If you were a teenager in the 1980’s, one man defined cinema for you, and that was John Hughes.

Well-known writer and director John Hughes passed away today at the age of 59.  He was struck suddenly by a heart attack while out for a morning stroll in Manhattan.

As I said above, if you were a teenager in the 1980’s, trust me, you saw at least one of the movies he wrote, if not all of them.  It wasn’t so much they were high brow entertainment, the were quite the oppisite, but they spoke to our generation for some reason.  Who didn’t at least know a Duckie from Pretty in Pink?  What teenager didn’t feel the awkwardness of Samantha in Sixteen Candles?  Was there any one who didn’t want to be Ferris Bueller?  Yes, all of these were his doing folks, and many, many more.  I’ll even forgive him for the Home Alone series.

• 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)
• 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)

Thank you for many, many hours of entertainment, Mr. Hughes.  And, no, we won’t forget about you.  (Breakfest Club reference for those who didn’t get it.)  I’ll leave you with some of my favorite quotes from his movies.

Jim Baker: Why do you think you’re a dork? I don’t think you’re a dork. I don’t think Mom thinks you’re a dork.
Samantha: Mike thinks I’m a dork.
Jim Baker: Mike *is* a dork.

Sixteen Candles

Bender: Remember how you said your parents use you to get back at each other?
Claire Standish: [nods]
Bender: Wouldn’t I be OUTSTANDING in that capacity?

Breakfest Club

Ferris: Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Iona: Does he have… strong lips?
Andie: How can you tell?
Iona: Did you feel it in your knees?
Andie: I felt it everywhere.
Iona: Strong lips.
[laughs]
Iona: I know I’m old enough to be his mother, but when the Duck laid that kiss on me last night, I swear my thighs just went up in flames! He must practice on melons or something.

Pretty in Pink