Death of an 80s legend

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In 2009, the Year of Celebrity Death, the passing of 59 year old John Hughes earlier this month barely made a blip of the radar. Then again, Hughes wasn't much of a celebrity. He wasn't much of a filmmaker anymore either, given that he had essentially retired and retreated from the public eye 15 years ago, back in 1994. However, if it hadn't been for this writer-director-producer, life - or, rather, pop culture - would have been very different for teenagers and children of the 1980s and early 1990s. Consider for a moment just a few of the memorable films that sprang from the mind of this copywriter-turned-comedic-filmmaker:








Given that I was only born in 1982 I didn't really encounter or appreciate Hughes' teen-centred work when it was originally released. In my teens however I thoroughly enjoyed Hughes' Brat Pack work. It was tradition at our high school to watch The Breakfast Club at some point as part of our Life Guidance classes. And the more I think about it, if it wasn't for Sixteen Candles, we teenagers of the 90s probably wouldn't have had fluffy filmic treats like 10 Things I Hate About You and Can't Hardly Wait.

Of course, Hughes didn't only make teen comedies. A quick glance over his filmography reveals that before becoming disillusioned with the film industry, he transitioned into boisterous family comedies - many of them massively popular - that didn't shirk from the use of slapstick humour.

Honestly many of these films weren't especially good, usually turning mawkish in the final act, but when you're a kid and your tastes in humour haven't evolved yet, the physical comedy in Hughes' family films was hilarious. Plus, for all their flaws Hughes' films did, and no doubt still do, bring families of multiple generations together for an enjoyable, typically wholesome, shared experience that always leaves smiles on faces. Hughes' films certainly had this effect in my household at least, and as a result his death is made just that little bit sadder by all the nostalgia it dredges up.

And I would like to think that this kind of response from moviegoers - acknowledging the positive impact a "creator's" work had on their personal lives - is what every good filmmaker wants... and deserves.

John Hughes died of a heart attack on 6 August while walking his dog in New York City. He is survived by his wife of 39 years (his high school sweetheart out of interest), 2 sons and 4 grandchildren.

Mr Hughes, you gave us many happy endings; thank you, and all the best!

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