Every Rom Com 65: Sixteen Candles

This week on Every Rom Com we’re diving deep on the first of the John Hughes teen rom coms, “Sixteen Candles”! We’ll discuss the cultural associations with turning sixteen, as well as the enduring charm of Molly Ringwald, and how Jake Ryan became one of the most memorable and desirable cinematic love interests. We’ll also dig into several ways this movie hasn’t aged well, from sexual harassment and rape culture, to the complex layers of Gedde Watanabe’s portrayal of the foreign exchange student, Long Duk Dong. This is our longest episode yet, but don’t miss this in-depth episode on a high school movie that helped define an entire genre! 

0:00-9:39 Introduction - Favorite High School Movies/TV Shows

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9:39-21:00 TRAILER, Basic Info, Interesting Facts

You Couldn’t Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation, by Susannah Gora

https://www.slashfilm.com/800505/15-candles-selena-gomez-gabriela-revilla-lugo-and-tanya-saracho-developing-john-hughes-remix-series/ 

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/what-about-the-breakfast-club-molly-ringwald-metoo-john-hughes-pretty-in-pink 

https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/john-hughes-in-memory 

21:00-26:58 General Opinion

26:58-45:51 Cast & Crew In-Depth

More Information On John Hughes:

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/movies/08appraisal.html 

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/opinion/12ringwald.html?searchResultPosition=1 

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/movies/07hughesobit.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article&region=Footer 

https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Hughes-American-film-director 

More Information On Molly Ringwald:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-08-tv-55079-story.html 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/24/i-was-projected-as-the-sweet-american-girl-next-door-it-wasnt-me-molly-ringwald-bites-back 

https://iammollyringwald.com/acting 

Gedde Watanabe’s YouTube show, “The Disappointments”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntB93GM4fJQ&list=PLLKvJ_deH9k5gR0xwDSgtY7bu867nt-ja&index=4 

Gedde Watanabe on “Sesame Street”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UeMi5r3lp4

More Information On Michael Schoeffling:

https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/stars-who-left-hollywood-behind-through-the-years/ 

45:51-58:55 Opening Of The Film, Samantha And High School Insecurities, Intro To The Family

58:55-1:18:42 Opening Credits High School Montage, Study Hall With Jake Ryan, Locker Room, Cultural Significance Of Turning Sixteen 

The First Reference I Could Find To The Phrase “Sweet Sixteen”:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_You_Were_Sweet_Sixteen#:~:text=%22When%20You%20Were%20Sweet%20Sixteen,a%20hit%20song%20in%20vaudeville.

Interesting 1978 Article On “Sweet Sixteen” Parties:

https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/04/archives/sweet-sixteen-a-rite-that-persists-the-party-originated-as-a-way-of.html 

1:18:42-1:26:45 The Bus And “The Geek”

1:26:45-1:50:08 Back At Home, The Grandparents, Long Duk Dong: The Character, The Stereotypes, The Performance, And The Criticism

Critiques Of Long Duk Dong:

https://www.vulture.com/2014/05/gedde-watanabe-long-duk-dong-sixteen-candles-interview.htm

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/02/06/384307677/whats-so-cringe-worthy-about-long-duk-dong-in-sixteen-candles l 

https://legacy.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2008/mar/in_character/donger_1.html 

Gedde Watanabe On Long Duk Dong:

https://ktla.com/video/gedde-watanabe-shares-how-it-feels-to-have-more-asian-representation-in-hollywood/7448731/ 

Brat Pack America by Kevin Smokler, Rare Bird Books, 2016

1:50:58-2:07:32 Samantha’s Sister, Ginny; The School Dance; The Underpants; Samantha And Jake

2:07:32-2:12:35 The High School Party, Jake Calls Samantha’s House

2:12:35 SPOILERS BEGIN

2:12:35-2:25:35 Samantha Talks To Her Dad, Jake Trades Caroline To The Geek, Watching “Sixteen Candles” In The #MeToo Era

Info On Scene With Dad: https://decider.com/2022/12/31/molly-ringwalds-sixteen-candles-dad-says-he-changed-one-particularly-perverted-line/ 

Molly Ringwald’s Fantastic Article On Viewing Her John Hughes Films In The #MeToo Era: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/what-about-the-breakfast-club-molly-ringwald-metoo-john-hughes-pretty-in-pink  

2:25:35-2:42:49 The Next Morning, “Automobile?”, The Wedding, Jake Looks For Samantha, The Iconic Ending, The Soundtrack

Info On Hughes And Music From CD Collection: Life Moves Pretty Fast. The John Hughes Mixtapes.

2:42:49-2:50:52 Double Feature Recommendations