Mr. Screen will fire me?
Becky: Mr. Beamer. He only yells like that when he's mad. I guess no one ever tried making french fried hot dog buns before.
Scott: Yeah well, I know I can pick all of this up. The first few days are always tough.
Becky: Why did you take this job anyway?
Scott: I need money. The paper route wasn't enough.
Becky: For what?
Scott: I'm going to take a karate course. Gotta build up my confidence. Gotta, call up this girl.
Becky: Hey, maybe I was a little hard on you. I'd hate to see you lose your job. Make it easier.
[Then Joe drives in with his car and honks the car horn]
Joe: Hey! Come on! Move it!
Becky: Gotta go. Have fun playing your balloon.
[Then Becky goes over to Joe's car]
Scott: Yeah! It's a bassoon!
Joe: Come on! Move it! I haven't got all day! Let's go, I'm in a hurry!
[Becky opens the car door and gets in and Joe drives off]