One of the most iconic cult classic movies of the 1980s was Mystic Pizza, a film about two sisters and their best friend who live in a small, quintessential town on the Connecticut shore and work in a pizza restaurant over the summer. Starring Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts, and Lili Taylor, the theme of the flick centered around falling in love, learning tough lessons, and making the transition into early adulthood.
If you recall, Gish’s character, Kat Arujo, takes on a side gig as a babysitter for a local little girl, and she winds up getting up close and personal with the girl’s father, Tim Travers, played by actor William R. Moses. Who could forget the scene with the creaky board in the old house he’s renovating? It was a true loss-of-innocence moment.
Moses, now 65, recently appeared on the Media Path podcast, and he talked about the huge impact the film had on a generation. He also told a humorous story about returning to Mystic, Connecticut, where the movie was filmed, and stopping by Mystic Pizza, which served as the inspiration for the flick.
Much to his surprise, nobody recognized him!
@louisepalanker William R. Moses shares memories from Mystic Pizza. Link to full episode of Media Path Podcast in bio. #mysticpizza #mysticconnecticut #80s #80smovies #mattdamon #juliaroberts
♬ original sound – louisepalanker
“Mystic Pizza is, I think, 35 years old (it’s actually 37), and that holds up great.”
When asked about the film’s cult following, Moses said, “The whole experience of it was just so meaningful… it was such a beautiful time and such a beautiful place, and that people still are watching it now is pretty exciting.”
He then talked about recently returning to Mystic to revisit the sites from the movie, and a stop at Mystic Pizza took him by surprise. As he explains, the “real” Mystic Pizza isn’t in the building that was used for the film. That location was actually in neighboring town, Stonington.
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In the Mystic Pizza shop in Mystic, they actually play the movie on a continuous loop, since it’s a lot of the reason many visitors stop by for a bite.
(Side note: as a Connecticut resident who visits Mystic quite often, I can tell you the pizza there is pretty standard. If you want the best pizza in town, head over to Mango’s Woodfired Pizza in Olde Mystic Village. You’re welcome.)
But despite Moses walking into the pizza joint with the movie on repeat, nobody knew who he was. He explains, “I walked to Mystic Pizza, and I stood outside Mystic Pizza, and people are coming up and taking pictures of the restaurant, going, ‘That’s where they shot the movie!,’ and I’m (thinking I’m) gonna hear it. And nobody came to see me, and I said, ‘I’m not going in there… nobody knows who the hell I am!'”
Related: ’80s ‘Cult Classic’ Movie Actress, 61, ‘Has Aged Incredibly’ in Recent Appearance
LOL! While visitors to and the staff at the restaurant might not have recognized the actor, the movie really will go down in history as one of the most beloved films to come out of the ’80s.
I’ve probably watched it at least 50 times over the past 30-plus years or so, and it never fails to draw me right in.
It’s just too bad there was never a sequel. It would’ve been such a treat to see Kat come back to town as a wildly successful powerhouse after attending Yale and put Tim Travers in his place.
And if she didn’t stand up to him? Daisy would’ve showed him who’s boss.
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