An Amazing Tribute To 80′s Icon John Hughes

John Hughes wrote and directed a lot of the eighties movies responsible for the brat pack that was featured on “The Breakfast Club”, “Pretty In Pink”, and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, among others.

A young girl at the time, Allison Byrne-Fields had written to Hughes. She wrote to him and received a form letter back from the famous writer/director, welcoming her to become an official member of “The Breakfast Club.” Upset, she wrote him again, and a friendship began.

I was irate.

I wrote back to John, explaining in no uncertain terms that, excuse me, I just poured my f*cking heart out to you and YOU SENT ME A FORM LETTER.

That was just not going to fly.

He wrote back.

“This is not a form letter. The other one was. Sorry. Lots of requests. You know what I mean. I did sign it.”

He wrote back and told me that he was sorry, that he liked my letter and that it meant a great deal to him. He loved knowing that his words and images resonated with me and people my age. He told me he would say hi to everyone on my behalf.

“No, I really will. Judd will be pleased you think he’s sexy. I don’t.”

I asked him if he would be my pen pal.

He said yes.

“I’d be honored to be your pen pal. You must understand at times I won’t be able to get back to you as quickly as I might want to. If you’ll agree to be patient, I’ll be your pen pal.”

From 1985 to 1987, the two were pen pals consistently. Of her letters, Hughes said to her, “I can’t tell you how much I like your comments about my movies. Nor can I tell you how helpful they are to me for future projects. I listen. Not to Hollywood. I listen to you. I make these movies for you. Really. No lie. There’s a difference I think you understand. It’s been a month of boring business stuff. Grown up, adult, big people meetings. Dull but necessary. But a letter from Alison always makes the mail a happening thing.”

John Hughes and his impact on growing up in the eighties with his movies, will be sorely missed. He passed away yesterday, August 6, 2009 of a heart attack.

He will always be remembered as the man who understand teen angst, relationships, and high school.

Here is what others have said about the iconic Hughes:

â€¢ “I was a fan of both his work and a fan of him as a person. The world has lost not only a quintessential filmmaker whose influence will be felt for generations, but a great and decent man.” â€“ actor MACAULAY CULKIN

â€¢ “John was an amazing mentor to me during the time we were shooting Curly Sue. He had a childlike spirit that connected us instantly and always made me feel loved. He will be missed but his work speaks for itself and will live in his honor.” â€“ actor ALISAN PORTER

â€¢ “John Hughes’s iconic films gave a powerful voice to a generation. He will be missed but never forgotten!” â€“ actor DEMI MOORE

â€¢ “I will always cherish the time I spent with John Hughes.I was so grateful for the opportunity to walk around in his shoes and try to see the world through through his brilliant eyes. Sharing his films with my kids over the years I can see the timelessness of his work.” actor KEVIN BACON

â€¢ “His films helped establish an international notion of ordinary American teenagers, and he was as popular abroad as at home. Once when I was visiting the largest movie theater in Calcutta, I asked if Star Wars had been their most successful American film. No, I was told, it was Baby’s Day Out, a Hughes comedy about a baby wandering through a big city, which played for more than a year.” â€“ critic ROGER EBERT

â€¢ “He was a wonderful man, a genius, a poet. I don’t think anyone has come close to him as being the poet of the youth of America in the postwar period. He was to them what Shakespeare was to the Elizabethan Age.” â€“ actor-economist BEN STEIN

â€¢ “”I asked John how long it took to write Planes, Trains and Automobiles, he said, ‘I wrote it over the weekend.’ The weekend. That shows you what he was able to do.” â€“ actor-writer STEVE MARTIN

I’ll leave you with this Brat Pack mashup: