Just Me and You (1978 film)

Just Me and You is a 1978 American made-for-television comedy film written by Louise Lasser and directed by John Erman.

Just Me and You
GenreComedy
Written byLouise Lasser
Directed byJohn Erman
StarringLouise Lasser
Charles Grodin
Music byFred Karlin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersRoger Gimbel
Tony Converse (co-executive producer)
ProducerWilliam S. Gilmore
CinematographyGayne Rescher
EditorTina Hirsch
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesEMI Television
Roger Gimbel Productions
DistributorNBC
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseMay 22, 1978 (1978-05-22)

Plot

The film is a gentle comedy about two strangers with personal family issues who drive across wintery America after Michael Lindsay (Charles Grodin) offers a lift to Jane Alofsin (Lasser) and how they gradually get to know each other. Jane is a little neurotic and very indecisive while Charles is more focused.

Cast

Production

Lasser wrote the script in the period between shooting the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman pilot and filming the series. "My biggest fear was that I would write like Woody but I came out sounding like me," she said.[1]

Lasser said she "wasn't a writer" but wrote 300 pages of "dialogue scenes" between a boy and a girl. These were read by Deanne Barkley who was developing script for the Robert Stigwood Organization. She suggested Lasser write up her pages as a script and gave her the basic plot line. Lasser rewrote the script accordingly.[2]

Mary Hartman became a big success. Lasser wanted to move into writing and directing.[3] She quit the show and took five months to recover. She then signed a three-picture deal with NBC, to write and star in one film, star in another and direct in a third. The first film was Just Me and You.[2][4][5]

Deanne Barkley had moved to NBC by this time. She got Lasser to rewrite the project under the guidance of Roger Gimbel of EMI TV. She worked on the male part to get the interest of Charles Grodin. "It was the part I wanted to play," she said later. "I love that part. The woman - I don't understand her."[2]

The film was shot entirely in California, with various locations such as Joshua Tree doubling for the rest of the US.[2]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times said the film contained "the funniest outpouring of dialogue this side of Woody Allen."[6]

References
  1. Louise Lasser, Louise Lasser: Louise Lasser, Louise Lasser By Jeannette Smyth. The Washington Post 17 Jan 1976: B1.
  2. New Episode in Lasser's TV Life: Incomplete Source Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 9 May 1978: h1.
  3. Mary Hartman's Price Goes Up: SECOND SEASON Mary Hartman Price Doubles Margulies, Lee. Los Angeles Times 8 Oct 1976: e1.
  4. Dragging a critique out of a critic: Louise Lasser turns tables and interviews interviewer about 'Just Me and You' By Arthur Unger. The Christian Science Monitor 19 May 1978: 19.
  5. Louise Lasser Stars in TV Film by Louise Lasser: Success a Surprise Only Exhaustion Used Goods Cherished By ALJEAN HARMETZ Special to The New York Times. 21 May 1978: 53.
  6. Our TV Cup Runneth Over Los Angeles Times 22 May 1978: g14.
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