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Issued: 4-28-2010

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“It is a strong, taut drama which builds to a climax almost painfully tense”

Critical Reception and Reviews

-Paul V. Beckley, New York Herald Tribune, August 1957

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Locations

Adaptation

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CCRun time94 Minutes C

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Can't Buy Me Love"Money can buy popularity but Director:

Steve Rash Gene:

Romance, ComedyReleased:

August 14, 1987 94 minutes PG-13

Budget: Estimated between $2.7 - $2.9 Million

AWARDS Patrick Dempsey Won

for Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy

Amanda Peterson Nominated for Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy

Based on the Original Screenplay by

Michael SwerdlickWho wrote the

Remake Screenplay forLove Don't Cost a Thing (2003)

LOCATIONSWinterhaven neighborhood, Pima Air Museum (6000 E. Valencia Road) Scoops (2910 E. Speedway Boulevard), Hill Farm House, Tucson High School (400 N. 2nd. Avenue also Euclid & 6th Street), Tucson Mall (4500 N. Oracle Road), Speedway Blvd.

In 1986 during filming the Christmas scenes it actually snowed in Tucson. The producers didn't think anyone would believe snow on a cactus so the Art Department had to scrape off the snow everywhere.

The ending "into the sunset shot" was on the daily call sheet everyday for a couple of weeks till the perfect sunset was captured.

Tucson High School received $5,000 for letting the school be used as a movie set. Rash shot the film Non-

MOVIE TRIVIA Original working title

was "Boy Rents Girl" A house in Winterhaven

doubled settings: first as Kenneth's house and second as the interior set for the New Year's Eve Party.

The road used for cruising is Speedway Blvd. LIFE magazine in 1972 called it the "Ugliest main street in

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Cast: Patrick Dempsey................Ronald MillerAmanda Peterson...............Cindy ManciniSeth Green..........................Chuckie MillerCourtney Gains...................Kenneth WurmanDarcey Demoss...................PattyAmi Dolenz.........................FranDevin DeVasquez................Iris

Crew: Peter Lyons Collister........Dir. of PhotographyJerram Swartz..................Assistant DirectorRandal Feemster..............Camera OperatorAnne McCaffrey...............Location

SynopsisEighties high school film "Can't Buy Me Love" (1987) is the classic tale of the geek winning the heart of the head cheerleader. Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) is plagued by the self-realization that his geek status has alienated him from both popularity and the girl of his dreams. Head cheerleader, Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson), finds herself desperately needing one thousand dollars to bail herself out of trouble. Ronald negotiates to rent Cindy for one month. A pretend relationship that's suppose to elevate Ronald's high school status while getting to spend time with Cindy. The truth comes out and the backlash annihilates Ronald leaving him without any status in the world of high school. Ronald makes a heartfelt speech about friendship. Cindy gives in to her emotions to give Ronald a second chance. The two ride off together into the Arizona sunset for a happily ever after.

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Interview with Location ManagerAnne McCaffrey

Special Thanks to:

Anne McCaffreyPeter CatalanotteDr. Jenkins

Tucson Film OfficeUniversity of Arizona Media Arts DepartmentMetropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors BureauPima Air and Space MuseumIndependent Film association of Southern Arizona (IFASA)Winterhaven Neighborhood AssociationHill Farm Homeowners Association (HFHOA)Touchstone PicturesTucson MallTucson High Schoolhttp://www.fast-rewind.com/ cbml.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can%27t_Buy_Me_Love_(film)http://filmtucson.comhttp://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0092718/http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/nerds-love-and-cannonballs/Content?oid= 1075432http://www.thepepper.com/tucson_film_locations.htmlhttp://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cantbuymelove.htmhttp://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Can't_Buy_Me_Love_(film)http://wapedia.mobi/en/Can't_Buy_Me_Love_(film)http://www.movietome.com/movie/275343/cant-buy-me-

"The film's success as a summer blockbuster hit was a total surprise, making about 30 million in the first summer.....I love Tucson, It is a very special place and offers so much to filmmakers. There are so many "looks" to the city and surrounding areas, making it a very optimal place to shoot. I have worked on so many films there, and

jump at the chance every time to return."

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Tucson, AZ

< August 2010

October >

1986

< The Loft Cinema on Speedway Boulevard. In 1987 the theater was called the Twin Theaters

< KFC in 2010

Scoops>1986

F

< Cindy Mancini's house. Farm Hill House

Clubhouse to this suburb neighborhood on

Ft.Lowell

The community was brand new. The yard

didn't have any grass. The Art Department had

to lay out the entire lawn.

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The helicopter for the final pretend date was on a real HH-43F Huskie [registration #59-1583]. The helicopter was donated by USAF to Tucson's Pima Air & Space Museum in 1977. After filming, the helicopter was converted into a civilian helicopter and sold [registration # N100PL]. Between 1991 and 1994 the helicopter was damaged four times and changed owners three times. On September 25, 1999, the helicopter crashed outside of Phoenix killing the pilot and crew. It was declared an "In flight break-up for reasons yet undetermined."

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Amanda Peterson left acting in 1995

Peterson did over thirty-five commercials before the age of fourteen.

Peterson lives in Colorado with her husband and children.

Peterson attended Colorado State University and is known to be involved with their theater program.

Patrick Dempsey currently appears on "Grey's Anatomy" as 'McDreamy'

Dempsey has a men's fragrance called "Unscripted" sold through AVON.

Dempsey auditioned for the role of Duckie in "Pretty in Pink" and for Dr. Gregory House on "House M.D."

Dempsey opened the Center for Cancer Hope & Healing in

Film format 35mm

Original aspect ratio 1.37:1Adjusted to 1.85:1

Cinematographic process used Spherical

Laboratory Deluxe

Production Companies:Twisted Pictures/

Evolution Entertainment, Touchstone Pictures,

Silver Screen Partners III

Distributor: Buena Vista

MOVIE REVIEWS"Has you laughing out loud!"

-San Francisco Chronicle (August 1987).

"Has originality, wit and - most important - style!"

-San Antonio Express-News (1987).

"Dempsey has a charm about him not unlike John Cusack and even in certain moments, Woody Allen."

-Variety 328 (1987):13.

"The obvious, to thine own self-be-true moral is evident long before it's needlessly spelled out. At the heart of this film though is a desire to teach a more subtle lesson about rising above expectations. At that this move inspiringly succeeds in more ways than one."

-Cunneff, Tom. People Weekly.

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Offshoots: Tremors 2: Aftershocks

Tremors 3: Back to Perfection

Tremors 4: The Legend

Locations

A total of five 1966 Thunderbird convertibles were used during filming.

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“Well, we're not in the

middle of

nowhere, but we can see it from

here.” -Thelma

ON LOCATION withThelma and Louis

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Curated By Reyna Burruel April 2010

< 2010

Site of T.H.S.'s original athletic field

1986 >

<2010

1986>

< 2010

1st floor, area is now a

Cinnabon

1986>

< 2010

Tucson Mall

enterance

1980's - 2010>

The school has made dramatic changes over time; but behind the concrete assistive ramp is still the same perfectly preserved spot where Cindy and Ronald had an impromptu wardrobe adjustment before entering as the happy fake couple.

The Tucson Mall's second floor, facing the JC Penny department store, is the mall's establishing shot. The film crew had permission to be inside to film Cindy's attempted dress exchange. However the mall stores did not give their consent. So, the Art Department placed plastic trees and plants to obscure store names.

Tucson High School

Tucson Mall