Three Beloved John Hughes Films From the 1980s
Back in the 1980s, John Hughes (born 1950) had the knack of writing and directing enormously popular movies about high school life. He usually dealt with white, middle-class teen angst in suburbia and used pop songs on his soundtracks. But he often captured the zeitgeist of the era and was successful in attracting a broad audience.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is releasing three of Hughes' films — The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Weird Science — in special DVD editions that include new bonus materials. Each title can be purchased individually, or you can buy The High School Flashback Collection, which packages all three movies and their supplements in a metal box reminiscent of a locker.
Neither Hughes nor actress Molly Ringwald participated in the DVD extras. But others from the casts and crews did, including a lot from Anthony Michael Hall, who plays a geek in all three films.
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club (1984) may turn out to be Hughes' most enduring work, especially since it has been adapted as a stage play. It's an ensemble drama about five archetypal students — a jock, a princess, a petty criminal, a basket case and a brainy kid — who spend a Saturday together in detention. The soundtrack features "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds.
The actors playing the five students are Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Anthony Michael Hall. These five were part of a larger group of young actors collectively known as the Brat Pack. The DVD contains a short featurette on the origins of this terminology, attributing it to a 1985 article in New York Magazine.
Another extra on the DVD is a 51-minute documentary in which Nelson, Sheedy and Hall look back at making the movie. There are various other commentators appearing in the documentary, including costume designer Marilyn Vance, Washington Post staff writer Hank Stuever and Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody.
Finally, the DVD provides a feature film audio commentary track with Hall and Nelson.
Sixteen Candles
Hughes directorial debut was Sixteen Candles (1984), a coming-of-age comedy featuring a memorable performance by Molly Ringwald as the protagonist. Ringwald's character's family gets so focused on a wedding that they forget all about her sixteenth birthday, and she falls for a hunky senior boy who doesn't even know she exists. One of the songs on the soundtrack is "True" by Spandau Ballet.
The only extra on the DVD is a 38-minute documentary, in which several of the cast members discuss their experiences making the film, and Hank Stuever and Diablo Cody talk a little about the cultural impact of the movie.
Weird Science
Weird Science (1985) isn't as highly regarded by critics as The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles, but it has its fans. It's an uneven comedy in which two socially challenged geeks (one played by Hall) put bras on their heads and use a computer to create a stunning woman (Kelly LeBrock). The movie's title song is performed by Oingo Boingo.
The DVD contains a 17-minute featurette, in which Hall and actor John Kapelos reflect on making the film and several people, including Hank Stuever, Diablo Cody and critic Owen Gleiberman, give some analysis of the movie. There's also the 23-minute pilot for the TV show Weird Science, which ran for five seasons in the 1990s.
DVD Details
Below I have listed all the details for The High School Flashback Collection DVD set, which contains The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Weird Science.
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Number of Discs: 3
Feature Film Title: The Breakfast Club
Feature Film Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Widescreen (1.85:1), Color
English 5.1 Dolby Digital
English 5.1 DTS
Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital
French 2.0 Dolby Digital
English Captions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Spanish Subtitles
French Subtitles
Audio Commentary by Actors Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson
Documentary: Sincerely Yours (51 min.)
The Origins of the Brat Pack (5 1/2 min.)
Theatrical Trailer
Feature Film Title: Sixteen Candles
Feature Film Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Widescreen (1.85:1), Color
English 5.1 Dolby Digital
English 5.1 DTS
Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital
French 2.0 Dolby Digital
English Captions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Spanish Subtitles
French Subtitles
Documentary: Celebrating Sixteen Candles (38 min.)
Feature Film Title: Weird Science
Feature Film Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Widescreen (1.85:1), Color
English 5.1 Dolby Digital
English 5.1 DTS
Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital
French 2.0 Dolby Digital
English Captions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Spanish Subtitles
French Subtitles
Documentary: It's Alive! Resurrecting Weird Science (17 min.)
Weird Science TV Pilot Episode "She’s Alive" (23 min.)
Theatrical Trailer
