 Tom Cruise (qv) and Rob Lowe (I) (qv) were both slated to play  the lead. The casting directors were impressed with Cruise because  of the famous underwear dance sequence in  _Risky Business (1983)_ (qv), but he was unavailable for the part  because he was filming _All the Right Moves (1983)_ (qv). Lowe  auditioned three times and had dancing ability and the "neutral  teen" look that the director wanted, but he pulled his knee, and the  injury prevented him from taking the part. After watching  _Diner (1982)_ (qv), the director had to convince the producers to  go with Kevin Bacon.