[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0008748354
[NAME] SMITH BARNEY SERIES FUND
[SERIES]
   [NUMBER] 5
   [NAME] TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   6-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1997
[PERIOD-END]                               JUN-30-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      205,057,711
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     232,672,422
[RECEIVABLES]                                  541,690
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                   4,695
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             233,213,307
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                     7,877,678
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                    2,976,655
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                         10,854,333
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   175,102,836
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       13,130,115
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                       10,899,666
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                    6,960,402
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                     13,563,145
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                    26,738,091
[NET-ASSETS]                               222,364,474
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            2,708,654
[INTEREST-INCOME]                            1,247,786
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                 776,217
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                      3,180,223
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                     5,657,382
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                    5,978,619
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                       14,816,224
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                            0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                             0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                      2,455,836
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                    225,387
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                                  0
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      50,861,075
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                      3,780,179
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                    7,905,763
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                          531,006
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                                776,217
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       195,504,846
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            15.73
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  00.18
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          01.03
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                            0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              16.94
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  00.80
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>