Who is John Hughes Anyway?

February 22, 2012

I'm betting anyone who grew up in the mid-eighties totally knows the answer to this question. 

John Hughes is most famous for writing and directing hit teen films such as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He is also responsible for the screenplays for the massive hits National Lampoon’s Vacation and Home Alone. 

Even though I was born in 1983 (right in the middle of Hughes’ heyday), his films were staples for me growing up. To this day I still cannot turn the channel if one of his movies appears onscreen. 

My interest in these movies led me to do some reading up on John Hughes, and I found some great info about his life and his films. 

For a dose of reality, I read You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation by Susannah Gora. The book provides a great behind-the-scenes look at some of John Hughes’ most famous teen films and includes interviews with those working both on and off-camera. 

Another great find in a more fictional vein was Jen Lancaster’s If You Were Here, a laugh-out-loud hilarious novel about a young couple who buys and attempts to remodel the home of Jake Ryan, the swoon-worthy love interest from Hughes’ Sixteen Candles. The main character, Mia, doesn’t care how much money or time it takes, she will have her dream house! After reading this novel, I realized I must not be the only one obsessed with eighties nostalgia. 

If like me, you want to experience an eighties flashback, check out the MCPL catalog. John’s most famous films are there, and they are great evidence of the lasting legacy he has made in the teen film genre. 

Jamie C.
Platte City Branch