Don't You Forget About Him

It was as if John Hughes had been watching my life in high school...and then went away, and made movie after movie about it.

The movies he made about adolescence (whether it be writing, producing, or directing) spoke to me...and to say that they spoke to me doesn't even begin to portray how they affected me.

Think about it...I was a girl with divorced parents, living in a trailer and driving a car nicknamed The Crate. I had a crush on a Country Club boy named Briggs who owned two cars (VW Scirocco, and Convertible VW Rabbit) and had an indoor basketball court IN HIS HOUSE! If that isn't a John Hughes movie...I don't know what is!

Movies like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink gave me the courage to hope that maybe the underdog CAN get the cute guy. Seriously...how else was I able to drive that piece of sh*t car to school and park it next to all the convertible Mustangs every day of my high school career? To say it was hard, does not do it justice...and somehow, John Hughes got it.

The image of Samantha leaning over the birthday cake to be kissed by super dreamy Jake Ryan, or of Andie running into the arms of Blaine in the parking lot at the prom...gave me hope....hope that I could be myself, and still be accepted.
Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club said "When you grow up, your heart dies." I feel like a piece of my heart died yesterday...or at least a part of my adolescence.

The Tribune, and The Chicago Sun Times both reported that John Hughes had become a recluse, and left the movie business after becoming stuck in a rut. I have always thought there was more to it than that...after I read this post, (seriously, go now and read it, I'll wait) I know he was the man I thought he was. (How amazing is that post, btw?)

John Hughes, your movies gave us all hope, the courage to dream, and to not be defined by our stereotypes...thank you for being the voice of my generation.

19 comments

  1. Definitely the voice of our generation. I had that image from 16 candles permanently etched in my mind through high school.
    Jake Ryan? A girl can dream can't she.

    I'm off to read that post

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  2. Wow!
    Thanks for the link.
    Amazing!

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  3. I was all ready to send you the link to that same post when I started reading this, glad you found it. She also was interviewed on NPR Radio this afternoon, said much the same thing.
    http://bit.ly/5Yq4P

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  4. Wow. Seriously. Just wow. Thank you for that link. I have it saved now so I can pass it along to others too.

    I have a similar history as yours and John's movies certainly resonated with me as well. I think most teenagers have a life like we had and not like the Jake Ryans of the world, and that is why the movies were so popular. He just got it.

    And I'm still in love with Jake Ryan. ;)

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  5. That was an AMAZING post... thanks for sharing with us! I too am sad at his passing... his movies are still to this day some of my favourites. He was brilliant.

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  6. Jake Ryan. Swoon. He was so dreamy. I've heard he is a cabinetmaker in Scranton, PA now. I keep thinking I'll make a pilgrimage to stalk, I mean, see him. John Hughes made the most insightful and emotional teen movies. There simply is no comparison to anything out today. I was truly saddened to hear of his passing.

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  7. I am in tears after reading the post. Thank you so much for linking it.
    He will be truly missed.

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  8. Rest in Peace John Hughes.

    I loved the link you included, what an amazingly written post. I would have left a comment, but Yikes! She had over 900 comments.

    Great post!

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  9. RIP.

    He created so many great characters that resonated with our generation. He will be missed.

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  10. I am so glad I stopped by today and followed the link. You were right - and amazing post.

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  11. That was an amazing post! Thanks so much for that link. I never knew the name "John Hughes" but I watched all those movies over and over again.

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  12. Great post and thanks for the link. I loved all of those movies and like you said gave the underdog hope.

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  13. Wow what a great guy! Glad he never sold out to Hollywood and was a man of conviction and good morals! I loved all his movies too, but how fantastic that he took the time to write to a little girl and fed her passion and dreams. Great Post!

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  14. They just don't make movies like that anymore. I know I sound old and disgruntled, but seriously those were great movies that you could watch 20 times and never bore of. RIP Mr. Hughes.

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  15. I am still in love with Jake Ryan. I swear.

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  16. Great tribute.

    I loved all the John Hughes movies. Do you think today's teenagers are watching them and loving them like we did? I hope so.

    Okay, off to read the post you linked to.

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  17. I'm so glad some people understand that he didn't work in cliches, on the contrary he depicted things the way they were and they way people didn't want to see them.

    RIP, JH.

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  18. Do you believe that I haven't seen either of those movies. I am such a loser. Don't tell anyone : )

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  19. I have long held that Sixteen Candles is about the most perfect movie ever. Seriously, it's like my dreams every night in high school.

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