Pretty in Pink - the ultimate 80s classic
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The best 80s teen film
Originally released in 1986, Pretty in Pink is the 80s teen movie and one of my all-time favourites.
From the absolutely cracking title song by The Psychedelic Furs, to the the top performances by Jon Cryer, Molly Ringwald and Harry Dean Stanton, to name a few, this is the ultimate girly teen film to make you cry (well it always makes me!). I was mid-teens (whisper it) in '86 and was always a little bit different to all the other girls. I liked to read, had my own style, loved music and was probably a bit of a nerd, but in a good way... Then along came this film that celebrated everything I loved and it included the coolest and best fictional character in the world; Duckie Dale, (swoon) and the leading lady (Ringwald) had a name that was the fabbest around - Andie. |
A bit of background in case you don't know
Andie Walsh lives on the 'wrong side of the tracks', she and her dad don't have much money, but they always find a way to get by. Andie is so creative with her style and fashion sense and makes all her own clothes by recycling old and vintage ones (before it was fashionable) and turning them into something new.
Andie has two great friends, one is in the same high school year as her. Duckie Dale (the amazing Jon Cryer) has always been there, but now in his teenage years he has an enormous crush on her, but Andie hardly sees him - he's just her friend Duckie - and certainly not in that way, and Duckie hides it anyway in only the way he can. Iona (played by the lovely and brilliant Annie Potts) runs the TRAX record store that Andie works at (I so wanted that job!) and is a great friend too, taking on a bit of a big sister role, so a few of the scenes take place here - in fact one of the best; who can forget Duckie's version of Otis Redding's 'Try a Little Tenderness'?
Some could argue that Pretty in Pink is a modern version of Romeo and Juliet, though it's not really family clans against each other, more the rich boy (Blane played by Andrew McCarthy) meets poor girl, and the preppie jocks (including James Spader) up against the new wave weirdos. Basically there's always going to be trouble. Sensitive rich boy meets cool and different girl, boy and girl come up against peer group issues, rich boy caves, poor girl hurts... and I won't spoil the rest just in case you haven't seen it...!
Andie has two great friends, one is in the same high school year as her. Duckie Dale (the amazing Jon Cryer) has always been there, but now in his teenage years he has an enormous crush on her, but Andie hardly sees him - he's just her friend Duckie - and certainly not in that way, and Duckie hides it anyway in only the way he can. Iona (played by the lovely and brilliant Annie Potts) runs the TRAX record store that Andie works at (I so wanted that job!) and is a great friend too, taking on a bit of a big sister role, so a few of the scenes take place here - in fact one of the best; who can forget Duckie's version of Otis Redding's 'Try a Little Tenderness'?
Some could argue that Pretty in Pink is a modern version of Romeo and Juliet, though it's not really family clans against each other, more the rich boy (Blane played by Andrew McCarthy) meets poor girl, and the preppie jocks (including James Spader) up against the new wave weirdos. Basically there's always going to be trouble. Sensitive rich boy meets cool and different girl, boy and girl come up against peer group issues, rich boy caves, poor girl hurts... and I won't spoil the rest just in case you haven't seen it...!
The alternate ending
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Not too long after the film came out Jackie magazine in the UK serialised the book version, which is where I found out about the original intended ending of the film. I have to say this is, without doubt, my preferred ending, and another reason why I bawl my eyes out at the film, the wrong guy gets the girl in my opinion.
But even though this happens it's still one of my all-time faves. A brilliant story, amazing characters, played by wonderful actors and the best soundtrack EVER, this is why Pretty in Pink this is the best 80s movie. Take a look at the clips below if you don't believe me... |
