Themes: Unlikely Friendships, High School Life, Romantic Misunderstandings
Main Cast: Tim Robbins, Jon Cryer, Demi Moore, George Wendt, Peter Frechette, Elizabeth Daily, Jeffrey Tambor, Jennifer Tilly
Release Year: 1984
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This run-of-the-mill teen romantic comedy's main attraction is 22-year-old Demi Moore as Laura Victor, an aspiring rock singer. The slightly younger Jon Cryer is Charles Cummings, a dedicated photographer who meets Laura, falls in love, and decides that a dedication to furthering her career might further his own amorous designs. Charles is essentially a loser when it comes to women -- and just about anything else except photography. One day Charles captures Laura on film along a San Francisco seashore and is shocked but excited to run into her later while at a North Beach nightclub where she is a performer. Unable to just let her go, he finally convinces her to pose for him, and as a result of that session he comes up with one good photo which he then puts on nearly 200 San Francisco cabs -- using up all his savings in the process. The result consists of offers that have nothing to do with singing -- until one exception occurs. Another new face in the crowd in this conventional movie is Jennifer Tilly (younger sister of Meg Tilly and Oscar-nominated for her role in Bullets Over Broadway), working in her first film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Ann Wedgeworth - Joan Cummings; Judith Baldwin - Stephanie; Hamilton Camp - Gus Sosnowski; Tate Donovan - Bob; Rick Ducommun - Groom; Scott Getlin - Scott; Kene Holliday - Walt Cronin; Joe Lerer - French Teacher; Steve Monarque - Larry; Morgan Upton - News Vendor; Joan Valderrama - Biker's Girl; Michael David Wright - Jim; Rupert Holmes - Band Leader at Wedding; Tim Robbins - Nelson; Louis Geneva - Cabbie; Ashley Woodman Hall - Band Leader at Jake's; Arthur Taxier - Bouncer; Michael Vaughn - Nelson's Friend; Jack R. Clinton - Bartender; Jan Dunn - Lady with Dog; Katherine Lyons - Wedding Cocktail Waitress; Shermaine Michaels - Bride; George Pentecost - Minister; Sally Schaub - Museum Employee
Credit
Frank Richwood - Art Director, Jo Ynocencio - Costume Designer, Chuck Myers - First Assistant Director, Jerry Schatzberg - Director, Priscilla Nedd - Editor, Eve Newman - Editor, Melvin Shapiro - Editor, George Justin - Executive Producer, Rupert Holmes - Composer (Music Score), Rupert Holmes - Songwriter, Robert F. Boyle - Production Designer, John A. Alonzo - Cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond - Cinematographer, William Sackheim - Producer, Monroe Sachson - Producer, Craig Edgar - Set Designer, Arthur Jeph Parker - Set Designer, Mark Poll - Set Designer, George Justin - Unit Production Manager, Charles Bolt - Screen Story, Craig Bolotin - Screenwriter, Michael Leeson - Screenwriter, Charles Bolt - Screenwriter, Terence Mulcahy - Screenwriter, James Seidelman - Additional Editing
The 16 years old amateur photographer Charles accidentally takes a photo of Laura - and falls in love with her, when he develops the picture. He finds out that she works as singer in a bar, but is about to be thrown out. Although rejected at first by the 22-year-old, he wants to help her and starts an ad campaign behind her back... with unexpected results.
This film has become a cult favorite for aspiring photographers - the film has depicted the traditional film camera elements (e.g. the darkroom) unlike the modern-day digital camera where the darkroom has become obsolete. One scene in the film depicts the effects of photographer's withdrawal where a photographer's client terminates a relationship because of a wrongful deed (especially the scene where Charles flashes $6,000 for billboard advertising on taxicabs).
