Girls, Interrupted
Penny Marshall directs Drew Barrymore in a story that hits close to home

Drew Barrymore and Brittany Murphy sent the town of Tuckahoe, New York (population: 6,300), back to 1965 on the first day of shooting for their new movie, Riding in Cars With Boys. In the film, they play high schoolers who both become pregnant; Barrymore's character marries the drug-addict father of her baby, sinks into poverty and struggles to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. The film is based on Beverly Donofrio's 1990 memoir of the same name and is a labor of love for Director Penny Marshall. "Part of the story is very similar to some of my life," said Marshall, who was unmarried and pregnant herself at the age of 20. "I hope I can get in what I know and the feelings that I know." (Marshall's daughter, Tracy, is now 36 years old.) Tuckahoe locals have enjoyed watching their main street go through a time warp, complete with classic Cadillac convertibles, a drive-in "Dari-delite" burger-and-ice-cream joint, a period neon movie marquee and a record store stocked with vintage LPs and 45s. "It looks very much like it used to," says Mayor Philip White, a born-and-bred Tuckahoan. "A number of people have said, 'I wish it would stay this way' - especially the old-timers, who were very nostalgic."