''Leo and Loree'' is a 1980 American
romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...
directed by
Jerry Paris
William Gerald Paris (July 25, 1925 – March 31, 1986) was an American actor and director best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', and for directing the majo ...
, starring
Donny Most
Don Most (born August 8, 1953) is an American actor and singer, best known for his role as Ralph Malph on the television series ''Happy Days''.
Early life
Most was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City. He lived in Flatbush, Broo ...
and
Linda Purl
Linda Purl (born September 2, 1955) is an American actress and singer, known for her roles as Ashley Pfister (Fonzie's girlfriend) on '' Happy Days'' (she originally played Gloria as Richie’s date in season 2 episode 6), Sheila Munroe in the 198 ...
. It was the first theatrical film from
Ron Howard
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''. He ...
's production company.
Plot
Leo and Loree are a young couple and aspiring actors trying to succeed in show business. Leo's career is hampered by his attitude, and Loree's career is helped by her mother – an
Oscar-winning actress – who has opened doors for her. In spite of their feelings for each other, the ups and downs of the couple's professional lives affect their relationship.
Cast
*
Donny Most
Don Most (born August 8, 1953) is an American actor and singer, best known for his role as Ralph Malph on the television series ''Happy Days''.
Early life
Most was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City. He lived in Flatbush, Broo ...
as Leo
*
Linda Purl
Linda Purl (born September 2, 1955) is an American actress and singer, known for her roles as Ashley Pfister (Fonzie's girlfriend) on '' Happy Days'' (she originally played Gloria as Richie’s date in season 2 episode 6), Sheila Munroe in the 198 ...
as Loree
*
David Huffman
David Oliver Huffman (May 10, 1945 – February 27, 1985) was an American actor and producer.
Personal life
Huffman was born on May 10, 1945, in Berwyn, Illinois, to Clarence and Opal Huffman (née Dippel).
Huffman married casting director P ...
as Dennis
*
Jerry Paris
William Gerald Paris (July 25, 1925 – March 31, 1986) was an American actor and director best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', and for directing the majo ...
as Tony
*
Shannon Farnon
Shannon Farnon (born November 28, 1941) is a Canadian actress. She is best known as being the first actress to voice Wonder Woman in a Hanna-Barbera production, having voiced her in ''Super Friends'' from 1973 to 1983.
Early life
Born into a sh ...
as Christina Harper
*
Allan Rich
Benjamin Norman Schultz (February 8, 1926 – August 22, 2020), known professionally as Allan Rich, was an American character actor.
Career
Rich began his acting career when he was nine years old. He appeared in the Broadway productions ''I'll ...
as Jarvis
* Susan Lawrence as Cindy
Production
Ron Howard
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''. He ...
started the project in 1975 during spare time on weekends while filming ''
Happy Days
''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most su ...
'' and started shooting scenes on
16 mm film.
James Ritz, a writer for ''Happy Days'', started a script but the project was put on hold until Howard took it to
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
as a potential
television movie
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
which led to Ritz expanding the rough script.
[ After ABC later decided not to progress the project further, Howard set the project up at Major H Productions, which he had created in 1977 with his father ]Rance
Rance may refer to:
Places
* Rance (river), northwestern France
* Rancé, a commune in eastern France, near Lyon
* Ranče, a small settlement in Slovenia
* Rance, Wallonia, part of the municipality of Sivry-Rance
** Rouge de Rance, a Devonian ...
and brother Clint
Clint is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name:
*Clint Alberta (1970–2002), Canadian filmmaker
* Clint Albright (1926–1999), Canadian ice hockey player
*Clint Alfino (born 1968), South African baseba ...
, funding most of the low budget himself.[ The film was their first theatrical release with ]United Artists
United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stud ...
acquiring domestic distribution rights in 1979.[
The director, ]Jerry Paris
William Gerald Paris (July 25, 1925 – March 31, 1986) was an American actor and director best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', and for directing the majo ...
, had filmed every episode of ''Happy Days'' at the time.[ The star, ]Donny Most
Don Most (born August 8, 1953) is an American actor and singer, best known for his role as Ralph Malph on the television series ''Happy Days''.
Early life
Most was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City. He lived in Flatbush, Broo ...
, was also a regular on ''Happy Days'', as Ralph Malph
Ralph Hector Malph is a character on ''Happy Days'' played by Donny Most.
Background of character
He usually had two things on his mind, girls and jokes. His jokes usually got little or no reaction from any other character, yet he continued his ...
.[
The film was shot in Southern California, including Malibu, ]Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...
and Venice, Los Angeles
Venice is a neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California.
Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, when it was annexed by ...
.
References
External links
*
*
1980 films
1980 romantic comedy films
American romantic comedy films
Fictional couples
Films about actors
Films directed by Jerry Paris
United Artists films
1980s English-language films
1980s American films
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