For those of you who don’t know, John Hughes passed away suddenly yesterday of a heart attack. 

For those of you who don’t know who John Hughes is…that makes me very, very sad that you don’t know the name of the man who more than likely holds several special places in your DVD collection. 

1.  He wrote the entire Home Alone series.   

2.  He wrote the entire Vacation series.  How many of us can recite at least 10 quotes from Christmas Vacation?  (I pledge allegiance.  To the flag.  Of the United States of America…)

3.  She’s Having a Baby:  Yes it was a weird twisted movie, but for some reason, my sister and I LOVED it.  Especially “This Woman’s Work” pregnancy montage. 

4.  Planes, Trains and Automobiles:  Where’s your other hand?  Between two pillows.  THOSE AREN’T PILLOWS!

5.  Some Kind of Wonderful:  (Putting in the diamond earrings.)  Watts:  What do you think?  Keith:  You look good wearing my future.

6.  Weird Science:  What would you boys like to do first?

7.  Mr. Mom:  Of course I had a connection with Jack, because he watched Young and the Restless.  And don’t think I didn’t try to cook my grilled cheese with an iron. 

However, nothing compares to the following cult classics.  These movies were a huge part of my sister and I’s youth.  I leave you with my favorite moments from Mr. Hughes’ (in my opinion) best work. 

Pretty in Pink:  I adored Duckie. Thanks to him, I developed a love for Otis Redding  and am no longer ashamed to lip sync in public.  (Pay no attention to the Spanish voiceover at the beginning of this clip.) 

Breakfast Club:  I had an unhealthy crush on Judd Nelson.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:  Admit it.  You wanted to be Ferris’ friend.  (Or you had a crush on him as I did.) You loved that he could ditch school and not get caught.  When your boss asks where you co-worker is, you quote Simone and inevitably answer:  “Um…he’s sick.  My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with this girl who saw him pass at out 31 Flavors last night.  I guess it’s pretty serious.”

You wanted to sing on a float in a parade. 

Was that just me?

Sixteen Candles:  Two words – Jake Ryan. 

Much like Joey McIntyre, I thought that if I only met Jake, he would fall in love with me and ask me to marry him. 

And we could do this on my birthday:

sixteen-candles

Thank you John Hughes.  I will forever be grateful for your witty one-liners, your tribute to dancing/singing moments and keen eye for casting truly adorable characters. 

Now it’s your turn.  What are your favorite John Hughes moments?  Let’s walk down memory lane in the comments section.

  1. Ann Said,

    There are so, so many favorite moments, but due to my love of Bender I’ll stick to this one:

    Bender: Remember how you said your parents use you to get back at each other?
    Claire Standish: [nods]
    Bender: Wouldn’t I be OUTSTANDING in that capacity?

    I feel the need to have a mini-John Hughes film festival this weekend.

  2. sherman123 Said,

    Just love John Hughes films. Read in the paper he was a recluse–how did he know SO much about teen angst and young romance and comedic conflict enough to grab our attention in his films? I could watch, and have, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller, Breakfast Club at least 25 times. I have shown these films to my kids, who loved them too. What a talent that will be missed. Time to rent the DVDs again folks. Catch up on your nostalgia!

  3. Deanna Said,

    My heart was broken when I read about it-so sad.

    My husband and I first bonded over watching and reciting (and trying to one-up each other)lines from Ferris Bueller. It was such a great memory that we named our son Cameron.

    I came across this post yesderday from a girl who had John Hughes as a penpal :

    http://wellknowwhenwegetthere.blogspot.com/2009/08/sincerely-john-hughes.html

    And an awesome John Hughes montage :

    http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2009/08/john-hughes-montage.html

    Great tribute Lincee…

  4. SC Said,

    UMMMMMMM, HOW CAN NO ONE HAVE MENTIONED VACATION, CHRISTMAS VACATION, AND UNCLE BUCK?!? And Planes, Trains, and Automobiles! I still cry from laughing everytime I watch Christmas Vacation. Easily in my top 5. What a brilliant man! And Jake Ryan is my sweetheart. Lincee, the guy who played Jake (Michael Schoeffling) is now living in PA and makes furniture for a living, married with 2 kids- I read a story about it like a year or so ago. Betcha he’s still HTC!

