The Telephone (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 4.4
Released in 1988, The Telephone is a comedy and drama film directed by Rip Torn, running about 78 minutes. “She's on the line... and off the wall.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Crazy out of work actress Vashti Blue spends all her time in her small apartment with her pet owl and her telephone, which she uses to try and solve all her problems with life.
Who’s in it. The Telephone stars Whoopi Goldberg as Vashti Blue, John Heard as Telephone Man, Elliott Gould as Rodney and Hervé Villechaize as Voice on Freeway, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.4/10, The Telephone has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Telephone page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Telephone tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Telephone (1988)?
- In US, The Telephone is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Telephone worth watching?
- The Telephone holds an audience score of 4.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Telephone?
- The Telephone stars Whoopi Goldberg, John Heard, Elliott Gould, Hervé Villechaize and Severn Darden.
- When was The Telephone released?
- The Telephone was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 78 minutes.