Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite of what the principal thinks of that.

Director:

John Hughes

Writer:

John Hughes

Stars:

Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Broderick	...	Ferris Bueller
Alan Ruck	...	Cameron Frye
Mia Sara	...	Sloane Peterson
Jeffrey Jones	...	Ed Rooney
Jennifer Grey	...	Jeanie Bueller
Cindy Pickett	...	Katie Bueller
Lyman Ward	...	Tom Bueller
Edie McClurg	...	Grace
Charlie Sheen	...	Boy in Police Station
Ben Stein	...	Economics Teacher
Del Close	...	English Teacher
Virginia Capers	...	Florence Sparrow
Richard Edson	...	Garage Attendant
Larry Flash Jenkins	...	Attendant's Co-Pilot
Kristy Swanson	...	Simone Adamley

Storyline

Ferris is a street-wise kid who knows all the tricks. Today he decides to take the day off school. When Ferris takes the day off, so must his best friends, Cameron and Sloane. Cameron is reluctantly persuaded to borrow his father's Ferrari, and together they hatch a plan to get Sloane out of class. Suspicious dean of students Ed Rooney knows all about Ferris, but can never catch him. Ferris' sister Jeanie is also frustrated that Ferris always gets away with his tricks and she doesn't. Furthermore, Ferris is an 'angel' in his parents eyes. It's Ferris' day off, he's out to enjoy himself, and he does!.

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Plot Keywords:

day off | school | ferrari | friend | principal | 

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Taglines:

Leisure Rules

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un experto en diversión

Filming Locations:

22 West Schiller Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$70,136,369 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The hall scenes in which you see Jeanie walking down the hall and kid collecting money to save Ferris are the halls from The Breakfast Club.

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Goofs

Rooney says that the French phrase "les jeux sont faits" means "the game is up". It really means "the bets are made"; it's what a croupier calls when he spins roulette, to forbid any new bets or changes in bets.

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Quotes

Ed Rooney: I don't trust this kid any further than I can throw him.
Grace: Well, with your bad knee Ed, you shouldn't throw anybody... It's true.
Ed Rooney: What is so dangerous about a character like Ferris Bueller is he gives good kids bad ideas.
Grace: Mmm-hmm.
Ed Rooney: Last thing I need at this point in my career is fifteen hundred Ferris Bueller disciples running around these halls. He jeopardizes my ability to effectivley govern this student body.
Grace: Well, makes you look like an ass is what he does, Ed.
Ed Rooney: Thank you, Grace. I think you're...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Ferris comes out of bathroom: "You're still here? It's over. Go home."

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Connections

Referenced in Parker Lewis Can't Lose: Close But No Guitar (1990)

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Soundtracks

"Go Down Moses"
(uncredited)
Performed by Alan Ruck
Traditional

User Reviews

Don't let school get in the way of your education....

John Hughes does a tremendous job of portraying school as an oppressive prison in which children are forced into the most unnatural setting to memorize useless facts to "get their grade." _The Breakfast Club_ is another example of this, but FBDO does it tremendously well. The setting portrayed at the school of the bored students listening to a nasal monotone lecture, while intended to be a caricature of the nature of classroom lessons and children's reactions, was pretty much on target.

Ferris Bueller takes the day off and what does he do? Certainly not what Rooney assumed smart teenagers will do. He didn't use this time to damage some bedsprings with his girlfriend, or play video games. No, he viewed fabulous pieces of art, ate at a very classy restaurant, participated in a parade, and taught his friends a few lessons in some interesting ways.

As a believer in education as an organic experience, this movie is a real eye opener to anyone wishing to educate their children outside of the public school venue. It's funny, and shows just how worthy time "living your life before it passes by" can be.

10/10