Sixteen Candles


Sixteen Candles

Overview:

A teenage girls deals with her parents forgetting her birthday and a crush on her high school's heartthrob.

Votes 443 (6.9/10)

Runtime: 93 minutes

Release Date 1984-05-04

Budget: $6,500,000.00

Revenue: $23,686,027.00

Tagline: When you're just sixteen anything can happen!

Production company:

  • Universal Pictures

Production country:

  • United States of America

Genres:

  • Comedy
  • Romance

Trailer

Further Information

Samantha 'Sam' Baker
Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald
Mike Baker
Justin Henry
Justin Henry
Jake Ryan
Michael Schoeffling
Michael Schoeffling
Caroline Mulford
Haviland Morris
Haviland Morris
Long Duk Dong
Gedde Watanabe
Gedde Watanabe
Geek 'Farmer Ted'
Anthony Michael Hall
Anthony Michael Hall
Jim Baker
Paul Dooley
Paul Dooley
Brenda Baker
Carlin Glynn
Carlin Glynn
Ginny Baker
Blanche Baker
Blanche Baker
Howard Baker
Edward Andrews
Edward Andrews
Dorthy Baker
Billie Bird
Billie Bird
Grandma Helen
Carole Cook
Carole Cook
Grandpa Fred
Max Showalter
Max Showalter
Randy
Liane Curtis
Liane Curtis
Bryce
John Cusack
John Cusack
Cliff
Darren Harris
Darren Harris
Lumberjack (as Deborah Pollack)
Debbie Pollack
Debbie Pollack
Ray Gun Geek #1
Ross Berkson
Ross Berkson
Jimmy Montrose
Jonathan Chapin
Jonathan Chapin
Geek Girl #1
Joan Cusack
Joan Cusack
Reverend
Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray
Female D.J.
Bekka Eaton
Bekka Eaton
Shower Double (as Paula Elser)
Pamela Elser
Pamela Elser
Ray Gun Geek #2
Steven Farber
Steven Farber
Robin
Jami Gertz
Jami Gertz
Freshman
Frank Howard
Frank Howard
Rudy
John Kapelos
John Kapelos
Irene
Marge Kotlisky
Marge Kotlisky
Rock
Tony Longo
Tony Longo
Jock
Steve Monarque
Steve Monarque
Bruno
Bill Orsi
Bill Orsi
Patty
Beth Ringwald
Beth Ringwald
Organist
Zelda Rubinstein
Zelda Rubinstein
Bus Driver
Dennis Vero
Dennis Vero
Tracy
Elaine Wilkes
Elaine Wilkes
Director
John Hughes
John Hughes
Screenplay
John Hughes
John Hughes
Music
Ira Newborn
Ira Newborn
Cinematography
Bobby Byrne
Bobby Byrne
Editor
Edward Warschilka
Edward Warschilka
Casting
Jackie Burch
Jackie Burch

John Chard

I've never bagged a babe. I'm not a stud. It's Samantha Baker's 16th birthday and her family are so wrapped up in her sisters impending wedding, they have completely forgotten Sam's big day. Not only that but she has the hots for school hunk Jake Ryan who, apparently doesn't know she even exists. Her existence, however, is noted by freshman Ted "The Geek" who lusts after her at every opportunity. Being 16 really isn't all it's cracked up to be, maybe? John Hughes directs his first feature film and sets out his marker for the career that was to come for the astute observer of teen angst and coming of age drama. Featuring Hughes faves Molly Ringwald (Sam0 & Anthony Michael Hall (Ted), Sixteen Candles is frothy on the outside but not without cunning substance on the inside. It's the sort of film that is easy to forgive its obviousness on account of its understanding of its characters, something that Hughes was a master of. Even as we run through the staple requirements of the teen comedy movie (dance, party, making out etc ) Hughes manages to avoid the cliché pitfalls of such sequences by fuelling them with believable patois. His cast, with the exception of the dull Michael Schoeffling (Jake), are sparky and engaging throughout. With the Cusack siblings, John & Joan also showing up in the strong supporting cast. There's an Asian exchange student thread that some have tried to paint as stereotypically offencive, but that is nonsense! Gedde Watanabe ensures the role is the fun and harmless one it's meant to be. The soundtrack is kicking and very at one with the story (another knack of Hughes), it features the likes of The Specials, The Revillos, Billy Idol, The Stray Cats and The Thompson Twins. And the Evanston, Illinois location work really fleshes out the feeling of the piece. Not just a film for 80s nostalgists then, one for pretty much anyone who was 16 and had their emotions pulled all over the place. 7/10

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