The Summary for this unviewed film was based on reviews in the 26 Apr 1980 LAT and the 7 May 1980 Var. Therefore, the credits are derived from official United Artists’ cast and crew information in AMPAS library files.
       According to an article in the 11 Jun 1979 DV, in 1975, television actor Ron Howard, the star of the television show Happy Days (ABC, 1974--1984), started work on Leo and Loree in his spare time on weekends. Jim Ritz, a writer on Happy Days, wrote a “rough script” and the project was filmed in 16mm. However, the film stalled as other work filled Howard’s schedule. In 1977, Howard formed Major H Productions with his father, Rance Howard, and his brother, Clint Howard, and the company’s first project was a National Broadcasting Company (NBC) television movie titled Cotton Candy. When they approached the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), the network was interested in making Leo and Loree as a television movie. Ritz wrote a more complete script, but ABC wanted the story to go in different direction. Howard saw an opportunity to produce his company’s first independent feature film. Leo and Loree was made on a low budget, with Howard supplying most of the money himself, supplemented by some presale deals. Jerry Paris, a noted Happy Days director, had been slated to direct Leo and Loree as a television movie, and he remained with the feature project. Production notes in AMPAS library files reported that the film’s Southern California locations included Beverly Hills, Venice and Malibu. The 23 May 1979 DV reported the completion of principal photography.
       The 11 Jun 1979 DV announced that United Artists picked up the film’s domestic distribution rights, and was also negotiating for foreign rights. The film was released on 25 Apr 1980.