Aug 05 2023 170 mins 3
This week on Every Rom Com we’re diving deep on the first of the John Hughes teen rom coms, “Sixteen Candles”! We’ll discuss the cultural associations with turning sixteen, as well as the enduring charm of Molly Ringwald, and how Jake Ryan became one of the most memorable and desirable cinematic love interests. We’ll also dig into several ways this movie hasn’t aged well, from sexual harassment and rape culture, to the complex layers of Gedde Watanabe’s portrayal of the foreign exchange student, Long Duk Dong. This is our longest episode yet, but don’t miss this in-depth episode on a high school movie that helped define an entire genre!
0:00 -9:39 Introduction - Favorite High School Movies/TV Shows
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9:39 -21:00 TRAILER, Basic Info, Interesting Facts
You Couldn’t Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation, by Susannah Gora
https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/john-hughes-in-memory
26:58 -45:51 Cast & Crew In-Depth
More Information On John Hughes:
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/movies/08appraisal.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/opinion/12ringwald.html?searchResultPosition=1
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Hughes-American-film-director
More Information On Molly Ringwald:
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-08-tv-55079-story.html
https://iammollyringwald.com/acting
Gedde Watanabe’s YouTube show, “The Disappointments”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntB93GM4fJQ&list=PLLKvJ_deH9k5gR0xwDSgtY7bu867nt-ja&index=4
Gedde Watanabe on “Sesame Street”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UeMi5r3lp4
More Information On Michael Schoeffling:
https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/stars-who-left-hollywood-behind-through-the-years/
45:51 -58:55 Opening Of The Film, Samantha And High School Insecurities, Intro To The Family
58:55 -1:18:42 Opening Credits High School Montage, Study Hall With Jake Ryan, Locker Room, Cultural Significance Of Turning Sixteen
The First Reference I Could Find To The Phrase “Sweet Sixteen”:
Interesting 1978 Article On “Sweet Sixteen” Parties:
1:18:42 -1:26:45 The Bus And “The Geek”
1:26:45 -1:50:08 Back At Home, The Grandparents, Long Duk Dong: The Character, The Stereotypes, The Performance, And The Criticism
Critiques Of Long Duk Dong:
https://www.vulture.com/2014/05/gedde-watanabe-long-duk-dong-sixteen-candles-interview.htm
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/02/06/384307677/whats-so-cringe-worthy-about-long-duk-dong-in-sixteen-candles l
https://legacy.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2008/mar/in_character/donger_1.html
Gedde Watanabe On Long Duk Dong:
Brat Pack America by Kevin Smokler, Rare Bird Books, 2016
1:50:58 -2:07:32 Samantha’s Sister, Ginny; The School Dance; The Underpants; Samantha And Jake
2:07:32 -2:12:35 The High School Party, Jake Calls Samantha’s House
2:12:35 SPOILERS BEGIN
2:12:35 -2:25:35 Samantha Talks To Her Dad, Jake Trades Caroline To The Geek, Watching “Sixteen Candles” In The #MeToo Era
Info On Scene With Dad: https://decider.com/2022/12/31/molly-ringwalds-sixteen-candles-dad-says-he-changed-one-particularly-perverted-line/
Molly Ringwald’s Fantastic Article On Viewing Her John Hughes Films In The #MeToo Era: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/what-about-the-breakfast-club-molly-ringwald-metoo-john-hughes-pretty-in-pink
2:25:35 -2:42:49 The Next Morning, “Automobile?”, The Wedding, Jake Looks For Samantha, The Iconic Ending, The Soundtrack
Info On Hughes And Music From CD Collection: Life Moves Pretty Fast. The John Hughes Mixtapes.
2:42:49 -2:50:52 Double Feature Recommendations
