Thurgood Marshall graduation 2012
Badin vs. Versailles
Law Enforcement Memorial Day
Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2009 > August > 06 > Entry
John Hughes, of ‘Breakfast Club,’ Ferris Bueller fame dies
Word has broken that John Hughes, the writer-director of such seminal 80s films as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off has suddenly died of a heart attack at age 59.
Time prohibits me from writing a fully considered tribute right now, but this news saddens me. I wasn’t quite as much into Hughes as many people in my generation were (I’m 38, for the record) - I was more into visual auteurs like Spielberg and Scorsese.
Still, there can be no doubt that Hughes’ work defined teens in the 1980s. He “got” them (us) in a way that few other filmmakers did. My personal favorites of his are The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - and this Beatlemaniac will always be grateful to Hughes for turning the Fab Four’s version of “Twist and Shout” into a top 40 hit in 1986 on the strength of its great use in Bueller. For one brief, shining moment, people finally knew what I was talking about.
Then, he wrote Home Alone in 1990, and in a way, that was the best and worst thing that ever happened to him. The best in that it brought him his greatest commercial success, and the worst in that it boxed him into a corner of lame slapstick comedies like Baby’s Day Out, Dennis The Menace and the Flubber remake with Robin Williams that were beneath him.
After 1991’s Curly Sue, he quit directing and more or less retired from moviemaking. And yet, with a mere eight films under his belt as a writer-director (several more solely as a writer), his influence was considerable. Most recently, it could be felt in the criminally underseen Adventureland, probably the best Hughes film Hughes didn’t make. It’s due out on DVD Aug. 25. I only regret Hughes himself never came back to remind us of how great he could be.
Cue “Don’t you forget about me” …
What are your thoughts on Hughes? What are your favorite films/scenes of his?
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Tributes
Comments
By ME
August 7, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this
John Hughs will remain in our teen hearts (I am 38 too). He brought us the movies that stick with me and make some really great teen stars as a result. I love Sixteen Candles. I had that movie on VHS as soon as Dad could record it for me and I wore it out. I can recite the whole … But the impact came in the way of bringing out the underdog - he seemed to like them - Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club … I love that the little guy prevails in Home Alone. He was funny and kept us laughing in Uncle Buck. I liked ALL of his movies - he reached our gen like no other. I’m sad he’s gone. I am sad he didn’t get a chance to come back. But I’ll always remember Blain and Duckie and “The Brain”, “The Princess”, “The Jock” and so on. Why because that was us!By marlo
August 7, 2009 2:39 AM | Link to this
my favorite is the Breakfast Club, i can watch that all the time, brings back so many fun memories of the times in the 80’s. i liked many of his movies, had them on vhs, and had to buy them on dvd, so i will always watch them. he will be missed.By Brother Phil
August 6, 2009 11:02 PM | Link to this
While I certainly enjoyed “Pretty in Pink”, The Breakfast Club”, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (OH YEAH), it was his adult comedy, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” which I felt was John Hughes most poignant piece of work. While it was a running series of gags related to two men of completely opposing personality types, it also had the underlying tale of redemption in one man’s growing acceptance and then reluctant friendship with his undesired traveling companion. By the end of the movie, you find yourself totally invested in both of the characters (which in my mind is the mark of an excellent film). John Candy and Steve Martin are both at the top of their acting game in this wonderful tale. R.I.P., John Hughes. Thanks for a job well-done.By Pharrell
August 6, 2009 8:42 PM | Link to this
That house was from Ferris Bueller�s Day Off, Mol.By mollie r
August 6, 2009 7:49 PM | Link to this
the glass garage/house for “breakfast club” was recently for sale …By Susan
August 6, 2009 5:46 PM | Link to this
I was a teen when these films were released, and I think I saw each of them dozens of times over the years! I still quote from them and it’s definitely something my contemporaries and I share. So sad to have lost him so young!By Allie D.
August 6, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this
I grew up watching his movies. Weekends watching Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on TBS pretty much define my childhood. I wasn’t a teenager when those movies were out (I’m 29), but my brother was. I think his movies probably helped me understand teens (and my brother) in a way that no other movies could. I had no idea he was so young, either. I agree that his latter career was peppered with misses, but heck… so is Robert DeNiro’s, but we’ll always remember him for the greats. :)