John Hughes 1984 (AP Photo)
John Hughes died today of a heart attack walking the streets of Manhattan while visiting his family. I must say that I think most of his work is crap. Don’t get me wrong, I love crap – but I just never seem to be in the mood to drink a beer at watch Home Alone, the Remake of Miracle on 34th Street, or any of the films from the Beethoven series. But looking back on this guys portfolio of work, his subject matter aside, he’s like the Roger Corman of the 80’s and 90’s. Writer, Producer, and Director of so many films – I can’t help but be impressed. Take a look:
Writer
+ Delta House (1979) (TV Series)
+ National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982)
+ At Ease (1983) (TV Series)
+ Mr. Mom (1983)
+ National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
+ Nate and Hayes (1983) (with David Odell)
+ Sixteen Candles (1984)
+ The Breakfast Club (1985)
+ National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985; characters)
+ Weird Science (1985)
+ Pretty in Pink (1986)
+ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
+ Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
+ Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
+ She’s Having a Baby (1988)
+ The Great Outdoors (1988)
+ Uncle Buck (1989)
+ National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
+ Home Alone (1990)
+ Career Opportunities (1991)
+ Dutch (1991)
+ Curly Sue (1991)
+ Beethoven (1992) (as Edmond Dantes)
+ Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
+ Dennis the Menace (1993)
+ Baby’s Day Out (1994)
+ Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
+ 101 Dalmatians (1996)
+ Flubber (1997)
+ Home Alone 3 (1997)
+ Reach The Rock (1998)
+ Just Visiting (2001) (with Jean-Marie Poire & Christian Clavier)
+ Maid in Manhattan (2002; story) (originally titled The Chambermaid) (as Edmond Dantes)
+ Drillbit Taylor (2008; story) (as Edmond Dantes)
Director
+ Sixteen Candles (1984)
+ The Breakfast Club (1985)
+ Weird Science (1985)
+ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
+ Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
+ She’s Having a Baby (1988)
+ Uncle Buck (1989)
+ Curly Sue (1991)
Producer
+ The Breakfast Club (1985)
+ Pretty in Pink (1986; executive producer)
+ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
+ Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
+ Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
+ She’s Having a Baby (1988)
+ The Great Outdoors (1988; executive producer)
+ Uncle Buck (1989)
+ National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
+ Home Alone (1990)
+ Career Opportunities (1991)
+ Only the Lonely (1991)
+ Dutch (1991)
+ Curly Sue (1991)
+ Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
+ Dennis the Menace (1993)
+ Baby’s Day Out (1994)
+ Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
+ 101 Dalmatians (1996)
+ Flubber (1997)
+ Home Alone 3 (1997)
+ Reach the Rock (1998)
+ New Port South (2001; executive producer)
It’s interesting looking back on his canon of work. I never really noticed before, but most of his films have a the same thing in common – they are all about really messed up families. Mr. Mom, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck. Weird Science – where was Wyatt’s parents? Breakfast Club was all about how everybody’s family is crazy, no matter if your a jock, nerd, or princess – rich or poor – everyone is fuct. Home Alone… the freakin’ kid was forgotten and left at home on Christmas and was being tormented by burglars – who were trying to kill him. In fact, it’s pretty easy to take a John Hughes movie and turn it into a horror movie.
Despite how little his later work matters to me – his early films, the ones he made for all kids in the 1980’s, will always give me that old nostalgic feeling. I hardly seek them out… but at then end of the day – if Weird Science is on, I put the clicker down – pull out my rubix cube – drink some Jolt – think about all the cool stuff I could do on a Commodore 64 – fantasize about being rich – and remember that my parents just don’t understand me.
Godspeed Mr. Hughes.