Leonard Gardner (born 3 November 1933) is an American novelist , short story writer , and screenwriter . His writing has appeared in The Paris Review , Esquire , The Southwest Review , and other publications, and he has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship .
6-406: Valentino Returns is a 1989 American romantic drama film written by Leonard Gardner , directed by Peter Hoffman and starring Frederic Forrest , Veronica Cartwright , Jenny Wright and Barry Tubb . It is Hoffman's feature directorial debut and based on Gardner's short story "Christ Has Returned to Earth and Preaches Here Nightly." The movie was filmed in and around Stockton and Newman , and
12-685: A few frames from the opening shot and thought that it changed the entire film. Once invited to Sundance, I assumed he’d settle down and meet the deadline. But Hoffman was so possessed that he couldn’t stop tinkering. He pulled out–a second cancellation. The film was released at the 68th Street Playhouse in New York City on July 21, 1989. Leonard Gardner Gardner was born in Stockton , and went to San Francisco State University . He currently lives in Larkspur, California . Gardner's 1969 novel Fat City
18-522: A small part in the film, playing a character named Lyle. Gardner has made a couple of other acting appearances, most notably in Francis Ford Coppola 's 1988 film Tucker: The Man and His Dream . Gardner appears in a handful of scenes as a character known only as the Gas Station Owner. He has written a number of screenplays for television, including several for NYPD Blue , for which he
24-409: Is an American classic whose stature has increased over the years. His screen adaptation of Fat City was made into an acclaimed 1972 film of the same title, directed by John Huston . The book and movie are set in and around Stockton and concern the struggles of third-rate pro boxers who only dimly comprehend that none of them will ever make the big time. Devoid of the usual "sweet science" cliches,
30-437: The book roils with dark pessimism as the characters eke out a gritty existence. It is considered an underappreciated classic of early 1970s cinema. In their memoirs, producer Ray Stark and director John Huston both cited it as among their finest achievements. Gardner adapted his short story "Jesus Christ Has Returned to Earth and Appears Here Nightly" into the screenplay for the low-budget 1989 film Valentino Returns . He has
36-499: Was funded by its director Peter Hoffman. It found an advocate in John Pierson , who recommended it for inclusion in the 1988 Sundance Film Festival. However, in his book Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes , Pierson explains that Hoffman couldn't finish post-production on time: He’s spent years editing his feature, spending millions of dollars of family money in the process. Occasionally he’d call me up to let me know that he’d trimmed
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