Phoebe Cates | 80's Movie Guide

Taglines: At Ridgemont High only the rules get busted! Fast Times at Ridgemont High movie storyline. Follows a group of high school students growing up in southern California, based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. The center of the film is held by Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer dude who faces off with the resolute Mr. Hand, who is convinced that everyone is on dope. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age comedy film written by Cameron Crowe, adapted from his 1981 book of the same name. Crowe went undercover at Clairemont High School in San Diego and wrote about his experiences. The film was directed by Amy Heckerling (in her directorial debut) and chronicles a school year in the lives of sophomores Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Mark Ratner (Brian Backer), and their respective older friends Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates) and Mike Damone (Robert Romanus), both of whom believe themselves wiser in the ways of romance than their younger counterparts. The ensemble cast of characters form two subplots with Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), a stoned surfer, facing off against uptight history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), and Stacy's brother, Brad (Judge Reinhold), a senior who works at a series of entry-level jobs in order to pay off his car, and who is pondering ending his relationship with his girlfriend (Amanda Wyss), until she dumps him. In addition to Penn, Reinhold, Cates and Leigh, the film marks early appearances by several actors who later became stars, including Nicolas Cage, Forest Whitaker, Eric Stoltz, and Anthony Edwards. Among these actors, Penn, Cage, and Whitaker would later win the Academy Award for Best Actor, with Penn winning twice. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Directed by: Amy Heckerling Starring: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus, Brian Backer, Phoebe Cates, Ray Walston, Amanda Wyss Screenplay by: Cameron Crowe Cinematography by: Matthew F. Leonetti Film Editing by: Eric Jenkins Costume Design by: Marilyn Vance Set Decoration by: Cloudia Rebar Art Direction by: Daniel A. Lomino Distributed by: Universal Pictures Release Date: August 13, 1982