Danielle Solzman
The John Hughes 5-Movie Collection is now available on Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment–two titles arriving for the first time.
Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles have previously been released on Blu-ray. Both Some Kind of Wonderful and She’s Having A Baby are making their first appearance on Blu-ray. In addition to the Blu-ray, the five films will also be made available as a digital copy. Both Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are celebrating their 35th anniversaries on February 28 and June 11, respectively. Check back in June for my formal review of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It is also one of the best love letters to Chicago in cinematic history!
John Hughes is one of the filmmakers who helped define the 1980s. You cannot think of the decade without also thinking of his films. Sure, some of the films haven’t aged well when we look back on the 1980s. The Breakfast Club may be considered one of the greatest films about the teenage experience but Molly Ringwald had something to say about watching the film a few years ago. I first read Molly’s essay a few years ago and it’s one that I keep going back to time and time again.
Hughes would famously walk away from the movies following John Candy’s sudden death. The filmmaker would produce films until 1997 but he would never put himself under the spotlight again. His last story credit was for 2008’s Drillbit Taylor under the pseudonym of Edmond Dantès. He passed away after suffering a heart attack in Central Park on August 6, 2009.
Pretty in Pink
Originally released on February 28, 1986, Pretty In Pink celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2021. Produced and written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch, the film stars Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy. Andie (Ringwald) is a high school girl from the other side of town. Blane (McCarthy) is the wealthy heartthrob who asks her to the prom. But as fast as their romance builds, it’s threatened by the painful reality of peer pressure.
Bonus Features
- Filmmaker Focus with director Howard Deutch
- The Lost Dance: The Original Ending
- Original Theatrical Trailer
DIRECTOR: Howard Deutch
SCREENWRITER: John Hughes
CAST: Molly Ringwald, Harry Dean Stantion, Jon Cryer, Annie Potts, James Spader, and Andrew McCarthy
Some Kind of Wonderful
Howard Deutch returned to direct 1987’s Some Kind of Wonderful, which was also written and produced by Hughes and makes its Blu-ray debut. Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson and Lea Thompson star in the affecting story of young love in which Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith (Eric Stoltz), run deeper than just friendship. When Keith gets a date with the most popular girl in school (Lea Thompson), the girl’s old boyfriend is unable to let go of her and plans to get back at Keith.
Bonus Features
- BACK TO WONDERFUL: A Conversation with director Howard Deutch—NEW!
- Commentary by director Howard Deutch and Lea Thompson
- The Making of Some Kind of Wonderful
- Meet the Cast of Some Kind of Wonderful
- John Hughes Time Capsule
DIRECTOR: Howard Deutch
SCREENWRITER: John Hughes
CAST: Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Craig Sheffer, and Lea Thompson
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Also celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2021, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off continues to be enjoyed, quoted and revered 35 years after its theatrical debut on June 11, 1986. Matthew Broderick stars as a delightfully charming high school student who, with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck), ditches school to enjoy one perfect day as a kid with no responsibilities.
Bonus Features
- Getting the Class Together: The Cast of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- The Making of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- Who is Ferris Bueller?
- The World According to Ben Stein
- Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes
- Class Album
DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: John Hughes
CAST: Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Produced, written and directed by John Hughes, Planes, Trains and Automobiles stars comedy greats Steve Martin and John Candy. The uproarious classic follows a businessman (Martin) who is struggling to get home for Thanksgiving, but burdened by one travel mishap after another, as well as the company of an annoying traveling salesman (Candy). Filled with outrageously funny situations and a generous helping of warmth, the film also features appearances by Michael McKean, Edie McClurg and Kevin Bacon. A quintessential Thanksgiving weekend staple!
Bonus Features
- Getting There is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes, Trains and Automobiles
- John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast (2-Part Documentary):
- John Hughes: The Voice of a Generation
- Heartbreak and Triumph: The Legacy of John Hughes
- John Hughes for Adults
- A Tribute to John Candy
- Deleted Scene – “Airplane Food”
DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: John Hughes
CAST: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, and Michael McKean
She’s Having A Baby
Hughes wrote, directed and produced the romantic comedy She’s Having A Baby, which arrives for the first time on Blu-ray. Starring Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern, the film follows an aspiring writer who must face up to the responsibilities of marriage and fatherhood despite his persistent doubts and unfulfilled ambitions.
Bonus Features
- From the Archives: Kevin Bacon Interviews John Hughes
- Theatrical Trailer
DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: John Hughes
CAST: Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth McGovern, William Windom, Paul Gleason
