‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ 30th Anniversary Fest is Coming
When it comes to celebrating milestone years in film, movies have often used the moments to return to theaters. For the 30th Anniversary of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” it’s going to be more than just another screening of the film. The 1986 John Hughes classic starring Matthew Broderick will be celebrated in grand fashion with a festival in May. “Ferris Fest” will be a multi-day event where fans can...
Does Pretty In Pink Hold Up After 30 Years?
By Jerry Beach About two-thirds of the way through Pretty In Pink, Andie (portrayed by Molly Ringwald) utters a line that probably ended up resonating a whole lot more than even John Hughes could have imagined when he penned it at some point in the mid-1980s. “Iona,” Andie says while slow dancing with her close friend (portrayed by Annie Potts) who is jealous of the prom experience Andie is about to enjoy, “you’re gonna OD on...
Q&A with with Susannah Gora, Author of “You Couldn’t Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation”
If you love the 1980s — and if you found your way to this website, you probably do — you MUST read Susannah Gora’s 2010 book, You Couldn’t Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation. Gora was first inspired to write the book when she was a sophomore at Duke University. She says she was sitting in her dorm room with her friends, watching one of the John Hughes films...
Vacation: Two Enthusiastic Thumbs Up
I’ve spent the last week leading up to today’s release of the new Vacation reading critics’ reviews. Most have been less than kind, suggesting the new iteration tries too hard and fails to live up to the greatness that was the 1983 original. Sure, the original was written by John Hughes and directed by Harold Ramis, a combination hard to beat. Throw in Chevy Chase at his best, an amazing supporting cast, a dead Aunt, dog pee-saturated...
30 Facts About Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Thirty years ago, a Scottish band– relatively unknown in the U.S.–made a request to the world. And thirty years later, the world is still honoring it. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”– that’s all Simple Minds asked of us in February 1985, when their signature song from the film The Breakfast Club first debuted. And so far, we haven’t forgotten: the song and the film have been permanently etched into our pop-culture...
Then and Now: Judd Nelson
When you think of classic movie endings, what comes to mind? Citizen Kane? The Wizard of Oz? The Empire Strikes Back? Or, maybe this? Yup. There he is at the end of The Breakfast Club: fist in the air, screen frozen on my favorite “criminal,” John Bender. He’s just finished serving the most epic day of detention ever, followed by a sweet make out session/diamond stud earring exchange with Molly Ringwald. The Simple Minds anthem “Don’t...
The Battle of the Boys (in Pretty in Pink)
John Hughes – how do I love thee? Let me count the ways . . . The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – each amazing and so much a part of my 80s teen-hood. But there’s one John Hughes movie that was a standout for me. One that influenced my fashion choices. One that I memorized. One that I went to a theme-party for. One that I saw in the theatre four times. One whose cassette tape soundtrack I still own/play...
1980s Movie Mt. Rushmore Part I: John Hughes
By Michael Nazarewycz This is the first of a 4-part series that will look at those people most influential on movies in the 1980s. In the eight-year span between 1982 and 1989, John Hughes wrote, directed, and/or produced 16 movies. Of those, the titles of 14 are still easily recognizable today, even by casual fans of ‘80s films. And of those 14, at least three (The Breakfast Club; Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; Christmas Vacation) are...
What do Quarterbacks & Molly Ringwald Have to do with Your Love Life?
By Bill Torgerson Twitter, Facebook, WordPress Author of the novel, Love on the Big Screen Assistant Professor Institute For Writing Studies St. John’s University New York There’s an old question that goes something like this: does art imitate life or does life imitate art? In other words, did John Hughes notice that women often sat in the bleachers pining for the high school quarterback, and so he wrote his film Sixteen Candles, or...
Pretty in Pink, 1986
This movie had it all. It may, in fact, be the best example of the genre. A John Hughes film, starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, James Spader and Jon Cryer, 1986’s film Pretty in Pink is a must see for anyone interested in 80s movies or just interested in a good story, well done. Somewhat reminiscent of the classic Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, the movie is a teen love story about two people who want to be together but...
The Breakfast Club, 1985
Do you remember The Breakfast Club? No, not a group of old men meeting at Hardees for breakfast. I’m talking about the 1985 movie, The Breakfast Club. For those of us who recognize the Brat Pack names Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez and Anthony Michael Hall, The Breakfast Club is a movie we’ll never forget. It begins with glass shattering to reveal the setting, Shermer High School, Saturday March 24th, 1984....
Sixteen Candles, 1984
“Auto – mo – beeeel” – Gotta love the Donger. Teen flicks were as popular in the 80s as they are today, perhaps even more so. One such decade-defining film, Sixteen Candles set into motion the careers of Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and John and Joan Cusack. These stars would later come to dominate the teen movie scene throughout the decade. Written and directed by John Hughes, this coming of age...
