John Hughes, One of my favorite writer/directors, passed away today at the age of 59. He was apparently walking in Manhattan when he suffered a heart attack. I’m really sad about it which I know is silly because I didn’t know the man but he made so many movies that I loved and that were a part of my youth and my life. I still watch them and reference them a lot as witnessed on this blog. The same is true regarding our culture which considers his work a part of the fabric of the 1980s. His teen anthems like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles (to name but a few) are still referenced everywhere including television, movies and on social networks.
For example, in an eerie twist of fate, John passes away on the same day of the season finale of “So You Think You Can Dance” which featured its most touching and most popular dance number which was the tribute to breast cancer survivors set to “This Woman’s Work” which was featured in John’s “She’s Having a Baby” exactly 20 years ago. Side note: The choreographer’s friend that inspired this piece learned she was cancer free today.
Here’s the amazing number that celebrates the spirit of love and life
Here’s the powerful scene from what I consider John Hughes’ best work.
His peak was indeed the 1980s starting with National Lampoon’s Class Reunion in 1982 and ending with Christmas Vacation in 1989. Here are all 16 movies he wrote and/or directed in this amazingly prolific period which included many hits. He only directed 8 movies as indicated below (Curly Sue in 1991 was his 8th and last)
Class Reunion (1982)
Mr. Mom (1983)
Vacation (1983)
Nate and Hayes (1983)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
The Breakfast Club (1985) Directed too
European Vacation (1985)
Weird Science (1985) Directed too
Pretty in Pink (1986) Directed too
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Directed too
She’s Having a Baby (1988) Directed too
The Great Outdoors (1988)
Uncle Buck (1989) Directed too
Christmas Vacation (1989) Directed too
His success only continued and perhaps escalated in the 1990s thanks to the Home Alone series that started in 1990. However, he thus embarked down a different road. He no longer spoke for teens but seemed focused on tiny tykes. For example, besides the Home Alone movies, he also did all five Beethoven movies, 101 Dalmations, Flubber, the 1994 remake of the classic Miracle on 34th Street.
My personal favorite was “She’s Having a Baby”, perhaps his most grown up movie. It truly captured the essence of being newlyweds dealing with the birth of their first baby. I also love how he captured the feeling of living in suburbia and trying to find success in your career. John Hughes truly had a wonderful career and hopefully a happy life knowing how much joy he brought to our lives. His movies will continue to that forever.
Update: I watched a fantastic documentary about John Hughes called “Don’t You Forget About Me” (2009) where the filmmakers recorded their attempts to meet the man, the myth the legend but sadly he passed away just before they could talk to him. Still, it’s a wonderful tribute to Hughes and his many films.