Maddie James
Sixteen Candles is an American coming-of-age comedy film released in 1984. It was written and directed by John Hughes and starred Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The film follows the story of Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old girl with a crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman. While the film was not a major hit when it was first released, it has since gained a cult following and is considered one of Hughes' best films. Ally Sheedy was up for the lead role in Sixteen Candles, which eventually went to Molly Ringwald. Sheedy was one of the nine original members of the 1980s Brat Pack, which also included Ringwald.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Was Ally Sheedy in 16 Candles? | No, but she auditioned for the role of Molly Ringwald. |
| Who starred in 16 Candles? | Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall |
| Who wrote and directed 16 Candles? | John Hughes |
| What is 16 Candles about? | A newly 16-year-old girl dealing with a seemingly unrequited crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman. |
| What is the film's genre? | Coming-of-age, comedy |
| How was the film received? | Critics called it "mature", "cheerful and light", and "a sweet and funny movie". |
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What You'll Learn
Ally Sheedy auditioned for the lead role in *Sixteen Candles*
Ally Sheedy auditioned for the lead role in the 1984 coming-of-age comedy film *Sixteen Candles*. The part ultimately went to Molly Ringwald, who played the 16-year-old Samantha Baker in the film.
Sheedy was 22 at the time of filming, which may have been a factor in her not getting the role. She did, however, appear in the film, playing an introspective, goofy student. Sheedy was one of the nine original members of the 1980s "Brat Pack", alongside Ringwald, and the two had previously starred together in the 1983 film *Bad Boys*.
Sixteen Candles was written and directed by John Hughes, who was inspired to write the screenplay after seeing a headshot of Ringwald. Hughes had a hand in casting the film, and he chose Anthony Michael Hall to play the "brainy kid", Ted "The Geek" Farmer, because of his performance in "National Lampoon's Vacation".
Despite its status as a cult classic, *Sixteen Candles* was not a major hit when it was first released. It debuted at No. 2 in its opening weekend, making just $4 million. The film went on to gross $23 million but was barely in the top 50 highest-grossing films of 1984.
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Sheedy was a member of the Brat Pack
Ally Sheedy was a member of the Brat Pack, a group of young actors who frequently appeared in teen-oriented coming-of-age films in the 1980s. The term Brat Pack was coined by David Blum in a 1985 New York Magazine cover story, comparing the group to the Rat Pack from the 1950s and 1960s. Sheedy's Brat Pack contemporaries included Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, and Anthony Michael Hall.
The term Brat Pack was first used to describe a group of young film stars who were often seen partying together. Blum's article, titled "Hollywood's Brat Pack", was originally supposed to be about Estevez, but he invited Blum to hang out with him, Lowe, Nelson, and others at the Hard Rock Cafe. The article portrayed Estevez, Lowe, and Nelson negatively, and the group felt betrayed when it was published. Despite the negative attention, the Brat Pack label stuck, and the group's films earned a cult-like following.
Ally Sheedy's Brat Pack film credits include St. Elmo's Fire and The Breakfast Club, both released in 1985. Sheedy played a college grad named Leslie in St. Elmo's Fire, and basket case Allison in The Breakfast Club. Sheedy also starred in other 1980s films with coming-of-age themes, including WarGames (1983), Oxford Blues (1984), Twice in a Lifetime (1985), Blue City (1986), Short Circuit (1986), and Maid to Order (1987).
In 2024, the documentary film Brats was released, reflecting on the careers and impact of the Brat Pack. The film was directed by and starred McCarthy and featured interviews with Estevez, Lowe, Moore, and Sheedy, as well as Blum and other collaborators.
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The role in *Sixteen Candles* ultimately went to Molly Ringwald
Ally Sheedy was up for the lead role of Samantha Baker in the 1984 film *Sixteen Candles*. However, the role ultimately went to Molly Ringwald.
John Hughes, the writer and director of the film, was inspired to write the screenplay after seeing a headshot of Ringwald. Sheedy was one of the nine original members of the 1980s "Brat Pack", along with Ringwald.
In the film, Ringwald's character, Samantha, deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer (Anthony Michael Hall). The character of Ted "The Geek" was widely criticised as being insensitive to Asian Americans and an offensive racist caricature. Despite this, the film is considered to be one of Hughes' best, and Ringwald's performance was especially praised.
Sixteen Candles was not a major hit when it was first released, debuting at No. 2 in its opening weekend and making just $4 million. However, it went on to gross $23 million and is now considered a cult classic.
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Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall briefly dated in real life
No, Ally Sheedy was not in *Sixteen Candles*. However, she did star in another John Hughes film, *The Breakfast Club*, which also featured Anthony Michael Hall, with whom she had a close bond. It was during the filming of *Sixteen Candles* that Sheedy and Hall became friends; Sheedy was dating Hall's friend and co-star, Molly Ringwald, at the time.
While Ringwald and Hall never confirmed a romantic relationship, they were reportedly quite close during the filming of *Sixteen Candles*. They had known each other prior to the film and had even auditioned together for roles in another John Hughes movie, *Weird Science*. Both actors were known for their unique sense of style and their love of old movies, and they often spent time together off set, with Hall reportedly teaching Ringwald how to drive.
It is well-documented that Ringwald and Hall had a close friendship, and they remained friends after the film. They later worked together again on the set of *The Breakfast Club*, where their characters had a memorable on-screen romance. However, it was their off-screen relationships that sparked media interest. Ringwald was linked romantically to several of her co-stars, including Hall, with whom she shared a "sweet and innocent" relationship, according to Ringwald's brother.
While the details of their relationship are not widely known, it is believed that Ringwald and Hall briefly dated or had a fling during the filming of *Sixteen Candles*. This was a common occurrence for Ringwald, who often found herself drawn to her co-stars, and it seemed that Hall returned her affections. However, their relationship was short-lived, and both moved on to other partners. Despite this, they maintained a close friendship, with Hall even defending Ringwald in the media on several occasions.
The relationship between Ringwald and Hall remains a topic of interest for fans of *Sixteen Candles* and *The Breakfast Club*. While it is clear that they shared a deep connection and a brief romantic involvement, their friendship endured, and they continued to support each other in their careers. This is a testament to the enduring bond formed between these two iconic stars of the 1980s.
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![Sixteen Candles [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81vduD78FxL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
*Sixteen Candles* was not a major box office hit
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes. It stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old girl dealing with a crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman. The film also stars Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall.
Despite its status as a cult classic, *Sixteen Candles* was not a major box office hit when it was first released. The film debuted at No. 2 in its opening weekend, making just $4 million. It went on to gross $23 million, but it was barely in the top 50 highest-grossing films of 1984. Much of its current reputation is due to home video sales and frequent airings on American TV channels like TBS and AMC in the years since its release.
Ally Sheedy auditioned for the role of Sam in *Sixteen Candles*, but Hughes ultimately chose Molly Ringwald for the part. Sheedy was one of the nine original members of the 1980s "Brat Pack", along with Ringwald, and she appeared in several other films during the decade, including The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire.
Sixteen Candles has been described as a "great movie from the land that was the '80s" and a "crazy fun romp through the perils of being a teenager". It is also noted for its compassion and respect for its characters, and its portrayal of the awkwardness of adolescence. The film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and it continues to be watched and enjoyed by audiences, including those who were teenagers when it first came out.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Ally Sheedy was not in 'Sixteen Candles'. However, she was up for the lead role of Samantha Baker, which ultimately went to Molly Ringwald.
'Sixteen Candles' starred Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.
'Sixteen Candles' is a coming-of-age teen comedy film about a 16-year-old girl, Samantha Baker, who deals with a crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman.
