This breezy comedy was intended as a vehicle for director Ron Howard’s old Happy Days chum Henry “the Fonz” Winkler, but it is future Batman (1989) Michael Keaton that steals the show.
Winkler plays Chuck Lumley, the shy mild-mannered New York City morgue attendant who gets involved in a call-girl operation run from the morgue by his sharp-talking assistant Bill Blazejowski (Keaton).
The broad script by Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz doesn’t attempt to milk the black opportunities in the scenario, but the film is still very funny and remarkably free of the earnestness that has marred Howard’s subsequent hits.
As well as providing a showcase for Keaton’s talents, it also gave early exposure to a number of other future stars, including Shelley Long, Kevin Costner and Shannen Doherty.
Chuck Lumley
Henry Winkler
Bill Blazejowski
Michael Keaton
Belinda Keaton
Shelley Long
Charlotte Koogle
Gina Hecht
Edward Koogle
Pat Corley
Leonard
Bobby DiCicco
Vivian
Nita Talbot
Drollhauser
Basil Hoffman
Luke
Tim Rossovich
Jefferey
Clint Howard
Manetti
Joe Spinell
Tanya
Cheryl Carter
Lupe
Becky Gonzalez
Sylvia
Corki Corman
Joyce
Ildiko Jaid
Sharon
Ava Lazar
Frat boy
Kevin Costner
Bluebird
Shannen Doherty
Director
Ron Howard