<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Scudder
Variable Life Investment Fund Capital Growth Portfolio Annual Report for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
  <NUMBER> 3
  <NAME>  VLIF for CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                 368,576,394
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                440,187,681
<RECEIVABLES>                           2,723,246
<ASSETS-OTHER>                             21,823
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        442,932,750
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>               2,451,442
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                     2,451,442
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>              333,543,779
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                  26,691,077
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                  22,392,030
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>               1,565,989
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                          0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                33,760,206
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                        0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>               71,611,334
<NET-ASSETS>                          440,481,308
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                       6,354,599
<INTEREST-INCOME>                         723,916
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  0
<EXPENSES-NET>                          2,085,511
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                 4,993,004
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>               33,854,212
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>              33,028,817
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                  71,879,033
<EQUALIZATION>                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>             (4,669,020)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>             (28,547,850)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                           0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                11,627,336
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>           (9,562,105)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                     2,233,815
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                102,812,828
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                 1,250,850
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>              28,441,999
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                         0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                      0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                   1,870,361
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                         2,085,511
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                  393,929,723
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                       15.08
<PER-SHARE-NII>                              0.19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                      2.60
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                         0.19
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                    1.26
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                        00.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                         16.50
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                              0.53
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                          0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                            0
        

</TABLE>