Mystic Pizza, 20 years later

[caitlen]

Mystic Pizza, 20 years later
story by Tina Detelj

by News Channel 8's Tina Detelj
Posted Oct. 17, 2008


Mystic (WTNH) -- Mystic Pizza was Southeastern Connecticut's little secret until a movie put the pizza parlor on the map. Two decades later, the town and Mystic Pizza are celebrating the movie that made them famous.

It was exactly twenty years ago that Julia Roberts first served up a little slice of heaven. It was a moment in movie history which launched her career, along with worldwide recognition of this little pizza shop.

"Julia became so famous and that just kept it going year, after year," said Dede Smith of Mystic Pizza.

Mystic Pizza had just 10 tables when screenwriter Amy Holden wrote about the waitresses there. Now it has grown into tourist attraction which can serve 800 pizzas on its busiest days.

"I just wanted to see if what I remember from the film is part of this restaurant also," said Diane White of Pennsylvania.

So is the pizza from the small shoreline shop really a slice of heaven?

"What's your review of the pizza"
"I recommend it. It's good," said Carol Miller of Kentucky.

"Nice and doughy, thick, greasy. It's great," said Megan Curran of Norwalk.

"It's a slice of heaven for sure," said Corrie Schmitt of Massachusetts

Most of the movie was shot on a sound stage in Stonington, but there was a very lively scene filmed right here in downtown Mystic and the drawbridge was up.

"It's so beautiful so beautiful. Of course we had to eat here at Mystic Pizza," Miller said.

There's no guarantee other movies made in Connecticut will make such a mark. However, the state says that since it started offering tax incentives two years ago, 90 movies have filmed here. That's generated more than $600 million in revenue for Connecticut.

After 20 years, Mystic Pizza is still a hot commodity. "It is a long time ago. So I'm gonna have to watch it again after being here," White said.

[Ladyheather]

My husband and I stopped in there several years ago. He was on a business trip and Mystic was an hour or so away. I ask him to go there for dinner after work. Such a cute little town and good pizza. I loved the movie and it was so special to visit there.

[deathroe]

Thanks for posting this. That movie is a real slice of '80s cheese, but it also has some wonderful moments. And welll ... a young Vincent

[fuzzytweetie]

Every year, when we visit my brother-in-law in New Haven, we make the "pilgrimage" to Mystic for the pizza. To paraphrase the critic......."A delightful concoction!"

The area is beautiful. Mystic and Mystic Seaport are nice, friendly places to visit. If you have kids, don't miss Mystic Seaport. It's a mini-Williamsburg, so to speak. Great interaction and be sure to watch the "sailors" furl and unfurl the sails!!!

[susan1212]

And the Aquarium can't be topped! It is a fabulous place for kids and adults!

What better way to end your visit, than with a "slice of Heaven" from Mystic Pizza. You will see pictures of Vincent (and others) in the movie. Be sure to go in or out the front door to walk where HE walked in the scene with Lili Taylor where he first sees her after she faints at their "first" wedding. And a visit to the ladies room will trigger memories of their "visit" to the ladies room in the movie. Outside that door, when I went last year, there was a picture of the scene where Jojo had Bill's pants down in her parent's living room. THAT will bring a smile to your face!

[caitlen]

A little more to the story

The Go-To Guy

10/19/2008

Bailey Pryor was all of 18 when he walked into the Mystic Hilton and pitched himself for a job on “Mystic Pizza.” He told producer Mark Levinson that he had lived in the area his whole life and he knew everybody in town.

Levinson said, “OK, kid, you're hired,” and he gave Pryor an immediate task: rent a van, get me some office furniture, and be back in three hours. Done.

Next, the “Mystic Pizza” people gave Pryor a script and introduced him to the location manager, who said, “Tell me where these (characters') houses would be.” And so he said wealthy Charlie's house would be in the Borough, the Portuguese fishermen would be down by the docks or in Pawcatuck. They found a house for the wrong-side-of-the-tracks sisters right near actual train tracks and filmed a scene just as a regularly scheduled train went by.

During the shoot, Pryor had all sorts of tasks. In one case, he had to bring a cell phone to Julia Roberts when she was holed up in her trailer, refusing to do a nude scene. On the other end of the phone was executive producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr. According to Pryor, Daphne Zuniga (a bigger star at the time), was up for the role of Daisy, but she wouldn't agree to go topless. Roberts did agree - but then changed her mind on the set. It was 2 1/2 weeks into the shoot - too late for recasting. In the end, Roberts got her way.

[pink]When Vincent D'Onofrio wanted to spend a night on a boat to learn firsthand what it was like to be a fisherman, Pryor and a pal drove him to the docks in Stonington Borough and introduced him to a fisherman. D'Onofrio went onboard the boat, which was rocking quite a bit. D'Onofrio went below deck but lasted about five minutes before seasickness got him.

The woozy D'Onofrio got off the boat and said, “OK, I think I learned everything I need to know.” [/pink]

Pryor's official job title was production assistant, but he was an all-purpose employee whose familiarity with the area made him a real go-to guy.

”My nickname became 'Just Ask Bailey,',” he says.

No task was too small. One day, the crew was shooting a scene with a view out the window of Stonington Borough. The problem was, there had been an early snow, so the house that the audience would see through the window was covered in snow.

So Pryor - secured with his rock-climbing equipment - got up on the roof to shovel off the snow.

To say “Mystic Pizza” opened doors and kicked off a career for Pryor is an understatement. After “Pizza” wrapped, he had two days off before he flew to L.A. to work on the Rebecca DeMornay movie “Feds” - a job he got through the “Mystic Pizza” cinematographer. He was assistant to “Mystic Pizza” producer Levinson on “Home Alone” and eventually started his own film production company.

Pryor is heading off to work on a TV series for a new start-up sports TV network. The show focuses on visiting exotic travel locations associated with the sport of tennis.

“It was a happy, funny and fun set,” Pryor says of “Mystic Pizza.” “I have been on other sets since then that have been nightmares. ... There was just something a little magic about making that movie.”

- KRISTINA DORSEY

www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=f0769c7a-4273-4dbc-b717-fbc26cf343da

[annabelleleigh]

More "Mystic Pizza" memories.

Boldface mine.

AL
----------------

Mystic Pizza Celebrates

by Christopher Annino
The Residentcom
October 29, 2008

Excerpt:

"Since its release in 1988 the film Mystic Pizza helped launch some actors careers, such as Julia Roberts, Annabeth Gish, Lili Taylor, Vincent D’Onofrio, William Moses, and Conchata Ferrell, to mega stardom. Being the timeless coming of age story that the film represented, its innocence immortalized the film under the direction of Donald Petrie. Many locals celebrated the film at the Olde Mistick Village Arts Cinemas by watching a screening of the 20th anniversary edition of the film.

Chaz Zezulka, a Mystic Pizza extra, and current Vice-Chair Person of Groton Schools said, “In the film, I danced with Julia Roberts in one scene. I realized that getting picked to be an extra is exciting. But the reality of acting in it was different; it made me respect the profession a whole lot more. It was an amazing learning experience for me and the cast was very kind to all of us, especially Vincent D’Onofrio.”

Complete story at
www.theresident.com/2008/10/mystic-pizza-celebrates/