The old "Freds Picks" section of the video store was often changed up, around, and back again to keep things somewhat interesting. There was plenty of consistency, as well, as I made sure to have my all-time fave movies well-represented. Most of these were (objectively) brilliant films that were timeless classics that spanned all kinds of genres. The fun part of that section, and stocking it, was the inclusion of films that connected to me in a way that was strictly subjective. "Grizzly", a 1976 JAWS ripoff, was by no means classic cinema, but I loved it so much we saw it 3X at the drive-in one summer while in grade school. The majority of the films, though, were a combo of hidden gems, classics, and the occasional oddball that had a connection to me.
SIXTEEN CANDLES was one of those films, along with THE BREAKFAST CLUB, that pretty much straddled all of those classifications. They were the key films of my 10th and 11th grade years; teen films that spoke TO us rather that AT us, that captured the essence of what it meant to grow up in middle-class suburbia, and took obvious pride that the scripts and direction treated the target audience with respect and smarts. Up until that point, most teen films were exercises in exploitation; cheap laughs, titillation, and populated with nobodies. Cash cows whose release virtually guaranteed an easy profit. 1984's SIXTEEN CANDLES, with its hilariously bittersweet take on high school love, relationships, and friendships launched the careers of Molly Ringwald, most significantly, along with a host of costars. The following year saw the release of the more dramatic (and angsty) BREAKFAST CLUB. This film tackled the issues of cliqueishness, of class, social ranking, and alienation. Both films were anchored by the deft hand of John Hughes. His resume would go on to include the following year's PRETTY IN PINK (The Molly Ringwald trifecta), and FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, and would continue on through the 90s with HOME ALONE, among others.
I was sad to learn today that John Hughes died in New York City today, after suffering a heart attack. This year alone has seen the passing of such icons as Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, and now another generational touchstone has left us as well. He will be remembered, and his legacy will be fondly remembered by those who lived it, and the generations who get the chance to see what it was really like "back then". And his movies had kick-ass soundtracks, too!