Chloe Adams
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes. The film stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Sam Baker, a high school sophomore whose family forgets her 16th birthday. The film also stars Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, and Paul Dooley. The film was a critical and commercial success, helping to launch the careers of its stars and is considered one of Hughes's best films. The film has been released multiple times on DVD and Blu-ray, with various special features and anniversary editions. The soundtrack, featuring songs by the Thompson Twins and The Stray Cats, has also been released. The film's title is derived from the 1958 song of the same name by the Crests, which is featured prominently in the film.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Plot | A girl's parents forget her 16th birthday |
| Main character | Samantha "Sam" Baker |
| Year written | 1982 |
| Director | John Hughes |
| Budget | $1 million |
| Film location | Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois |
| Release date | May 4, 1984 |
| Box office earnings | $23.6 million |
| Soundtrack | 28 songs |
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What You'll Learn
Casting Sixteen Candles
Casting for the film Sixteen Candles began in 1982, with John Hughes choosing the cast. The film was initially intended to be a low-budget production, but Hughes attracted more interest in his screenplays after writing the successful film National Lampoon's Vacation.
Hughes received headshots of young actresses, including Robin Wright, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy. Sheedy auditioned for the role of Sam but was dropped, with Hughes believing Ringwald was more fitting for the part. For the role of Ted, Hughes saw several actors, including Jim Carrey, Jon Cryer, Keith Coogan, and Ralph Macchio. However, he chose Michael Schoeffling because he "played it straight, like a real human being". Paul Dooley was cast as Sam's father, a role he almost turned down due to its originally brief appearance in the film.
Principal photography for Sixteen Candles began in July 1983, primarily in and around the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois. The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 4, 1984, and received positive reviews, with Ringwald's performance particularly praised. It was a box office success, earning $23.6 million against a $6.5 million budget. The film is considered one of Hughes's best and helped launch the careers of Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall.
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Filming locations
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles was directed by John Hughes and shot in several locations in Illinois, USA, including Evanston, Skokie, Highland Park, Northbrook, and Glencoe.
The film is set in the fictional Illinois town of Shermer, a suburb of Chicago, and was filmed mainly in the real-life Chicago suburbs. The Baker House, where the protagonist Samantha Baker lives with her family, is located at 3022 Payne Street in Evanston, Illinois. Evanston also served as the filming location for other scenes, such as those involving Jake's girlfriend.
The unnamed high school in the film, including the famous dance scene in the gym, is Niles East High School, located at 7701 North Lincoln Avenue in Skokie, Illinois. The school has since been torn down and replaced by Oaktown Community College. However, some scenes were also filmed at Niles North High School, one of its sister schools, also located in Skokie.
The church featured in the film is the Glencoe Union Church on 263 Park Avenue in Glencoe, Illinois. Jake Ryan's house can be found at 1407 Waverly Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Additionally, some scenes were filmed in Northbrook, Illinois, such as those at Bryce and Cliff's house, located at 1411 Sycamore Lane.
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Soundtrack
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles features a soundtrack that complements the movie's themes and adds to its overall appeal. The soundtrack has been released in various formats over the years, including DVD and Blu-ray releases, each with slight variations in the audio presentation.
The Sixteen Candles soundtrack features an array of songs that enhance the film's pivotal moments. One of the most notable songs is the titular "Sixteen Candles," written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent and performed by The Crests. This song, originally released in 1958, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the US R&B chart, showcasing its enduring popularity. The song's appearance in the film underscores a crucial scene, making it a memorable part of the soundtrack.
Another notable contribution to the soundtrack is by Thompson Twins, who performed the songs "Sixteen Candles" and "The Twilight Zone." These songs were written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway, showcasing the talent behind the scenes. Additionally, The Stray Cats performed "Sixteen Candles," written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent, further emphasizing the song's significance to the film.
The soundtrack also includes iconic songs by The Beatles, with "Birthday" and "Hey Jude" performed by Anthony Michael Hall. These songs, written by the legendary duo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, add a familiar and timeless quality to the soundtrack. The inclusion of these songs showcases the film's ability to appeal to a wide audience.
The Sixteen Candles soundtrack has been a topic of discussion and intrigue for many fans, with some seeking to identify specific songs used in certain scenes. This engagement highlights the impact of the soundtrack and its ability to leave a lasting impression on viewers, even years after the film's release.
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Sixteen Candles' impact on cast careers
Sixteen Candles, released in 1984, was John Hughes's directorial debut. The film helped launch the careers of several cast members, including Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.
Molly Ringwald, who played the lead role of Samantha "Sam" Baker, became a household name in the 1980s following the success of Sixteen Candles. She went on to collaborate with Hughes on two more films, The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986), both of which solidified her status as a teen icon. Ringwald's performance in Sixteen Candles was particularly praised by critics, and she has since become known for her relatable and playful portrayals of high school life.
Michael Schoeffling, who played Jake Ryan, the most popular boy in school, also benefited from his role in Sixteen Candles. Schoeffling seemed to have a bright future in the industry, appearing in several more films, including Vision Quest (1985) and Mermaids (1990). However, he abruptly left the entertainment industry in 1991, making his final appearance in Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. Since then, Schoeffling has led a quiet life, working as a carpenter and raising his family.
Anthony Michael Hall played Ted Farmer, an awkward freshman with a crush on Sam. Sixteen Candles was one of Hall's earliest movies, and he became known for playing nerdy characters. Prior to his fame, Hall was one of several actors considered for the role of Ted, including Jim Carrey and Jon Cryer.
The film also included small roles by John Cusack and his sister, Joan Cusack, as well as a controversial role played by Gedde Watanabe, which has since been criticized as an offensive Asian stereotype.
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The film's release and reception
John Hughes wrote Sixteen Candles in 1982 as a low-budget production, which was initially rejected. However, after the success of National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Hughes attracted more interest in his screenplays. The film was produced and theatrically released by Universal Pictures in the United States on May 4, 1984, grossing $4,461,520 in its opening weekend in 1,240 theatres across the US and Canada.
Sixteen Candles was primarily filmed in and around the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois, during the summer of 1983. The film stars Molly Ringwald, who was chosen for the role over Ally Sheedy, and Ringwald's performance was particularly praised by critics. The film also helped launch the careers of Schoeffling and Hall, who played the leads alongside Ringwald when all three were just 15 years old.
The film initially received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), but Hughes successfully lobbied for it to be released with a PG rating. It received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, earning $23.6 million against a $6.5 million budget. It is retrospectively considered one of Hughes's best films.
The film's soundtrack has been released multiple times, including on DVD in 2003 with the original theatrical soundtrack, and again in 2008 as a "Flashback Edition" with a new featurette titled "Celebrating Sixteen Candles". In 2012, the film was released on Blu-ray for the first time as part of Universal's 100th Anniversary, and in 2019, Universal re-released the film on Blu-ray for its 35th anniversary.
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Frequently asked questions
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 romantic comedy film written and directed by John Hughes. It stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha "Sam" Baker, a high school sophomore whose family forgets her 16th birthday.
Sixteen Candles has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available to purchase or rent on Google Play.
On the morning of her 16th birthday, Sam is disappointed that her family has forgotten about it. At school, she has a crush on a boy named Jake, who is initially unaware of her feelings. After a series of miscommunications and adventures, Jake surprises Sam at church, where he invites her to his house and gives her a birthday cake with 16 candles.
"Sixteen Candles" is a 1958 song performed by the Crests and written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent. It was featured in the film Sixteen Candles, along with other songs by artists such as Thompson Twins, The Stray Cats, and Anthony Michael Hall.
