Brooke Martin
The coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles was written and directed by John Hughes and released in 1984. The film was shot in the summer of 1983, primarily in the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois. The film's high school scenes were shot at Niles East High School in Skokie, Illinois, which ceased operating in 1980.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of filming | 1983 |
| Month of filming | July |
| Day of filming | 11 |
| Locations | Evanston, Skokie, Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, Northbrook, Illinois |
| Date of theatrical release | May 4, 1984 |
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What You'll Learn
Filming began in July 1983
Filming for *Sixteen Candles* began in July 1983, with principal photography commencing on July 11. The film was shot primarily in and around the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois, during the summer of 1983. The choice of location was fitting, as the film is set in the fictional Illinois town of Shermer, a suburb of Chicago.
The film's director, John Hughes, had initially conceived of *Sixteen Candles* as a low-budget production, which was picked up by A&M Films for $1 million. After writing the successful film *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), Hughes attracted more interest in his screenplays. However, when he was fired from his next film, *Mr. Mom* (1983), he decided to resume pre-production on *Sixteen Candles* as he felt it had more commercial appeal to a teenage audience than his other planned film, *The Breakfast Club* (1985).
Hughes began development on *Sixteen Candles* in 1982, and after signing a three-picture deal with Universal Pictures, he chose the cast and began filming in July 1983. The lead actors, Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall, were only 15 years old at the time of filming. Ringwald, who played the newly 16-year-old Samantha Baker, served as Hughes' muse during the scriptwriting process, with the character of Samantha written specifically for her.
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Filmed in Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park
John Hughes' 1984 coming-of-age comedy "Sixteen Candles" was filmed primarily in the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois. The film was shot during the summer of 1983, with principal photography beginning on July 11, 1983.
The fictional Illinois town of Shermer, a suburb of Chicago, was brought to life through footage of these real-life locations. Evanston, Illinois, was the setting for several iconic scenes, including the Baker House, where Samantha Baker lived with her family. The actual house is located at 3050 Payne Street, at the intersection of Payne & Central Park, and is still standing today.
Skokie, Illinois, was also a prominent filming location, with Niles East High School, located at 7700 North Lincoln Avenue, serving as the unnamed high school in the film. Both exterior and interior school shots were filmed at Niles East, including the auto shop scene where Sam and the Geek interact. Niles North High School, another school in Skokie, was used for certain scenes, such as the famous dance scene in the gym.
Highland Park, Illinois, was another key filming location, with 1407 Waverly Road serving as the house of Jake Ryan, Sam's love interest in the film.
Overall, the choice of filming locations in Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park helped to create the authentic feel of a Chicago suburb, contributing to the enduring appeal of "Sixteen Candles" as a coming-of-age classic.
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A fictional suburb
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy film "16 Candles" was filmed in the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois. The film's writer and director, John Hughes, crafted a fictional Illinois town called Shermer, a suburb of Chicago, for the film's setting.
The film follows the story of Samantha "Sam" Baker, a high school sophomore who is disappointed that turning 16 hasn't transformed her appearance. To make matters worse, her family forgets her birthday as they are busy preparing for her older sister Ginny's wedding the next day. Sam deals with a crush on senior Jake Ryan while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer.
The Baker House, where Sam lives with her family, is located at 1411 Sycamore Lane in Northbrook, Illinois. The exterior and interior school shots were filmed at 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. Both the interior and exterior shots of the church where Ginny gets married were filmed at Glencoe Union Church, located at 263 Park Avenue in Glencoe, Illinois.
Jake's house, where he hosts a party in the film, is located at 1407 Waverly Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Other filming locations in Highland Park include 3022 Payne Street and New Trier High School, located at 385 Winnetka Avenue. The dance scene in the film was reportedly filmed at Niles North High School, another school in Skokie.
The film "16 Candles" has become a cult classic, known for its comedic and romantic elements. It helped launch the careers of its lead actors, Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall, who played Sam, Jake, and Ted, respectively.
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Shot at Niles East High School
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy film "Sixteen Candles" was filmed in the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois. The unnamed high school that features prominently in the film is Niles East High School, which was located at 7701 North Lincoln Avenue, Skokie, Illinois. The school ceased operating in 1980, and the building has since been torn down and replaced by Oaktown Community College.
Both exterior and interior school shots were filmed at Niles East High School, including the auto shop scene where the character Sam agrees to let the Geek pretend he has “bagged” her. However, one of its sister schools, Niles North High School, also in Skokie, was also used for certain scenes, such as the famous dance scene in the gym.
The film's writer and director, John Hughes, used Niles East High School as a filming location for several of his other films, including Weird Science and Pretty in Pink, in which he included footage of the school's exterior.
Principal photography for "Sixteen Candles" began on July 11, 1983, and lasted until September 16, 1983. During filming, the lead actors Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall were only 15 years old.
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Released in May 1984
"Sixteen Candles", an American coming-of-age teen comedy film, was released on 4 May 1984. The film was written and directed by John Hughes, marking his directorial debut. It was the first in a string of films by Hughes that centred on teenage life.
The film stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, a newly 16-year-old girl whose family forgets her birthday because her older sister, Ginny, is getting married the next day. The story unfolds over two days in Samantha's life, during which she navigates the highs and lows of adolescence, including a crush on a high school senior, Jake Ryan, played by Michael Schoeffling.
Principal photography for "Sixteen Candles" began on 11 July 1983, primarily in the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois. The film was shot during the summer of 1983, with leads Ringwald and Hall only 15 years old at the time.
The film's release date of 4 May 1984 saw it hit theatres, where it didn't initially find huge box office success. However, it has since endured as a cult classic, with a 7.0 rating on IMDb and a lasting legacy as one of the best romantic teen comedies in history.
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Frequently asked questions
The film '16 Candles' was filmed between July 11, 1983, and September 16, 1983.
The film was primarily filmed in and around the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois.
Some specific locations include the Niles East High School, which has since been torn down, and Glencoe Union Church.