  5. SC Said,

    All time funniest movie scene. Even as I say that, I keep thinking about 15 other hilarious scenes from this movie! Awww, R.I.P. Mr. Hughes!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJW3Jpqjx5s

  6. SC Said,

    Ooops, I stand corrected- my apologies Lincee! I re-read what you wrote and you totally talked about all the movies I mentioned! eeeek! Someone didn’t have their glasses on when reading this…

  7. Jennifer H Said,

    I didn’t realize how many John Hughes movies I loved. I knew about Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris, but I had no idea about the Vacation movies.

    I was born mid-80s, so I didn’t see Ferris until the 90s. When I did, I fell instantly in love with Matthew Brodrick, only to have my heartbroken by the fact that he was now several years older and married to that lady in Sex in the City. What??? It was a painful time in my life.

    Favorite Christmas Vacation quote, “We needed a coffin, I mean, a tree…”

  8. JenR Said,

    From Sixteen Candles:
    Grandpa: “Dong, where is my automobile?”
    Dong: “Auto-mo-bile?”

    Also:
    Long Duk Dong: Okay. I’m comin’.
    [opens closet door]
    Long Duk Dong: Hello? Jeez, this place is so confusing. Okay.
    [opens front door, screams and shuts door]
    Long Duk Dong: Go away! I call F.I.B. I call police! Go away!
    Jake: Open the door.
    Long Duk Dong: No way, Jose!
    Jake: Open the door.
    Long Duk Dong: You beat up my face.
    Jake: You grabbed my nuts.
    Long Duk Dong: [looks through frosted glass on door] Is that you?
    Jake: Yeah, that me.
    Long Duk Dong: [opens door] Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought you my new – new-style American girlfriend.
    Jake: Forget it, man. Just get Samantha, all right?
    Long Duk Dong: She not here.
    Jake: Don’t jerk me around, man. Where is she?
    Long Duk Dong: She got married.
    Jake: What?
    Long Duk Dong: She at the church. She getting married to oily bohunk.
    Jake: Married?
    Long Duk Dong: Married.
    Jake: Married?
    Long Duk Dong: Yeah. Married
    [closes door]
    Jake: [turns around, under breath to himself] Married?
    Long Duk Dong: Married! Jeez.

    And soooo many more!!

  9. Leslie from Austin Said,

    As a teenager of the 80′s John Hughes will always hold a special place in my heart. Much like Judy Blume. I can honestly say I think I have watched every one of his movies multiple times.

    I quote “Weird Science” all the time to my kids and they just don’t get it. I love the part when Gary is in the back seat after spending time drinking at the Jazz club and the Wyatt and Lisa are the front seat are arguing over whether Wyatt should be driving or not. All you see is Gary’s feet sticking up because he is so drunk and all of a sudden he sits up and says “Here, give me the keys, I’ll drive”. Hilarious! “She could burp and people would think it was charming”.

    I think Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science and Vegas Vacation were my favorites.

  10. Emily Said,

    The. Best. Movies. Ever. Period.

    I LOVED LOVED LOVED Some Kind of Wonderful!!! And all the others too.

  11. Wendy Said,

    Who doesn’t instantly think of “Sixteen Candles” when you hear, “No more yanky my wanky. Donger need food!”

  12. Lorraine Said,

    Sixteen Candles is my all time favorite movie. I can quote this movie all day long. Joh Hughe’s movies are timeless. Today’s “Teen” movies just don’t compare.

  13. stef Said,

    I love Sixteen Candles. “Can I borrow your underpants for 10 minutes?” “My brother paid a $1 to see your underwear” I can go on and on. And of course I heart Jake Ryan!!! Duckie…how can you not love Duckie. He will be missed but thank goodness his moveis will live on! So glad i was a “child of the 80′s”

  14. AggieFan Said,

    You nailed three of my four favorite movies of all time…..Sixteen Candles, Farris Bueller, Breakfast Club…..there is one more 80′s movie that rounds out my top 4 (although there are soooo many that I do love-St. Elmo’s Fire being in the top 10), but it’s not John Hughes….I’m not sure who directed it. It was called “Better off Dead”. All of John Hughes’ movies were great….even the few that didn’t make it big…still good movies. Oh, how I hated living in the 80′s, but how nostalgic it is to me now. I love my 80′s memories……I love the hair, the clothes, the shoes (jellies anyone?)….Lincee, you truly are a genius. You have such an eclectic personality. I can’t wait to see the wonderful guy you end up with (from being pimped out of course)!

  15. True Said,

    That scene from “Pretty in Pink” with John Cryer is one of my all time favorite scenes from any movie. I saw an interview once with him and he talked about how he literally had to get drunk to do that scene. Bless his little heart. I love how John Hughes was able to take the nerdiest little guys (John Cryer, Matthew Broderick) and make them the lasting heros of his movies.

  16. Lori Said,

    Christmas Vacation – I can watch it over and over and laugh through it everytime! I love the old Uncle & Aunt:

    Paraphrasing here…
    “She wants you to say grace”
    “Grace, she died years ago”
    “The B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G!”

    and then the whole “I pledge allegiance” thing!

    Whenever my husband can’t hear me, I yell, “The B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G!” along with the hand motions…

  17. Kendall Said,

    I could watch The Breakfast Club all day long… whoda thought that because of John Hughes, I now know what “elephantitis of the nuts” is…

    And as if on cue JUST NOW, the Windows Radio station I’m listening to just started playing Wang Chung’s “Fire in the Twilight”, the song playing when the kids are running through the hallways trying to get back to the library… *LMAO*

    And from Ferris Bueller – way back in high school, my boyfriend would often pick me up and ask, “Do you have a kiss for daddy???” ;-)

    GOOD TIMES.

  18. Mrs Lemon Said,

    I did not know he was the brains behind Ferris Bueller – “so THAT’s how it is in their family …” is my favorite :)

  19. kwally Said,

    Sixteen Candles!!!
    “What was he wearing? Well, uh, let’s see, he was wearing a red argyle sweater, and tan trousers, and red shoes… No, he’s not retarded.”

  20. Kelley Said,

    I watched Pretty in Pink over and over growing up. To this day, when I watch Two and a Half Men, I still think of Jon Cryer as Duckie Dale. And during its far too short run, one of the best things about Lipstick Jungle was getting to see “Blaine” again as well. Ditto, Lincee, on the Otis Redding comment. That movie is a classic.

    I’m embarrased to say I didn’t realize that Hughes did the vacation movies too. I know Christmas Vacation is extremely popular, but my all time favorite is European Vacation. I must have seen that a thousand times. “Look kids. . Big Ben. . .Parliament” is still a commonly used phrase around my friends and me.

    Rounding out my favorite Hughes movies would also be Uncle Buck. There were some great lines in that movie!

  21. houstonlawyer Said,

    I too had no idea about the Vacation movies, and also Ferris. What a talent. He will be missed. My favorite line from Sixteen Candles: “you watch your language mister dirty mouth”

  22. Kelli Said,

    John Hughes made the best movies in American history! My favorite part of Christmas vacation has to be the squirrel. Also, I will always be grateful to John Hughes and to God for Jake Ryan. Yum!

  23. Animal Lover Said,

    #19 -ditto on “Big Ben” – also from “Pretty in Pink” when she is talking to her dad and said “it just hurts so bad” and he said “That’s why they’re called crushes”….got us through a lot of them! He will be missed. Thank you Lincee for the reminder!

  24. pineapplegirl Said,

    there simply isn’t enough bandwith in the UNIVERSE
    to mention all of my favorite john huges moments…

    here is one small piece of JH’s brilliance.
    cousin eddie….thin white sweater….dark black dickie.
    http://lawalker.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/eddie_eggnog2755772_2.jpg

    mahalo for the memories and r.i.p.

