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One year ago: John Hughes

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Teenagers are self-aware, observant and thoughtful in the films of John Hughes, the writer-director of 1980s teen films who died one year ago at 59.

Among his hits are ‘Sixteen Candles’ in 1984, ‘The Breakfast Club’ in 1985 and ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ in 1986.

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In a 1985 interview with a Chicago Tribune film critic, Hughes said that he felt many filmmakers portrayed teenagers badly.

‘They seem to think that teenagers aren’t very bright. But I haven’t found that to be the case. I listen to kids. I respect them. I don’t discount anything they have to say just because they’re only 16 years old,’ he said.

Hughes was an advertising copy editor in Chicago and a joke writer before he began writing screenplays for the humor magazine National Lampoon in 1982. After his Hollywood career, Hughes reportedly moved back to the Chicago area in 1995 and had kept a low profile up until his death.

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For more about the teen-sympathizing writer-director, read the John Hughes obituary by The Times. Also, see a photo gallery of his characters’ fashions.

-- Michael Farr

writer-director of ‘80s teen filmswriter

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