Echo Park (1985)
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86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
30% of users liked it
(532 ratings)
This bittersweet comedy looks at the denizens of Echo Park, a decaying section of Los Angeles popular with struggling actors and musicians, largely because of its (relatively) low rents. May Greer (Susan Dey) is a single mother and aspiring actress who makes ends meet by tending bar (the most… More This bittersweet comedy looks at the denizens of Echo Park, a decaying section of Los Angeles popular with struggling actors and musicians, largely because of its (relatively) low rents. May Greer (Susan Dey) is a single mother and aspiring actress who makes ends meet by tending bar (the most lucrative job she's been offered in show biz is as a combination stripper and singing telegram girl). Her neighbor August (Michael Bowen) is a body-builder from Austria who dreams of becoming a movie star like Arnold Schwarzenegger, though these days he's supporting himself by doing low-budget TV commercials for deodorant. May and August have an on-again, off-again relationship, which has more to do with sex and loneliness than love. Hoping to stretch her budget a bit, May rents out a room to Jonathan (Tom Hulce), a wannabe singer/songwriter who makes his money delivering pizzas. May takes a liking to Jonathan, and her son Henry (Christopher Walker) sees Jonathan as the benevolent father figure that's been missing from his life. The supporting cast includes cult figure Timothy Carey and Cassandra Peterson, best known as princess of the dark Elvira. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Dornhelm
- Written By
- Michael Ventura
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1986 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Presents vignettes of yearning individuals in Hollywood who dream of making it in show biz.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Offers sympathy for the outcasts and freaks living on the fringe of American society.
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Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
There's a lot of good humour here and you're left feeling as if you've been eavesdropping on some particularly fascinating (and very pleasant) next-door neighbours.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Susan Dey
as May Greer
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Tom Hulce
as Jonathan
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Michael Bowen
as August
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Christopher Walker
as Henry Greer
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Shirley Jo Finney
as Gloria
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Timothy Carey
as Vinnie
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Heinrich Schweiger
as August's Father
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Cassandra Peterson
as Sheri
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John Paragon
as Hugo
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Paul Anselmo
as Policeman
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Jesse Aragon
as Policeman
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Dorothy Dells
as Consulate Secretary
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Yana Nirvana
as Woman in Bar
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Robert Shafer
as Commercial Director
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Martin Suppan
as Austrian Consul
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Biff Yeager
as Jailer
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Cheech Marin
as Sid
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Dee Cooper
as Man in Park
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Anne Marie Bates
as Prospective Roommate
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Robert Cabral
as Policeman
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Dana Collins
as Telegram Stripper
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Peter Drain
as Bar Customer
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Douglas M. Ford
as Biker
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Stephen Gaines
as Desk Sergeant
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Penny Harris
as Telegram Stripper
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James Helppi
as Guest in Elevator
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Top Jimmy
as Bar Customer
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Doug Knott
as Birthday Man
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Renee LeBallister
as Prospective Roommate
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Fred Leaf
as Burt Reynolds' Look-Alike
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Michael Marloe
as Party-Goer
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Jason Mayall
as Prospective Roommate
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Bob Moss
as Birthday Boy
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Skip O'Brien
as Prisoner
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John Pochna
as Bar Customer
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De Schneider
as Real Estate Secretary
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George W. Scott
as Man with Tip
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Jim Smith
as Party-Goer
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Mary Thompson
as Prospective Roommate
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Patricia Tippo
as Telegram Stripper
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Jacki Easton Toelle
as Girl in Commercial
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Max Trumpower
as Telegram Stripper
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Merrill Ward
as Telegram Stripper