  25. LORAC Said,

    I love it all, especially the more obscure moments. Like this one from FB’s Day Off…

    Charlie Sheen: What’s your name?
    Baby Houseman: It’s Jean, but most guys call me Shauna. (Then the Shauna doo-wop plays in the background…)
    Charlie Sheen: OK Jean.

    Good Stuff.

    RIP John Hughes.

  26. angie Said,

    I had two tshirts one said “Save Ferris” and the other ” I Love Jake Ryan” I got more comments when I wore those shirts. John Hughs is an icon and well be forever missed. All his movies made growing up a little bit easier.

  27. CeeCee Said,

    Very sad indeed. I never realized how much of my teen years were shaped by John Hughs’ films. RIP – you will be missed.

  28. Molly Said,

    #18 – kwally – my friend and I will often call or text each other and say “NO he’s not retarded!” And then the two of us will dissolve in a fit of giggles!

  29. kate Said,

    “Oh look Fred, she’s gotten boobies!” That just gets me every time I watch Sixteen Candles!

  30. Nicole Said,

    Who, if not Lincee, can pay tribute to John Hughes with all the sentiments I was thinking! I still live my life with the lessons learned from Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink! Those are the best!

  31. KCJodee Said,

    # 18…I think that was my favorite line from the whole movie. “No he’s not retarded”. So subtle, and I’m sure I didn’t catch it the first time I watched that movie (but have come to appreciate it the other 50 times I have watched it. lol)
    Sixteen Candles (“Look Frank, she’s gotten her boobies.” “I can’t believe my grandmother just felt me up”), Breakfast Club, Uncle Buck. I knew he did these films, but didn’t realize he was behind Vacation movies, Home Alone, Planes-Trains-Automobiles. P-T-A has some GREAT lines in it as well. When they are going the wrong way on the interstate:
    Guy in car on other side of the 4 lane: You’re going the WRONG WAY!!
    John Candy: How does he know what way we’re going?

    I need to make some purchases to round out my John Hughes collection, that is for sure.

  32. TrainWreck Said,

    Despite owning Ferris Bueller, I still stop whatever it is I’m doing every time I see it on TV. These were the movies that got so many of us through those tough pre-teen and teen years. I can only hope that one day my children will be able to sit down and enjoy these as much as I have.

    And who can’t say their family has never had a “look kids, there’s Big Ben” again and again kind of moment. Anyone from the East Coast knows how easy it is to do just that on the Beltway around DC.

    Thank you John Hughes! You understood what most of us didn’t have a clue about until we got so much older.

  33. Claiborne Said,

    Uncle Buck!!!!!!!! That movie is great.

  34. skeeter Said,

    Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was great. At a work meeting when nobody wants to volunteer for a crumby project or knows the answer to a sticky problem, I like to say “Anyone? Anyone?”. Everyone cracks up.

  35. Jodi Said,

    Oh, God bless that man. Those movies MADE me…. and I still heart Jake Ryan (and Joey Joe, btw. I mean, seriously). SO many favorite lines, too hard to count. But Some Kind of Wonderful, Sixteen Candles, and PTA are my fave movies. AND, when I was teaching and my high school students didn’t get it when I would answer their blank stares with “Anyone, anyone? Bueller? Bueller”… I made them watch the movie. Had to hide that in my lesson plans though…

  36. ally Said,

    I love Jake Ryan

    I loved Bender!! oooo such a sexy bad guy!!

    I fell in love with ducky and the red headed guy in Some Kind of Wonderful!!! best kiss ever!!! even better than jake ryan!!

  37. ally Said,

    check out this beautiful tribute!

    Thursday, August 06, 2009
    Sincerely, John Hughes

    I was babysitting for my mom’s friend Kathleen’s daughter the night I wrote that first fan letter to John Hughes. I can literally remember the yellow grid paper, the blue ball point pen and sitting alone in the dim light in the living room, the baby having gone to bed.

