- Title: USA: STARS OF 'INVENTING THE ABBOTTS' SPEAK ABOUT THEIR FILM
- Date: 10th March 1997
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MARCH 10, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) PRODUCER RON HOWARD (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH ) SAYING I WAS PRETTY MUCH JUST AN ACTOR FOR HIRE ON HAPPY DAYS" AND "AMERICAN GRAFFITTI." WHEN "INVENTING THE ABBOTTS" CAME ALONG, I THOUGHT, THIS IS GOOD, IT DEBUNKS ALOT OF MYTHS THAT IT WAS SOMEHOW A GOLDEN ERA WHERE NOBODY EVER FELT BAD, OR WASN'T REALLY
- Embargoed: 25th March 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA95MF9XON1FPWJ1OTFTZHRCOG7
- Story Text: Irish director Pat O'Connor teams up with American producer Ron Howard to bring the 1950's era coming-of-age tale "Inventing the Abbotts" to the big screen.
The pair have cast some of Hollywood's hottest young talents in the lead roles -- including Joaquin Phoenix,Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly and Liv Tyler.
The film is the story of three crucial years in the lives of five teenagers in a small Midwestern town.
The working class Holt brother are smart, good-looking and as different from each other as their family is from the wealthy Abbotts.
Billy Crudup plays older brother Jacey while Joaquin Phoenix plays the younger brother Doug.
The three beautiful Abbott girls appear to have it all, money, popularity and their choice of boys.
Liv Tyler is the youngest sibling Pamela, Jennifer Connelly plays the rebellious middle child Eleanor and Joanna Going is Joan, the oldest sister.
As the Holts and the Abbotts confront the timeless challenges of love, sex and identity, their struggle is complicated by a dark secret that haunts both families.
The late 1950's setting of the film places its lead characters on the cusp of the revolutionary changes that jolted America from the quiet complacency of the post-war boom.
Fifties teens declared their independence from the straight-laced world of their parents with cars, cigarettes, music, clothes, haircuts, slang, sexual restlessness and rebellion against authority.
It may seem strange to have an Irishman direct a tale of such Americana, but O'Connor feels a familiarity with America after having spent so much time there. His previous credits include the political thriller "Cal" and the Irish coming-of-age story "Circle of Friends." Producer Ron Howard certainly is no stranger to stories coming out of the 50's. One of his first big breaks in show business was acting in the television comedy series "Happy Days," about a group of young people growing up in that same time period.
Since then, Howard has gone on to direct and produce films for his Imagine Entertainment production company.
"Inventing the Abbotts" is the latest film to come from that company. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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