BetteBack: Press Release – Ruthless People

Principal photography on “Ruthless People“, a contemporary comedy, began last week.
Article from:PR Newswire Article date:January 10, 1986

BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ — Principal photography began this week on “Ruthless People,” a contemporary comedy starring Bette Midler, Danny DeVito and Judge Reinhold for Touchstone Films. Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker are directing the original screenplay written by Dale Launer and produced by Michael Peyser. Joanna Lancaster and Richard Wagner are the executive producers.

Midler stars in the motion picture as an eccentric heiress who is taken hostage by a pair of likeable kidnappers. DeVito plays her husband, a loathsome businessman who, having been approached for ransom, is delighted by the prospect that he may never see her again. Judge Reinhold plays one of the kidnappers.

“Ruthless People” is being directed by the Zuckers and Abrahams, the team responsible for “Airplane” one of the highest grossing features of all time. The film is being produced by Michael Peyser, who was executive producer of “Desperately Seeking Susan.”

Midler, the talented actress, singer and comedienne who won an Academy Award nomination for her performance in “The Rose,” also stars in the soon-to-be-released Paul Mazursky film “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” for Touchstone.

DeVito, the Emmy Award-winning star of the long-running television series “Taxi,” has built a whole new following for himself on the success of the hit movies “Romancing the Stone” and “Jewel of the Nile.” He also stars in “Wise Guys,” which is due out this spring.

Reinhold, acclaimed as the befuddled police officer in “Beverly Hills Cop,” also stars in Touchstone’s spring release “Off Beat,” with Meg Tilly.

In addition to “Airplane,” the Zuckers and Abrahams wrote and conceived the motion picture “Kentucky Fried Movie,” based on a stage revue that they created in their native Milwaukee and transplanted to Los Angeles in 1972. They also created the television series “Police Squad” and wrote and directed the movie “Top Secret.”

Peyser was Woody Allen’s associate producer before becoming the executive producer of last year’s highly acclaimed “Desperately Seeking Susan.” His most recent project is “F/X,” which is scheduled for release in February.

“Ruthless People” will be shot on location in Los Angeles and on soundstages at Waly Disney Studios in Burbank. Production is set to continue through mid-March with a summer release planned by Touchstone.

Touchstone Films is a division of Walt Disney Studios.