Pretty in Pink (1986)

A poor girl must choose between the affections of dating her childhood sweetheart or a rich but sensitive playboy.

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writer:

John Hughes

Stars:

Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Harry Dean Stanton

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Molly Ringwald	...	Andie
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Jack
Jon Cryer	...	Duckie
Annie Potts	...	Iona
James Spader	...	Steff
Andrew McCarthy	...	Blane
Jim Haynie	...	Donnelly
Alexa Kenin	...	Jena Hoeman
Kate Vernon	...	Benny Hanson
Andrew Dice Clay	...	Bouncer (as Andrew 'Dice' Clay)
Emily Longstreth	...	Kate
Margaret Colin	...	English Teacher
Jamie Anders	...	Terrence
Gina Gershon	...	Girl Friend / Gym Class
Bader Howar	...	Sales Girl

Storyline

Teenager Andie is one of the not-so-popular girls in high school. She usually hangs out with her friends Iona or Duckie. Duckie has always had a crush on her, but now she has met a new guy at school, Blane. He's one of the rich and popular guys but can the two worlds meet?

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Plot Keywords:

teenage girl | dysfunctional family | class differences | prom dress | crush | 

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Taglines:

He's crazy about her. She's crazy about him. He's just crazy.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the ending was re-shot, all of the principal cast members had to be called back. Andrew McCarthy had already lost a substantial amount of weight and shaved his head for a new role in a New York City play called "The Boys of Winter". Although he wore an auburn wig, he's noticeably more gaunt in the re-shot scenes.

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Goofs

During the prom scene a teacher can be seen breaking up a couple's dance twice. Once during the overview and then the exact same way again when the cameras do the close up.

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Quotes

Andie: May I admire you?
Duckie: If you wish!

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Connections

Referenced in Video Violence (1987)

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Soundtracks

Do Wot You Do
by Michael Hutchence / Andrew Farriss
Performed by INXS
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
WEA Records PTY Ltd. & Phonogram Limited
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

charming cliché's

I have seen all John Hughes movies from the 80s starring Molly Ringwald and you can't really watch them without comparing them. "Sixteen candles" is more of a "pure" teen-comedy with a big house party followed by a "hangover"-morning, and "Breakfast Club" is the most serious one and, as far as I'm concerned, the most distinctive of the "Brat-pack" movies.

Breakfast Club is the one I like the most, but "Pretty in pink" is also a very good movie. Molly plays (as always) a very unusual girl who lives with her lazy but very caring father (Harry Dean Stanton). She has only two real friends and one of them is a guy called "Duckie". Duckie is kind of a geek and Jon Cryer does this part so good you don't even miss Anthony Michael Hall a bit. Molly also works in a record store owned by her other friend played by Annie Potts.

Molly falls in love with a rich and popular guy (McCarthey) who has mutual feelings. The story is very cliché with a rich guy and a poor girl from two opposite sides of society who falls in love, causing disappointments among their old friends. Duckie is really hurt and McCarthey's best friend tells him to drop Molly, mostly caused by jealousy in this case. This jealous friend is played by James Spader and he is very good at playing bad. The cliché's are told with charm and intelligence though (like "Mischief") and some scenes almost brings tears to the eyes. (I wonder if the movie would have been even better if Hughes had directed it himself!?)

Anyway, it's a sweet story with many wonderful actors typical of the 80s. Remember to look for a very young and very gorgeous Gina Gershon as a High School girl.

The only thing I miss is a great song or two, like the ones in Sixteen candles and Breakfast club. Otherwise if you're crazy like me about the movies from the 80s I see no reason to skip this one.

This movie also has one of the most clever titles ever.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pretty in Pink

Filming Locations:

366 South June St., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,065,870, 2 March 1986

Gross USA:

$40,471,663

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$40,479,480

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1