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Diner is a 1982 comedy-drama film written and directed by Barry Levinson. Levinson's screen directing debut, Diner is the first in his "Baltimore films", which also include the subsequent Tin Men (1987), Avalon (1990) and Liberty Heights (1999).

Plot

Set in Baltimore, Maryland, during the last week of 1959, Diner tells the story of a group of male friends – now in their early twenties – who reunite for the wedding of one of their group. The title refers to the diner that was located at Reisterstown Road and Rogers Avenue, Baltimore, the group's late-night hangout – a diner in Fells Point, Baltimore was used for location shooting). An element of the story includes the Baltimore Colts winning the 1959 NFL Championship Game. The semi-autobiographical film explores the changing relationships among these friends as they become adults through what is mostly a series of vignettes rather than a traditional narrative. Levinson encouraged improvisation among his cast to capture naturalistic camaraderie.

Cast

• Steve Guttenberg as Edward "Eddie" Simmons
• Daniel Stern as Laurence "Shrevie" Schreiber
• Mickey Rourke as Robert "Boogie" Sheftell
• Kevin Bacon as Timothy "Fen" Fenwick Jr.
• Tim Daly as William "Billy" Howard
• Ellen Barkin as Shrevie's wife, Beth Schreiber
• Paul Reiser as Modell
• Kathryn Dowling as Barbara
• Michael Tucker as Bagel
• Jessica James as Eddie's mom, Mrs Simmons
• Colette Blonigan as Carol Heathrow
• Kelle Kipp as Diane
• Clement Fowler as Eddie's dad, Mr Simmons
• Claudia Cron as Jane Chisholm

This was the first credited feature film role for Daly, Barkin and Reiser.

Adaptations

The film inspired a 1983 CBS television pilot written and directed by Levinson. Mike Binder starred as Eddie, Paul Reiser returned as Modell, Michael Madsen took over as Boogie and James Spader was Fenwick.

A stage musical, with the book by Levinson and music by Sheryl Crow is being prepared, with plans for a Broadway opening in Spring 2013. Kathleen Marshall is the director and choreographer. A "creative workshop" reading was held in December 2011, directed by Kathleen Marshall. A previously announced premiere at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco in October 2012 to November 2012 was cancelled. Instead, the musical will have a staged workshop in New York and then is expected to open on Broadway on April 10, 2013. The producer said that "the producers and creative team of 'Diner' embarked on an exploratory exercise to determine if the show would play as effectively in a theatre with a capacity no larger than 1,100 seats, for which there is greater opportunity. Holding themselves to uncompromising standards they happily discovered that their answer was 'yes.'" The role of Beth Schreiber will be played by Ashley Spencer, Barbara by Chandra Lee Schwartz and Elyse by Becky Gulsvig.

Crew

• Costume Design: Gloria Gresham

Reception

The film maintains a 96 percent score at Rotten Tomatoes. It was ranked No. 57 by the American Film Institute's 100 Years, 100 Laughs list. Levinson also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

References

1. "Diner (1982) - Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
2. Bacalzo, Dan. "Sheryl Crow and Barry Levinson's Diner Musical to Debut on Broadway in 2013", TheaterMania.com, March 20, 2012
3. "'Diner' closer to stage". New York Post. January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2012. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
4. Fleming, M. "Barry Levinson Books Diner For Broadway Bow, Sheryl Crow To Write Music". Deadline.com, September 20, 2011
5. Jones, Kenneth. "Musical 'Diner' Will Open on Broadway April 10, 2013, Following Fall Workshop; Expect an Intimate Show". Playbill, August 3, 2012
6. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diner/

External links

• Diner at IMDb
• Diner (1982) at Rotten Tomatoes

Template:AFI 100 Laughs

• American comedy films
• Culture of Baltimore, Maryland
• 1982 films
• American comedy-drama films
• Films set in the 1950s
• American coming-of-age films
• English-language films
• Films directed by Barry Levinson
• Directorial debut films
• 1980s comedy films
• Films set in Baltimore, Maryland