SIXTEEN CANDLES at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

"16 Candles" is the first film in a series of John Hughes Teen Comedies. It is also the first major appearance in a starring role of the brilliantly talented, red-headed, Teen Queen of the 80's Molly Ringwald. It became a benchmark film by which all other romantic teen comedies that followed were measured.

Molly Ringwald is charming in her portrayal of Samantha Baker, the high school student who is dumbfounded when her family forgets her 16th birthday. Her birthday is the day before her sister's wedding. Her family & relatives are so preoccupied with the wedding plans that they simply forget her special day. It is this that triggers off a series of hilarious & unforgettable situations.

Molly feels that her family just doesn't care anymore & to add to her disappointment the school geek, Farmer Ted, played delightfully off-the wall by Anthony Michael Hall is deperately in love with her & spends most of the film chasing her around. Molly has other ideas, she has her eyes focused on the boy of her dreams, Jake Ryan, played by Michael Schoeffling.

To add insult to injury, two sets of grandparents have also come to stay at her house for the wedding, including Chinese exchange student Long Duk Dong (played to a tee by Gedde Watanabe). Also, watch out for future teen star John Cusack who has a fun support role as Bryce, a friend of the Geek. The film also has the obligatory party scene in which the house gets trashed, Jake's girfriend gets drunk & Long Duk Dong makes an absolute fool of himself.

"16 Candles" has a goofy, way-out, but sweet sense of humour, that seems outrageously original. This, together with Molly Ringwald's charm & the excellent performances from the supporting cast is why "16 Candles" will remain forever the essential teen comedy classic. If you haven't seen it, don't miss it.

This page was last updated
January 15th 2004

TITLE : Sixteen Candles
YEAR OF RELEASE : 1984
CLASSIFICATION : PG
DIRECTOR : John Hughes
STARRING : Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, John Cusack, Gedde Watanabe, Justin Henry.
TAGLINE: It's the time of your life that may last a lifetime.

"16 Candles" is available to buy on DVD & VHS
Click the Movie Titles below for details:

Special Features:
Click the links below to check out 2 special pages dedicated to John Hughes, legendary writer, director & producer of some of the greatest teen movies ever made. Featuring, Fact Files, Filmographies & Movie Posters :

John Hughes at Hollywood Teen Movies
John Hughes at Hollywood Cult Movies

John Hughes Video / DVD Store

Above: Lobby Card of Molly & Michael with Director John Hughes. Click the lobby card for purchasing details.

"The Brat Pack Years" - Track List :

1. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
2. I Melt With You - Modern English
3. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - John Parr
4. Hazy Shade Of Winter - The Bangles
5. Tenderness - General Public
6. Whistle Down The Wind - Nick Heyward
7. Do Wot You Do - INXS
8. Would I Lie To You -Eurythmics
9. Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung
10. Weird Science - Oingo Boingo
11. Like To Get To Know You Well - Howard Jones
12. So Far, So Good - Sheena Easton
13. In The Name Of Love - Thompson Twins
14. True - Spandau Ballet

"The Brat Pack Years" on CD Click the album
cover below for purchasing details:

"16 Candles" Color Stills For Sale - Click a still below for purchasing details:

Sixteen Candles(1984) VHS
Sixteen Candles [DVD](1984) DVD
Molly Ringwald stars as a young girl whose 16th birthday has pretty much been a total disaster--her family forgets the day, a boy at school ignores her, and her only confidant is a classmate known as "the Geek." Anthony Michael Hall, Paul Dooley, John Cusack co-star; John Hughes directs. 93 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1; Subtitles: Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
High School Reunion Collection [DVD] DVD
Three-disc boxed set includes "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles" and "Weird Science."

Sixteen Candles

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