POLL: Favorite High School 80s Movie....Better Off Dead or Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I recall an interview with John Hughes where he mentions John Cusack being on the short-list of candidates for the Ferris Buehler role... funny, the actor who played the role of Cameron (Alan Ruck?) always reminded me of Cusack

Emilio Estevez turned down the Cameron role and Anthony Michael Hall thinks it was written for him. He was a Hughes regular until their falling out; I think he would have been pretty good.

 

[MJG-90]

Agree with parts of 16 Candles... the whole date rape innuendo towards the end makes me very uncomfortable

Date rape? I see your point. Now that might get classified that way. But back when the movie was made it was just drunk sex.

A lot of movie scenes from the past have made me cringe. More along racism lines. But probably sexual assault as well. Definitely drunk driving.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Agree with parts of 16 Candles... the whole date rape innuendo towards the end makes me very uncomfortable

Not to mention Long Duk Dong...

 

[NittanyChris]

This is a really really good poll question, very tough. I was at Penn State 1983-88 so these films are right in my wheelhouse. I have probably seen each movie 30+ times.

If you were to have asked me this back in 1987 I am certain I would have gone with Better off Dead. However, over the years FB has grown on me more and more and just has more stickiness.

Now, Sixteen Candles vs Breakfast Club would be a another really good/tough choice

Breakfast Club had more laugh out loud moments for me.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Ferris simply because it was partially filmed at my old High School, Glenbrook North in Northbrook, IL - when Ferris picks up Mia it's at GBN - John Hughes went to Glenbrook North.

L84 - I lived in Glenview but went to GBN as a freshman. Soph year went to GBS but our freshmen still went to GBN. My jr year was the first year GBS had all four classes under our roof.

Was strange because even though I went to GBN as a freshman, athletically we represented and played for GBS. Very strange when the kid sitting next to you in class was a kid you would play against perhaps several times that year and then the next three years. And my freshman Business teacher was GBN’s Head Basketball Coach, so strange to suit up and play against him later as a jr and sr.

Yeah, GBN was immediately recognizable in FBDO.

 

[Hotshoe]

Better Off Dead (1985) vs. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - it's remarkable how similar these movies are in some ways....which is your favorite and why (if you care to share)?

Better Off Dead

Protagonist - Lane Meyer (John Cusack)

Best Friend - Charles (Curtis Armstrong)

Girlfriend - Monique (Diane Franklin)

Nemesis - Paper Boy, Roy Stalin, Ree Brothers

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Protagonist - Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick)

Best Friend - Cameron (Alan Ruck)

Girlfriend - Sloane (Mia Sara)

Nemesis - Shermer High School, Ed Rooney, Jeanie Bueller

Can't beat baby.

 

[Dunkindonuts]

thanks for letting us know that you’re a doink*

Who is "us"? You and Matthew?

 

[Cowbell Man]

Better off Dead...

Lane do you know the street value of this mountain?

I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!

There are many others, but I'm tired and mind is shutting down

Favorite scene in Ferris was Mia Sara in a wet camisole.

But you forgot...

One Crazy Summer

The scene where Bobcat gets stuck in the Godzilla costume and walks through the model of the community the investors want to build... PRICELESS!!!

Completely Priceless scene!!

 

[Lion84]

It's all supposed to be 'Shermer High School' though right? Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Weird Science - all supposedly take place at Shermer High.

John uighes filmed all over the area but yes the school was Shermer but he filmed some exterior shots at Glenbrook North.

 

[Lion84]

L84 - I lived in Glenview but went to GBN as a freshman. Soph year went to GBS but our freshmen still went to GBN. My jr year was the first year GBS had all four classes under our roof.

Was strange because even though I went to GBN as a freshman, athletically we represented and played for GBS. Very strange when the kid sitting next to you in class was a kid you would play against perhaps several times that year and then the next three years. And my freshman Business teacher was GBN’s Head Basketball Coach, so strange to suit up and play against him later as a jr and sr.

Yeah, GBN was immediately recognizable in FBDO.

I thought you had mentioned that before - I really liked the area growing up. We lived on Marshall Road - 3 bedroom ranch house that I think my Dad bought for $20K - some now go for $500K and people put second stories on them - crazy. I was bummed last time I was there and they had removed the sledding hill from behind Northbrook Junior High - that was killer in the Winter.

 

[LionJim]

Interesting how careers go - Broderick turned down Family Ties which eventually went to Michael J. Fox. Cusack lost the Bender role in Breakfast Club to Judd Nelson.

Yes, but Cusack's had the better career than Nelson.