Brooke Martin
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles is a coming-of-age comedy that follows the story of Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old girl whose family forgets her birthday. The film stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha, alongside Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall. The film also features a character named Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, who has been criticised as a problematic and offensive stereotype of Asian men. While the character's fate is not explicitly shown in the film, Watanabe has since reflected on the impact of his role and how it has been received over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the character | Long Duk Dong |
| Name of the actor | Gedde Watanabe |
| Year of the movie | 1984 |
| Other cast members | Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall |
| Director | John Hughes |
| Genre | Coming-of-age teen comedy |
| What happened to the character | We don't know what happened to the character at the end of the movie |
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What You'll Learn
Long Duk Dong is a foreign exchange student
Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is a foreign exchange student in Sixteen Candles. In the film, Dong is hosted by Samantha Baker's grandparents. In the film's opening scene, Dong is introduced hanging upside down from a bunk bed and speaking to Samantha Baker, played by Molly Ringwald, in a suggestive manner. Throughout the film, Dong is portrayed as a comedic character, with many of his scenes involving drunkenness and physical comedy.
In a 2024 interview, Watanabe reflected on his role in the film, stating that he didn't realize his character was an offensive stereotype at the time. He noted that there were limited opportunities for Asian actors during that period. Watanabe also mentioned that he found some of the lines in the film, such as the use of the word "Chinaman," to be problematic.
Watanabe's portrayal of Long Duk Dong has been criticized as perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Asian men, including the socially inept mute and the lecherous but sexually inept loser. Despite this, Watanabe has had a successful acting career, appearing in dozens of roles since Sixteen Candles.
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Farmer Ted is a nerd, not a jock
In the 1984 coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles, the character of Ted, also known as Farmer Ted or The Geek, is a nerd rather than a jock. Played by Anthony Michael Hall, Farmer Ted is a freshman who pursues the film's main character, Samantha "Sam" Baker, played by Molly Ringwald.
Farmer Ted is a classic nerd, with his interests and behaviours marking him as a social pariah. In one scene, he charges his peers money to look at Sam's underwear, which he has acquired. This scene also highlights his entrepreneurial spirit, as he takes advantage of the situation to make a profit.
In addition to being a nerd, Farmer Ted is also portrayed as a geek and a dork. He is often the butt of jokes and is not considered cool by his peers. However, he does have a certain level of persistence and confidence when it comes to pursuing Sam, despite her initial lack of interest in him.
The character of Farmer Ted is significant as he helped to make nerds cool and changed the way nerds were perceived on screen. Anthony Michael Hall's portrayal of Farmer Ted in Sixteen Candles and his subsequent role as Brian Johnson in The Breakfast Club set in motion a change in the portrayal of nerds in popular culture.
Overall, Farmer Ted from Sixteen Candles embodies the classic nerd archetype, with his social awkwardness, geeky pursuits, and lack of popularity. However, his character also showcases the potential for nerds to be more than just the butt of jokes, and his persistence in pursuing Sam challenges the notion that nerds are always unsuccessful with their romantic interests.
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The film helped launch the careers of Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles was written and directed by John Hughes and starred Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The film follows Samantha "Sam" Baker, a 16-year-old girl who is dealing with a crush on a high school senior, Jake Ryan, while also being pursued by a freshman, Ted "The Geek" Farmer. The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving positive reviews from critics and grossing $23 million against a budget of $6.5 million.
Sixteen Candles helped launch the careers of its three lead actors. For Ringwald, the film was particularly significant as it was written specifically with her in mind for the lead role. Inspired by a headshot of the young actress, Hughes wrote the screenplay in a single weekend. Ringwald's performance in the film was widely praised, with critics calling her "engaging and credible" and "a perfect center for the story." The film also marked the beginning of a successful collaboration between Ringwald and Hughes, who would go on to work together on two more films: The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986).
Schoeffling, who played Jake Ryan, the object of Sam's affections, also benefited from his role in Sixteen Candles. After the film's release, he went on to appear in several other films, including Vision Quest (1985), Slaves of New York (1989), and Mermaids (1990). However, he left the entertainment industry in 1991 and has since kept a low profile, working as a carpenter and raising a family.
Sixteen Candles also marked a turning point for Hall, who played Ted "The Geek" Farmer. The film helped to change the perception of nerds in popular culture, with Hall's character being the first movie nerd to exist as more than the butt of jokes. Hall's performance in the film led to him becoming known as the Brat Pack go-to for playing nerdy characters. He would go on to play similar roles in other films, such as Revenge of the Nerds and The Breakfast Club.
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Sixteen Candles was John Hughes' directorial debut
Sixteen Candles, an American coming-of-age teen comedy film, marked John Hughes's directorial debut. The film was released in 1984 and starred Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The plot revolves around Samantha Baker, who has just turned 16 and navigates a crush on a high school senior while being pursued by a freshman.
Hughes began developing Sixteen Candles in 1982 and signed a three-picture deal with Universal Pictures. Filming commenced in July 1983, primarily in the Chicago North Shore communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois. The film's exterior and some interior scenes were shot at Niles East High School in Skokie, while other scenes were filmed at nearby high schools.
Sixteen Candles was well-received upon its release, with critics praising its honest portrayal of adolescence and high school social dynamics. It marked a departure from the raunchy teen sex comedies of the early 1980s, offering a more relatable and heartfelt take on teenage life. The film's success helped launch the careers of its young cast, including Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall, who became cinematic touchstones for a generation.
The character of "the dork" in Sixteen Candles, Farmer Ted, was played by Anthony Michael Hall. Hall's portrayal of Farmer Ted is credited with making nerds cool and set the change in motion before his role in The Breakfast Club. In the film, Farmer Ted is a freshman with a crush on Samantha Baker, who is dealing with her own unrequited crush.
Overall, Sixteen Candles was a pivotal film in John Hughes's career, establishing him as a filmmaker with a unique ability to capture the teenage experience. The film's enduring popularity and influence on teen movies in the 1980s and beyond solidified its place as a classic in the genre.
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The film was released in 1984
The film Sixteen Candles was released in 1984. It was written and directed by John Hughes, and it was his directorial debut. The film is an American coming-of-age teen comedy that centres on the life of a 16-year-old, Samantha Baker, played by Molly Ringwald. The film also stars Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall.
Sixteen Candles was filmed in 1983, primarily in Chicago, Illinois, and was released in theatres on May 4, 1984. At the time of its release, the film's stars were only vaguely familiar teen actors, and Hughes was a complete unknown. However, the film helped launch the careers of Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall.
The film is about Samantha Baker, who deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan (played by Schoeffling) while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer (Hall). The film also stars Gedde Watanabe as foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, a character that has since been criticised as an offensive stereotype.
Sixteen Candles was one of the first films to portray nerds as social pariahs, with Anthony Michael Hall's character, Farmer Ted, setting in motion the idea that nerds could be cool. The film has since become a classic, with new audiences consistently falling in love with it. However, some elements of the film have not aged well and are considered offensive and problematic.
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Frequently asked questions
The character of Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, is considered by many to be an offensive stereotype. Watanabe has since reflected on the role, stating that he was "a bit naive" about the character at the time.
We don't know what happens to "the Donger" at the end of the film.
Watanabe has acted in dozens of roles since Sixteen Candles, including playing the openly gay Nurse Yosh Takata in ER.
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 coming-of-age comedy film about a high school sophomore, Samantha "Sam" Baker, who is disappointed when her family forgets her sixteenth birthday. The film follows Sam as she deals with a crush on a senior classmate while also being pursued by a geeky freshman named Ted.
