very white movies
Could be classified as a Racist.
His films are white washed with racist overtones.
I know this post is a joke but it is something that people genuinely complain about. I think it just reflects Hughes' background and concentration on class rather than racial issues. Would I have liked to see more diversity in his movies? Sure, but so what? I can't get mad about it. That wouldn't be realistic anyways. Small, predominately white towns are still very common. Most cities in America in the 80s would've been predominately white.
shareI'm not sure if it's a joke, but I've seen topics like this one on John Hughes' old imdb board.
shareGotcha. I'm not surprised but I assumed this one was trolling by previous comments, just wanted to share my two cents on the matter
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I can't help it but I usually envision what each poster looks like based on their words.
I think the few people who aren't white that like these films aren't actually bothered by it. They may not like some racial jokes/lack of diversity, but that doesn't matter. They still like the film itself. Anyone can like anything they want to
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I actually recognize the OP's name now. I also just realized he used the term "white-washed," so clearly he doesn't even know what that actually means.
I forgot he wrote some of these films. Maid In Manhatten is horrible, but I'm sure that's due to him not directing it. I love Home Alone, grew up on it. Some Kind Of Wonderful and Uncle Buck are also personal favorites. Is this list supposed to be your ranking? I 100% agree with you. Good movies are just good movies and can be watched by anyone, no matter who they are. I'm white and I like "black movies." I just love movies man.
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St. Elmo's reminded me a lot of John Hughes but with more sex and swearing. Also he delved more into the teen territory more so than college aged storylines
shareGotcha. I'm not surprised but I assumed this one was trolling by previous comments, just wanted to share my two cents on the matter
You are right though. Hughes wrote about the environment he grew up in - suburban, upper middle class Illinois.
I remember reading a story about a black actor who auditioned for a part in a John Hughes movie who was told by Hughes's assistant that he "didn't know how to write a black character" ie one that could fit into one of his teen stories and seem real and not a token. Which makes perfect sense - he didn't grow up with them or go to school with them or live with them.
This actor seemed upset he was told this, but he should be saying "that's true, why can't a black film maker make a story like Hughes from our perspective?" instead of trying to say Hughes was racist for having all white movies. share
It seems quite considerate on their part to be able to want to give a role better suited to that person, but I still kind of understand him feeling upset. The problem still lies therein that how many non white filmmakers were given as much opportunity back in the day? Possibly not much. I will say Hughes probably could've educated himself a little and been more open to it, but at the same time, at the end of the day, he did his job. He preferred to write about only what he knows because he thought it was best, and that's still okay
share"The problem still lies therein that how many non white filmmakers were given as much opportunity back in the day? "
The cream rises to the top. If you can write a story with any type of appeal, then people will watch it. Perfect example of this is "Boyz in the Hood" which was one of the top 10 films of the 1990s, written and directed by John Singleton.
If Singleton was told to write a story about upper middle class suburban white kids, or place multiple white characters in films about where he grew up, then he'd say he couldn't because he didn't know many of them.
It's putting unnecessary pressure on a film maker to write about what he doesn't know, likewise with people asking Hughes about putting blacks in films like Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink. Sure he could do it, but they'd be tokens instead of real characters written from the heart. share