John Hughes began his career as a copywriter who submitted regularly to National Lampoon's Magazine. In fact, the film Vacation started as a short story Hughes had written entitled "Vacation '58." Naturally, Hughes segued into writing and directing films. By 1985 he had already written and or directed Mr. Mom, Vacation, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, European Vacation, and Pretty in Pink. Whether the part of Ferris was offered to Anthony Michael Hall, it was ultimately played by Matthew Broderick. Others who were apparently considered included Rob Lowe, John Cusack, Johnny Depp, Michael J. Fox, Tom Cruise, and Robert Downey Jr. The part of Ferris's friend Cameron was offered to Emilio Estevez who turned it down to play the lead in the film Repo Man. However, had he accepted, things would have been very different.
What do you mean sushi and crimes?
The first cut of the film was substantially longer than the final version. In the original script, Ferris had two younger siblings who were removed entirely. Also cut substantially was Charlie Sheen's character. In the finished version, now a cameo, his character "Garth Volbeck" had been a close friend of Ferris who developed a drug problem and got into trouble, which is why Ferris is so bent on showing Cameron a good time. This adds a layer of depth to the story, which when excised makes the film more about Ferris satisfying his ego than being altruistic. Alan Ruck had auditioned for the role of Bender in The Breakfast Club, and he and Broderick had been in the play Biloxi Blues together, so they already had chemistry. Though Ruck was 29, he still looked like a teenager.
The Execution
The film cemented John Hughes's legacy as an accomplished writer/director. Though he is lauded primarily for teen films, his range includes more than one genre. When I was teaching, I would often recite Ben Stein's Hawley-Smoot Tariff act speech, which raised or lowered, raised taxes in an effort to alleviate the effects of The Great Depression.
Something D-O-O Economics.
What might have been
Who knows what might have happened if Estevez had taken the role of Cameron. I have difficulty picturing anyone except Alan Ruck portraying Cameron. Also interesting is contemplating the theory that Ferris is simply a figment of Cameron's imagination. Also, we probably would have gotten this:
How's that for a plate-o-shrimp moment?
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