Sunday October 11th John Hughes Movies

As I drove to work one morning last August, National Public Radio announced that director John Hughes had passed away. I knew his name, but little more than that. As they listed his movies I thought – wow, that’s a Library Detective column right there. I was surprised at how many entertaining movies of his I had enjoyed: here are a few.

Home Alone

Written by Hughes, it is described as his greatest commercial success. It introduced Macaulay Culkin as an 8 year old boy who finds himself accidently left home alone when his family leaves on vacation. After his initial joy at realizing he has the house to himself he has to use every trick up his sleeve to outwit a pair of bumbling burglars, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. A hilarious time ensues as we watch him booby trap his home to defend it. The movie spurred three sequels, but I think the original was the best. We carry it on dvd and vhs.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

23 years later I still think about this movie, written and directed by Hughes. It’s a sheer delight and I recall seeing it in the theatre and wishing I was Ferris. Not many students fake an illness, gather a couple of companions, borrow a parent’s Ferrari and set off to explore Chicago. They take in a baseball game, visit the Sears Tower, and more and even take part in a parade (one of my favourite parts of the movie). You can’t help but feel good watching Ferris riding on a float lip synching to the Beatles song Twist and Shout. Who wouldn’t want a day off like the one he had? It’s available on dvd.

Planes, Trains And Automobiles

Available on dvd, it’s a hilarious cross country trip featuring two of my favourite comics. Businessman Neal Page, played by Steve Martin is trying to get home for Thanksgiving. His trip is complicated when he meets traveling shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith, played by John Candy. Everything seems to go wrong for Neal and he just can’t seem to shake non-stop talker Del. Hmm – it would be like a road trip with me. As irritating as Del is, he’s a big man with a big heart. The scene I remember the most is when Neal accidently dries his face with a large pair of Del’s underwear. According to The Internet Movie Database, Steve Martin says this one is his favourite movie that he starred in.

Pretty In Pink

In the 1980’s a John Hughes teen movie meant Molly Ringwald. She also starred in Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. In this movie she played an outcast girl from the poorer side of town. When she’s asked on a date by a preppy boy, their friends start taking sides and disapprove. After being snubbed by his friends at a party she has to decide if he is worth dating. It featured a cast of young actors such as James Spader, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer, who now stars on Two And A Half Men. It’s worth watching just to see Jon in an eighties hair style. It’s available on dvd.


Maid In Manhattan

Available on dvd and vhs this romantic comedy stars Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes. Hughes wrote it under the pseudonym of Edmond Dantes, a name taken from The Count Of Monte Cristo. A chance first meeting results when Fienne’s character finds a hotel maid dressed up in a hotel guest’s clothing. He believes her to be a socialite and she has trouble coming clean (a little pun). He comes to love this independent single mom. It co-stars Stanley Tucci and the late Natasha Richardson. We also have the soundtrack.

That’s just a few of his many movies; there are 38 to his credit. He also wrote one of my favourite movies, Christmas Vacation. Sadly we don’t carry it. We do have two other movies, Uncle Buck and Beethoven. Stop by and pick up your evening’s entertainment. We’ll supply the movie and you supply the popcorn. Enjoy!

Karen Craib is a Library Technician