St. Elmo's Fire (1985)

A group of friends, just out of college, struggle with adulthood.

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers:

Joel Schumacher, Carl Kurlander

Stars:

Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emilio Estevez	...	Kirby Keger
Rob Lowe	...	Billy Hicks
Andrew McCarthy	...	Kevin Dolenz
Demi Moore	...	Jules
Judd Nelson	...	Alec Newbary
Ally Sheedy	...	Leslie Hunter
Mare Winningham	...	Wendy Beamish
Martin Balsam	...	Mr. Beamish
Andie MacDowell	...	Dale Biberman
Joyce Van Patten	...	Mrs. Beamish
Jenny Wright	...	Felicia
Blake Clark	...	Wally
Jon Cutler	...	Howie Krantz
Matthew Laurance	...	Ron Dellasandro
Gina Hecht	...	Judith

Storyline

Seven friends - Alec, Billy, Jules, Kevin, Kirby, Leslie and Wendy - are trying to navigate through life and their friendships following college graduation. Alec, who aspires to political life, has just shown his true colors by changing his allegiance from Democrat to Republican, which freaks out girlfriend Leslie, who he wants to marry. Budding architect Leslie, on the other hand, has an independent streak. She believes she has to make a name for herself to find out who she is before she can truly commit to another person in marriage. But Leslie and Alec have decided to live together. Because Leslie refuses to marry Alec, he believes that justifies certain behavior. Kirby, who wants to become a lawyer and who pays for his schooling by working as a waiter at their local hangout called St. Elmo's Bar, and struggling writer Kevin are currently roommates. They are on opposite extremes of the romance spectrum. Kirby has just reconnected with Dale Biberman, a slightly older woman he knew ...

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Plot Keywords:

lingerie | pantyhose | black pantyhose | female stockinged legs | party girl | 

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Taglines:

They thought they'd be friends forever, but forever couldn't last.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Real World

Filming Locations:

L'Orangerie - 903 North La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,128,157, 30 June 1985

Gross USA:

$37,803,872

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Delphi IV Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 108 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A number of the cast have worked together in various combinations both before and after this movie. Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy had co-starred in Class (1983); Ally Sheedy and Rob Lowe had co-starred in Oxford Blues (1984); and Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson were all in The Breakfast Club (1985) in the same year that St. Elmo's Fire (1985) debuted. In the following year Demi Moore and Emilio Estevez co-starred in Wisdom (1986); Judd Nelson Ally Sheedy co-starred in Blue City (1986); and Demi Moore and Rob Lowe co-starred in About Last Night... (1986).

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Goofs

Alec shows up at Kevin's apartment the morning after Kevin and Leslie have sex, and starts talking to him from the living area, unaware that Kevin and Leslie are in the bedroom. Kevin then exits the bedroom wearing a red robe. In the next cut showing Leslie in bed over-hearing the conversation, we see someone wearing a red robe exit the bedroom.

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Quotes

Kevin: How come you never ask me if I want a date?
Naomi: I thought you were gay!

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Connections

Referenced in TruInside: Heathers (2016)

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Soundtracks

If I Turn You Away
Written by David Foster and Richard Marx
Produced by David Foster
Performed by Vikki Moss

User Reviews

Spoiled American Slackers Whine A Lot

This is a quintessential 80's film. Filled with all the yuppie, self-indulgent longings that we would expect from a 1985 brat-packer movie. I cannot say it is cinematic brilliance, but I guess it is kind of cute in a sophomoric way. Most of the characters are either of weak moral standing, or are hopelessly in love with someone unavailable. Even Wendy- the only one not slacking or immoral is in love with pretty boy Billy- the biggest slacker, womanizer of the bunch. Worth watching just to see what NOT to become after graduating from college.