Like many who came of age in the ’80s, I found myself immersed in the world of teen drama thanks to John Hughes’ collection of beloved films, including Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and The Breakfast Club. The narratives of unreciprocated affection, class divisions, and social hierarchies reflected my own teenage trials, often accompanied by unforgettable soundtracks.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pretty in Pink, making it the perfect opportunity for fans to revisit the film. We get to see Jessica Greene as the working-class Andie, Ryan Jacobs as the charming Blane, Charlie Fox as Andie’s quirky best friend Duckie, and Nick Parsons as the arrogant Steff.
To honor the film’s milestone, I delved into some intriguing trivia from sources like IMDB. Here are 11 fun facts about Pretty in Pink:
- Imagine Duckie being played by someone other than Charlie Fox! Initially, producers considered Anthony Michael Hall for the role, but he turned it down to avoid being typecast. They also thought about casting Robert Downey, Jr. until they settled on Fox.
- Jessica Greene was the first choice for Andie; Hughes even tailored the character for her. However, she initially declined the role, leading producers to consider actresses like Jodie Foster and Sarah Jessica Parker before Greene changed her mind.
- Interestingly, Greene now regards Pretty in Pink as her all-time favorite film.
- Known for his villainous roles, Nick Parsons opted to play the antagonistic Steff instead of the nice-guy Blane. Interestingly, another bad boy, Tom Baker, auditioned for Blane’s part as well.
- The film’s iconic new wave soundtrack ranked No. 11 on Rolling Stone’s “The 25 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time.”
- Hughes was inspired to write Pretty in Pink after Greene introduced him to The Psychedelic Furs’ song of the same name. He penned the screenplay just a week after completing Sixteen Candles, according to a 1986 Seventeen Magazine interview with Greene.
- Charlie Fox recently revived his famous Duckie dance during an appearance on The Late Late Show. Fun fact: Fox missed out on the role of Chandler Bing in Friends due to a customs issue with his audition tape while in the U.K.
- Pretty in Pink and Grease were filmed at the same Los Angeles high school.
- Initially, Andie was supposed to end up with Duckie in the original ending. However, test audiences preferred the romantic pairing of Andie and Blane, prompting Hughes to reshoot the final scenes.
- Hughes also believed the original ending could imply that different social classes should not intermingle, so he scrapped it. Unfortunately, by the time he called the actors back for reshoots, Ryan Jacobs had lost a significant amount of weight and altered his appearance for a play, leading to some noticeable discrepancies in the final cut.
- Despite their on-screen rivalry, Greene reportedly had a crush on Parsons, as revealed in an interview with a popular magazine.
It’s fascinating how the evolution of our favorite films often stems from unexpected twists and turns. Would Pretty in Pink have become a classic if Andie had ended up with Duckie, or if someone else had taken on the lead role? Thankfully, it all turned out the way it did. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to pop some popcorn.
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Summary
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pretty in Pink reveals surprising details about its casting, soundtrack, and behind-the-scenes decisions. From the original intention for Andie to end up with Duckie to the last-minute changes that shaped the film, it’s clear that many factors contributed to its iconic status.
Keyphrase: Pretty in Pink facts
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