    I poured my heart out to John, told him about how much the movie mattered to me, how it made me feel like he got what it was like to be a teenager and to feel misunderstood.

    (I felt misunderstood.)

    I sent the letter and a month or so later I received a package in the mail with a form letter welcoming me as an “official” member of The Breakfast Club, my reward a strip of stickers with the cast in the now famous pose.

    I was irate.

    I wrote back to John, explaining in no uncertain terms that, excuse me, I just poured my fucking heart out to you and YOU SENT ME A FORM LETTER.

    That was just not going to fly.

    He wrote back.

    “This is not a form letter. The other one was. Sorry. Lots of requests. You know what I mean. I did sign it.”

    He wrote back and told me that he was sorry, that he liked my letter and that it meant a great deal to him. He loved knowing that his words and images resonated with me and people my age. He told me he would say hi to everyone on my behalf.

    “No, I really will. Judd will be pleased you think he’s sexy. I don’t.”

    I asked him if he would be my pen pal.

    He said yes.

    “I’d be honored to be your pen pal. You must understand at times I won’t be able to get back to you as quickly as I might want to. If you’ll agree to be patient, I’ll be your pen pal.”

    For two years (1985-1987), John Hughes and I wrote letters back and forth. He told me – in long hand black felt tip pen on yellow legal paper – about life on a film set and about his family. I told him about boys, my relationship with my parents and things that happened to me in school. He laughed at my teenage slang and shared the 129 question Breakfast Club trivia test I wrote (with the help of my sister) with the cast, Ned Tanen (the film’s producer) and DeDe Allen (the editor). He cheered me on when I found a way around the school administration’s refusal to publish a “controversial” article I wrote for the school paper. And he consoled me when I complained that Mrs. Garstka didn’t appreciate my writing.

    “As for your English teacher…Do you like the way you write? Please yourself. I’m rather fond of writing. I actually regard it as fun. Do it frequently and see if you can’t find the fun in it that I do.”

    He made me feel like what I said mattered.

    “I can’t tell you how much I like your comments about my movies. Nor can I tell you how helpful they are to me for future projects. I listen. Not to Hollywood. I listen to you. I make these movies for you. Really. No lie. There’s a difference I think you understand.”

    “It’s been a month of boring business stuff. Grown up, adult, big people meetings. Dull but necessary. But a letter from Alison always makes the mail a happening thing.”

    “I may be writing about young marriage. Or babies. Or Breakfast Club II or a woman’s story. I have a million ideas and can’t decide what’s next. I guess I’ll just have to dive into something. Maybe a play.”

    “You’ve already received more letters from me than any living relative of mine has received to date. Truly, hope all is well with you and high school isn’t as painful as I portray it. Believe in yourself. Think about the future once a day and keep doing what you’re doing. Because I’m impressed. My regards to the family. Don’t let a day pass without a kind thought about them.”

    There were a few months in 1987 when I didn’t hear from John. I missed his letters and the strength and power and confidence they gave me and so I sent a letter to Ned Tanen who, by that time, was the President of Paramount Pictures (he died earlier this year). In my letter I asked Mr. Tanen if he knew what was up with John, why he hadn’t been writing and if he could perhaps give him a poke on my behalf.

    He did.

    I came home from school soon after to find an enormous box on my front porch filled with t-shirts and tapes and posters and scripts and my very own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off watch.

    And a note.

    “I missed you too. Don’t get me in trouble with my boss any more. Sincerely, John Hughes.”

    Fast forward.

    1997. I was working in North Carolina on a diversity education project that partnered with colleges and universities around the country to implement a curriculum that used video production as an experiential education tool. On a whim, I sent John a video about the work we were doing. I was proud of it and, all these years later, I wanted him to be proud too.

    Late one night I was in the office, scheduled to do an interview with a job candidate. Ten minutes or so into the call it was clear that he wasn’t the right guy, but I planned to suffer through.

    Then the phone rang.

    1…2…3…4…a scream came from the other room and 1…2…3…my boss Tony was standing in my doorway yelling, “John Hughes is on the phone!!”

