One of my heroes passed away today.
John Hughes was a brilliant screenwriter and director and I know much will be written about him in the coming weeks about his contribution to the film industry, his impact on my generation, and the group of actors he introduced to America. And while I marvel at those things, what sticks out in my mind is how he was able to develop characters like Andie Walsh, Samantha Baker, John Bender, Philip F. Dale, and of course Ferris Bueller.
Those characters had depth you don't see much in film anymore. That saddens me. Ferris wasn't just a guy who wanted to skip school any more than Sixteen Candles was a movie about a girl's birthday. Hughes made us care about his characters. I was 12 when Pretty in Pink came out and saw it at the old Joy Theater in Shreveport, LA. I knew little of the social dynamics of school at the time, which was the theme of the film — but I knew I loved Molly Ringwald's character because she believed in herself. She was cool. She had style. When I reached high school, I appreciated the movie on different levels. I understood the social element, the romantic element, and the setting. PIP was the first movie I HAD to have the soundtrack of, which, as I have blogged before, I have replaced more than any record, tape, or cd I've ever owned.
Hughes got teens. He didn't talk down to them, he didn't dumb-down his movies. He presented his stories and gave us something to think about as well entertainment. I miss that in film and hope someone will take up his mantle.
I've found a few of my favorite short scenes from my favorite Hughes films for you tonight. The first and the last are great scenes without dialogue, the others are great lines. Enjoy. And watch a Hughes flick this weekend.
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