Pete Duel Site

The Pete Duel Site
Celebrating the Life of Pete Duel 1940-1971

www.peteduelsite.com

What Pete said about
Love on a Rooftop

	The following quotes from Pete Duel are all taken from magazine articles published around the time Love on a Rooftop was broadcast (ie 1966 - 1967)

	"It could be about any young couple," he said, "and we think viewers of all ages will find something to identify with. 'My wife is played by Judy Carne, a lovely young girl, who is a very fine actress. I know we'll get along beautifully. In fact, everyone connected with the show has been so nice and cooperative, they've really made me feel at home." Unknown

	"On Love on a Rooftop, I feel married because the show is about newlyweds. It's a great feeling and I hope to make it a permanent, real experience one day soon." TV Inside Movie, February 1967

	"It is obvious," says Deuel, "that the producers had a choice of many young actors and actresses from auditions. Judy was the best for her part and I was the best for mine. That's not conceit. It can't be, really. The decisions were made by the series executives and by the viewers." At the time Peter made the above statement I cautioned him that the words, in print, might give readers a false impression --that Peter Deuel was a little too chesty with success. Deuel shook his head. "No," he said, "don't change it. I said it and it was an honest answer. If it's a mistake, well, that'll be my problem. But I'd rather do penance for telling what I think is the truth than penance for what I know is a lie." Modern Screen, March 1967

	"I think that's the basic problem between us. I suppose there's nothing more frustrating for a well-organized, schedule-conscious person like Judy than to come up against an all round mess of loose ends like me. I tease her a lot about her temper, maybe too much. "But I will say this, her temper isn't the obnoxious kind. We have some pretty spicy words for each other, but she fights at a man's level and we never leave the set at night bearing grudges. Of course, I might add that we rarely leave the set together. "Regardless of what our personal feelings are for each other, we do work well together. I think being complete opposites helps us get into our respective roles. After all, David and Julie don't have a great deal in common except their love for each other. They have different backgrounds. As newlyweds, they're still getting to know each other, learning how to cope with their problems, etc. I guess Judy and I are in much the same kind of situation. Maybe someday we'll find out that we really do like each other--or that we can't stand each other completely. "I'll say this much," Peter added with a grin, "there are never any dull moments around here." TV Photo Story - April 1967

	"We've come close to all out war a few times," Peter admitted. "But we both are aware of the dangers involved. Both of us know that if our relationship became completely intolerable the show might suffer. Like they might have to divorce David and Julie, cause we two can't get along. But we're both very fortunate that we're in a hit series and we wouldn't do anything to jeopardize our work. We've always got that hanging over our heads. So no matter how hectic a day we have here together, we never leave the studio beating grudges. We kiss and make up at the end of each day. "We rarely see each other off the set--unless we happen to bump into each other accidentally. I think it's a good arrangement. We get our fill of each other during the day. Besides, there's no reason for seeing one another after working hours. We have our separate lives. We're two very different people. If we were very much alike, it would probably be even harder to keep our working relationship from going on the rocks completely." Photo TV Land - April 1967

	"Judy's all woman with a big extra--she has compassion underneath," is his glowing opinion of the pert Britisher. "I don't think the series could have happened without her. She's straight forward and coldly honest with herself. Sometimes we fight all day on the set, but we always make up before we go home." Silver Screen - May 1967

	"I dig Judy all the way," explains ruggedly-handsome Peter, "and I've felt warm and close to her right from the start. But that doesn't mean I don't feel like belting her (this with a wink) when she throws her weight around. You know she only weighs 108 pounds soaking wet, but don't let those fragile looks deceive you. Judy's loaded with temperament and I have to cut her down to size now and then (a wide grin this time); otherwise, we wouldn't have our wonderfully-wild relationship. "Because we always know, where we stand, there's no further antagonism between us--until the next round!" Screen Stories - May 1967

	"But I still had to make a test," recalls the eligible bachelor, "and I wanted the part so badly, I was jumpy as a cat. Judy sensed my jitters and she knocked herself out to help me. That's the great thing about actors--they stand by each other." Screen Stories - May 1967

	I get letters from people who are, of course, complete strangers to me. But they know me. It makes me feel good, because I try hard to bring a lot of myself into the role of David Willis." Movie TV Secrets - June 1967

	"I guess that's the magic of acting," he said. "And thank you. I take that as a real compliment--I try to make old Davy as believable as I can. But being a convincing actor and being a real-life husband are two different roles. I just feel that I'm not ready to handle the real-life role as yet." Movie TV Secrets - June 1967

	"But," he added, "in many respects, he's a nicer person than I am. But then, you never see the mean side of TV characters. What I mean is, you see them angry, but not ugly. And they only get their comeuppance rather than being utterly defeated. Outside of this, I think one of the charms of Love On A Rooftop is that the two characters were realistic. Dave even gets petulant--sarcastic." Motion Picture - August 1967