    I politely got off the phone with the job candidate who was no longer a candidate and

    Hit. Line. Two.

    “Hi, John.”

    “Hi, Alison.”

    We talked for an hour. It was the most wonderful phone call. It was the saddest phone call. It was a phone call I will never forget.

    John told me about why he left Hollywood just a few years earlier. He was terrified of the impact it was having on his sons; he was scared it was going to cause them to lose perspective on what was important and what happiness meant. And he told me a sad story about how, a big reason behind his decision to give it all up was that “they” (Hollywood) had “killed” his friend, John Candy, by greedily working him too hard.

    He also told me he was glad I had gotten in touch and that he was proud of me for what I was doing with my life. He told me, again, how important my letters had been to him all those years ago, how he often used the argument “I’m doing this for Alison” to justify decisions in meetings.

    Tonight, when I heard the news that John had died, I cried. I cried hard. (And I’m crying again.) I cried for a man who loved his friends, who loved his family, who loved to write and for a man who took the time to make a little girl believe that, if she had something to say, someone would listen.

    Thank you, John Hughes. I love you for what you did to make me who I am.

    Sincerely, Alison Byrne Fields.

  38. SC Said,

    Oh. My. Awesomeness.

  39. AZGirl Said,

    Dong. DONG! Where is my automobile?!

  40. Nicole Said,

    # 36 ally… thank you for sharing your story!

  41. Leslie in Austin Said,

    What a great tribute.

  42. Kelly Said,

    I love the Brat Pack films and the Vacation movies. Esp. Christmas Vacation:

    Clark: Can I drive you to the middle of no where and leave you for dead?

    Eddie: Just glad to be here.

  43. Cass Said,

    First I would like to say……Alison Byrne Fields you are one lucky woman! How great that you were able to have that connection with him.

    As for me, I was a shy girl growing up in the 80′s in Chicago. John Hughes films always felt like they were mirroring my life somehow. No matter what kind of day I had if I was able to watch one of his files they always seemed to cheer me up. I just loved them! He will be missed.

  44. Cass Said,

    One more thing……..one of may favorite lines….”look at the luggage rack” We actually had one of those things and drove across the country for many family vacations! So funny!

  45. AggieFan Said,

    #36 ally, WOW….no other words. Well maybe one- the true definition of AWESOME. What a fabulous tribute….thank you for sharing.

  46. Stacey Said,

    Jake Ryan.

    Did any girl growing up in the 80′s not fall love in with him?

    In the 80′s, people used to say I looked like Molly Ringwald. To my 13-year-old mind, this meant I should have been with a Jake Ryan. Still looking…

  47. ally Said,

    I have to clarify something, I am not the alison that john hughes wrote letters to, I just read the tribute and wanted to share it with you!! I wish I could have been that ally, but I am not.

  48. Jennifer H Said,

    Ben Stein spoke at the university I work for, and, inevitably, he was asked to deliver his famous “Bueller? Bueller?” line. I think people loved that more than his lecture on the failing economy.

  49. LG Said,

    Christmas Vacation IS by FAR my favorite movie of all times. I can watch and watch and watch. I’ll put it on annually while I’m wrapping presents. Not Rudolph or anything else in clay animation…this is my traditional Christmas movie. My favorite line to quote to friends around that time is “getchurself somethin’ reallly nice Clark”. And of course –

    Clark: Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, kiss my ass. Kiss his ass. Kiss your ass. Happy Hanukkah.

    Eddie: Merry Christmas. Shitter was full.

    The list goes on and on…I might have to have Christmas in August now…

  50. Debbie Said,

    I’m all nostalgic reading this…Pretty in Pink…was esctatic that they used OMD and The Psychedelic Furs’ music. Made me fall in love with Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer, and forever loathe James Spader. True, have never liked him since that movie. “I am and will always remain a Duckman”

  51. AggieFan Said,

    #49 Debbie,

    Ha! I absolutely hated James Spader for sooo long…probably until the 10th episode of Boston Legal. I didn’t like him until I warmed up to that character. Sometimes it is so hard to distinguish the character from the man who is portraying that character….that’s what makes James Spader an incredible actor. He is believable in every part he has ever portrayed….I love him now! He is definitely under appreciated…as was John Hughes until his death.

