Patty Gopez
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” is the title of the theme song of one of the most beloved ’80s movies of all time – but how can anyone forget about The Breakfast Club?! From Judd Nelson’s fist pump to the gang running through the halls of the school, the John Hughes classic is constantly referenced in pop culture, proving its timelessness. Although the movie was technically released in 1985, the movie is set on March 24, 1984, making it 30 years since that fateful Saturday in detention that would change the high schoolers’ lives!
In honor of The Breakfast Club‘s 30th birthday, here are 10 random facts about the movie:
1. John Hughes wrote the script for the entire movie in just two days: July 4 and 5, 1982.
2. The scene in which all characters sit in a circle on the floor in the library and tell stories about why they were in detention was not scripted. John Hughes told them all to ad-lib.
3. Ally Sheedy suggested the David Bowie quote at the beginning of the film to John Hughes, who liked it and thus included it in the opening. He didn’t say anything about it when she first suggested it nor after, until she saw it at the beginning of the film.
4. They played high schoolers in the film, but only 2 out of the 5 were actually of high school age at the time of filming. Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall were 16, Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez were 23, and Judd Nelson was 26.
5. John Hughes almost fired Judd Nelson because of his negative attitude towards Molly Ringwald, picking on her off camera. He was about to fire him when the band of actors convinced John that Judd was merely trying to stay in character.
6. The BMW that Claire (Molly Ringwald) arrives at school belonged to John Hughes. Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) is driven by Anthony’s own mother, Mercedes; his real sister Mary was in the car with them. Andy’s (Emilio Estevez) father was played by Ron Dean, who also starred in The Dark Knight with Anthony Michael Hall. At the end of the film, John Hughes appears as Brian’s father picking him up.
7. Although the movie was set primarily in the library, they actually filmed in the Maine North High School gymnasium that they transformed into the library specifically for the film. The school closed 2 years prior.
8. The dandruff that Allison shakes onto her penciled drawing for snow was achieved by sprinkling Parmesan cheese.
9. Judd Nelson went undercover at a local high school just outside Chicago (where they were filming) and convinced the students that he was a legitimate student. After buying them beer with his “fake ID,” he would ask them to drop him off at the hotel where the cast was staying during the shoot.
10. Molly Ringwald was originally asked to play Allison but she wanted to play Claire because she reminded her of her sister. Eventually she convinced John Hughes and the studio she should be Claire and got the part. Emilio Estevez was originally going to play Bender but John Hughes couldn’t find someone to play Andrew Clark so Emilio agreed to the part.
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
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