Welcome back to “Angelina’s ‘80s Archive”! It’s a new year, but since I’m the same me, I’m going to continue coming at you each week with a topic from the golden age of pop culture — the 1980’s. I don’t feel ready to be back in school, but I’m slowly getting used to it.
What better way to get into the swing of things than by going back to what I love? To kick this semester off, we have our second John Hughes film: Pretty in Pink. Here’s the Bitchin’ Bio…
Release Date: February 28, 1986
Synopsis: Andie (Molly Ringwald) is a high school senior from the wrong side of the tracks. Her mother left, her father (Harry Dean Stanton) is unemployed, and her best friend, Duckie (Jon Cryer), is in love with her. But Andie has another boy in her sights — Blane (Andrew McCarthy), who just so happens to be a “richie.” Andie tries to navigate a relationship with Blane, but can she remain true to herself as the two of them try to overcome social pressure from both sides?
Degrees of Kevin Bacon: 1. Annie Potts (Iona) is in the end credits of another John Hughes film, She’s Having a Baby (1988), which stars Bacon.
Come For: Molly Ringwald proving that redheads can wear pink for 96 minutes straight. The fashion in this movie, though divisive (I, for one, love it), is iconic.
R.I.P. to Iona’s dress… but the “ensemble,” as Duckie would say, kind of grows on you!
Stay For: A fabulous soundtrack, complete with The Psychedelic Furs, as well as Otis Redding’s rendition of “Try a Little Tenderness.” This is one of the first records I asked for the Christmas I received my first record player. The record player and record were — spoiler alert — pink!
Had I seen it? Yes, several times since my early teens.
Do I like it? A lot! I was so inspired by the movie’s style the first time I saw it that I immediately went out and bought circular sunglasses, a satin bomber jacket, and a black bowler hat. I didn’t quite get the hat to work for me, but I still wish I could. I found an Italian Pretty in Pink poster at FanExpo Boston in 2017, and it has had a place of honor in my bedroom ever since.
Pretty in Pink means a lot to me. After Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, it is my favorite John Hughes high school movie. It is linked with Valentine’s Day (my birthday!) in my mind, which may be because of an ‘80s themed party I had a few years ago, so I think it is the perfect time of year to break this one out!
It’s good to be back. I’m excited to expand this column this semester to include TV, music, and other aspects of the entertainment and culture of the ‘80s. But before we get into those, next week I will highlight Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989). Stay tuned!
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