    We should recognize geniuses before they die….so many being recognized posthumously lately.

  52. JennJam Said,

    It’s stories like the one from Alison Fields that show us who a person really is.
    People aren’t who the interviews and Hollywood tell us they are . . . it’s from encounters and stories like that that we know what someone’s all about.

    @TrainWreck (#31), ha ha at the beltway/DC monument moments being like, ‘Look kids, Big Ben . . Parliament,” because you’re certainly at a stand-still on the beltway enough to memorize the exact horizon of monuments that you can see from there at times/certain places, haaaa! (not so funny when you’re there, though, ughhh!)

    @AggieFan (#13) – - Ohhh, yessss! “Better off Dead!!” Who doesn’t love John Cusack?!
    When he’s gonna hang himself in the garage and then changes his mind, saying, “I can’t kill myself! I haven’t been to New York City yet!” and then his mother opens the door leading from the house to the garage and knocks him off the step, nearly killing him???
    Bwaaaaaaaaahahahaha! Now, that’s just funny.

  53. ally Said,

    I didn’t realize that John Hughes did Better off Dead~!! That movie stuck with me for hours after I watched it. I have loved robert downey jr. for years and always hoped and prayed that he would make it, both in life and in his craft!! that movie just made me so sad for him, because it seemed to be art demonstating life!!

  54. ally Said,

    oooops wrong movie, which movie am I thinking about? with robert downey jr, james spader, john cusack, and can’t remember the girl in the movie?

  55. ally Said,

    Less than Zero, not john cusak, but andrew mccarthy, jamie gertz.

  56. Monica Said,

    I met the funny lady who played the secretary in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and a neighbor in She’s Having a Baby. She told me that the story of She’s Having a Baby was very personal to John because it was based on the story of him, his wife and their first child. She told me he was a wonderful man who had a heart of gold. This was a few years ago, and when I heard he had died, I just knew she was grieving. I wish I could go and give her a big hug!

    I feel like you, Lincee, those movies are the soundtrack of my growing up years and it’s amazing how John Hughes could just get inside the head of a teenager–boy or girl. He will be sorely missed.

  57. JennJam Said,

    @ally, I don’t think John Hughes did ‘Better off Dead,’ but someone brought it up in this thread b/c of the ’80s teen movies’ discussion and when I read it, I thought about that hilarious scene in the garage that I mentioned.

  58. Kristan Said,

    Two words.

    UNCLE. BUCK.

    “Here’s a quarter. Go downtown and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face.”

    “What his name?” “Bug” “Last name – spray?”

    “I never remarried, but I decided not to lose the Frost. And I get compliments on the hyphen.”

  59. GinV Said,

    In case you hadn’t seen it, a lovely tribute from Molly Ringwald:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/opinion/12ringwald.html?ref=opinion

  60. AggieFan Said,

    #59 GinV,

    Another great tribute. I’ve always loved Molly Ringwald. She is a great actress and obviously a great writer! So glad she was able to have closure with Mr. Hughes.

  61. JmG Said,

    “no more yanky my wanky – the Donger need sleep!” – CLASSIC.

  62. Chris in Colorado Said,

    I was in HS when the majority of those movies came out and they definitely resonated with me and my group of friends. I’ve given many of them as 40th b-day gifts! Ha – I’m not alone, Christmas Vacation is my favorite Christmas movie too!

    And what about this treasure from 16 Candles: “You make someone a bridesmade and they shit all over you”.

    Too many great lines from too many movies to list them all.

  63. Mo Said,

    ….(Jake)Make a wish……(Sam)It already came true………Oh LALA (and my teenage heart jumps out of my chest). Thanks for the memories.

  64. BachLover Said,

    What’s – a – happenin, Hot Stuff?

  65. swimrlady Said,

    So thats how it is in their family…

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