High schooler Andie Walsh is from the poor side of the tracks. Together with her best friend Duckie, they are taunted by the rich kids in school. Though Andie has caught the eye of rich boys Steff and Blane. While she rebuffs Steff's advances, Andie goes on a date with Blane, who later distances himself at the advice of his rich friends and reneges on his prom invitation. Andie decides to go stag, but not before creating a dress so hideous even Helen Keller wouldn't wear it. There, she reconciles with Blane while Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark plays in background.
John Hughes, who brought us Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) leaves audiences tinkled pink with his tale of teen love from different classes. The original ending paired Andie and Duckie, which was met with a resounding quack from test audiences. Also scrapped was Orchestral Manoeuvres in Dark original ending song "Goddess of Love", which no longer fit. They wrote "If You Leave" in just under a day before embarking on a tour. While it was a hit with many critics and fans, Pretty in Pink falls a little flat for me. Many consider it to be Molly Ringwald's last memorable effort in the teen comedy world. Andrew McCarthy and James Spader would later co-star in Mannequin (1987) and Less Than Zero (1987).
Location: The Walsh House
Address: 1010 Hope Street, South Pasadena, CA
The street sweeper is seen a driving down Hope Court, just to the right of Hope Street...
The house is located at the end of the alleyway from Halloween II (1981)
Location: Meadowbrook High School
Address: 3939 Tracy Street, Los Angeles, CA
John Marshall High School
Numerous productions have used this location including Grease (1978) and Like Father Like Son (1987).
Location: The Oakmont Mall
Address: Broadway & 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA
This was also Ridgemont Mall in Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982). The mall underwent extreme renovations in 2002.
Location: Traxx Record Store
Address: 1460 3rd Street, Santa Monica, CA
Location: Steff's House
Address: 366 S June Street, Los Angeles, CA
Location: Chestnut Hill Hunt Club
Address: 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road, Pacific Palisades, CA
The Jim Rogers Barn
Location: The Prom
Address: 506 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
The Biltmore Hotel Crystal Ballroom
The Crystal Ballroom is also seen in The Bodyguard (1992) and True Lies (1994).
Locations Visited: June 2021, August 2023
