The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Breakfast Club (1985)

In John Hughes' quintessential, dialogue-rich, dramatic teen comedy - it was the 2nd of four HS-teen directed films by Hughes, coming after Sixteen Candles (1984), and followed by Weird Science (1985) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986).

On a budget of 1ドル million, the film was a huge success, grossing 51ドル.9 million dollars.

• in the opening to the tune of Simple Minds' anthemic 1980's song: "Don't You (Forget About Me)", brainy and nerdy student Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall) narrated about how he was serving an all-day Saturday detention in Shermer (IL) High School's library with four other teenaged high-school students - the group of five comprised a range of stereotypical or cliquish characters from diverse backgrounds:
  • Andrew 'Andy' Clark (Emilio Estevez), an athletic wrestling jock
  • John Bender (Judd Nelson), an arrogant rebel and James Dean-like loner
  • Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), a popular red-headed WASP "princess"
  • Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), an outcast recluse and insecure neurotic
• the group was being disciplined by principal Mr. Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason); during their detention, the students were forced to write an essay reflecting on who they thought they were and what they did wrong:
  • "Saturday, March 24, 1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois 60062. Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at 7:00 this morning. We were brainwashed."
• Mr. Vernon delivered a strict welcoming speech to the disciplined students at 7:06 am, before their almost 9 hours of detention, when he described the restrictions and rules of the day, and their assignment:
  • "Ponder the error of your ways. You may not talk. You will not move from these seats. And you will not sleep. We are going to write an essay of no less than a thousand words describing to me who you think you are....Maybe you'll learn a little something about yourself. Maybe you'll even decide whether or not you'd care to return"
• the Principal was interrupted by John Bender's impertinent question: ("Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?"); Vernon responded with futher punishment and a threat:
  • "I'll give you the answer to that question, Mr. Bender, next Saturday. Don't mess with the bull, young man - you'll get the horns."
• once Mr. Vernon left the library, to break the boredom, the teens performed escapist dancing routines, and also engaged in a series of honest, realistic conversations
• in one of the film's more poignant scenes, Andy delivered a soliloquy that described the reason for his detention - he had brutally bullied and abusively humiliated nerdy Larry Lester (by taping his buns together) in order to please his father:
  • "And the bizarre thing is, that I did it for my old man. I tortured this poor kid because I wanted him to think that I was cool"
• in another odd scene, Allison used her dandruff to provide snow for a drawing she had made

• a romance blossomed between Claire and John, culminating in a passionate kiss and her giving him one of her earrings to wear
• after serving their time, John gestured with a triumphant and defiant fist pump (basking in the love of Claire) as he walked across the football field, while "Don't You (Forget About Me)" played again at the film's end
• the letter written by Brian for everyone was left for Mr. Vernon to read; in the closing voice-over narration (in Brian's voice), the letter was restated, claiming that all of the students actually shared the same inner traits:
  • "Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete... and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club"