''Leo and Loree'' is a 1980 American

romantic comedy film Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Romantic comedy e ...

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. He is 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, Brooklyn, New Yo ...

and

Linda Purl Linda Purl (born September 2, 1955) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Ashley Pfister (Fonzie's girlfriend) on ''Happy Days'' (she originally played Gloria as Richie’s date in season 2 episodes 1, 2, 6 and 7), Sheila Munroe in ...

. It was the first theatrical film from

Ron Howard Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard started his career as a child actor before transitioning to directing films. Over his six-decade career, Howard has received List of awards and nominations r ...

'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

as Leo *

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 *

as Tony *

Shannon Farnon Shannon Farnon (born Sharon Maureen Farnon;

as Christina Harper *

Allan Rich Benjamin Norman Schultz (February 8, 1926 – August 22, 2020), known professionally as Allan Rich, was an American character actor. Early live and career Rich was born to a Jewish family in Astoria, Queens, and his family moved to the Bronx whe ...

as Jarvis * Susan Lawrence as Cindy

Production

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 American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

'' and started shooting scenes on

16 mm film 16 mm film is a historically popular and economical Film gauge, gauge of Photographic film, film. 16 mm refers to the width of the film (about inch); other common film gauges include 8 mm film, 8 mm and 35mm movie film, 35 mm. It ...

. 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. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

as a potential

television movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

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 may refer to: * Clint (name), a given name and a surname Places *Clint, North Yorkshire, a village in England *Clint, Texas, a town in the United States Fictional characters * Clint Barton, a superhero in American comic books published by ...

, funding most of the low budget himself. The film was their first theatrical release with

United Artists United Artists (UA) is an American film production and film distribution, distribution company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, it was founded in February 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford an ...

acquiring domestic distribution rights in 1979. The director,

, had filmed every episode of ''Happy Days'' at the time. The star,

, 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, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hil ...

and

Venice, Los Angeles Venice is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, whe ...

References

External links

* * 1980 films 1980 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films Films about actors Films directed by Jerry Paris United Artists films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films English-language romantic comedy films {{1980s-US-film-stub