FILMFACTS

PRODUCTION

The Breakfast Club Movie Behind The Scenes

Making The Breakfast Club

1985

“

They only met once but it changed their lives forever

But bender disagrees and earns himself another 7 detentions!

Production

Go behind the scenes on the 1985 Teen Drama movie starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald

Anthony Michael Hall, Paul Gleason, Mary Christian, Perry Crawford, Ron Dean, Tim Gamble, Fran Gargano, Mercedes Hall, John Kapelos Update Cast

We believe the following info is all legit. If it's bogus or you have additional info, please update us.

Thanks to James McCloskey

Update

John Hughes almost got rid of Judd Nelson because of his attitude toward Molly Ringwald off camera. Paul Gleason (Mr. Vernon, Judd's arch nemesis in the film) convinced Hughes that Nelson was an excellent actor, and was just trying to keep in character, which would account for his teasing of Molly Ringwald while off camera.

Thanks to Lauren

Update

The title was taken from a kid named Bobby Richter (the son of a friend), who told Hughes that morning detention was referred to by his schoolmates as "the breakfast club". The director hoped no one would notice when he changed it to refer to Saturday detention in his film.

Thanks to Caitlin Foito

Update

Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael-Hall were dating in real life at the time.

Thanks to Caitlin Foito

Update

The choice was between Judd Nelson, Nicholas Cage, and John Cusack for the role of John Bender. I dont know why they didn't choose John Cusack, but it was said that they couldn't afford Nicholas Cage's salary at the time.

Gillian adds: Hughes was stuck between John and Judd but eventually he chose Judd as he looked more "threatening".

Thanks to Eddie

Update

Emilio Estevez was the 1st choice to play Bender, but when there was no one else available to play athletic Andrew Clark, Emilio had to take that part instead.

Thanks to Dana Christensen

Update

Molly Ringwald tried out for the role of Allison, but Hughes gave her the role of Claire. Ally Sheedy is quoted as saying "I'm glad you didn't [get it] because I could never have played your part."

Thanks to Micheala Loves 80s

Update

The costume designer on The Breakfast Club, Marilyn A Vance, was the costume designer on many classic 80s films, including Ferris Bueller, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink and Uncle Buck to name but a few.

Thanks to Owen Wilkerson

Update

It was rumored that Ally Sheedy used Parmesan cheese as her 'dandruff' when she was penciling her drawing and she adds some 'snow' to it.

Thanks to Troy

Update

John Hughes had Molly Ringwald's character's entire wardrobe purchased from the Ralph Lauren store in Chicago because he felt normal clothes weren't sophisticated enough for the character.

Thanks to Bob Page

Update

In the beginning of the film, you can see some apartment buildings in the backround, I used to live there, they were called "Shorewood Village". The highway behind the apartments is I-294.

Thanks to Jaime

Update

The original running time of "The Breakfast Club" was about two and a half hours. Thinking the film would not be a hit, Universal Pictures cut the running time down to the modern 97 minute version. The studio then destroyed the negatives of the deleted scenes. John Hughes said in a "Premiere" magazine article that he has the only complete copy.

Thanks to Jaime

Update

Hughes was pressured by studios to write in a scene featuring sex in some way. One subplot that was filmed but deleted showed Principal Vernon watching some women faculty members using the school swimming pool, he filmed one scene of Vernon spying on a teacher swimming nude. Obviously, this scene was later cut.

Update

The dance scene at the end of the movie was written just for Molly Ringwald, but the whole cast ended up dancing because Molly Ringwald did not want to do it on her own.. The shot where you can see up Claire's skirt was not Molly, she said she absolutely did not want to do that shot.

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Next Section: Deleted Scenes

Deleted Scenes

There are often scenes cut from the final version of a movie. Sometimes these will have been seen by preview audiences, or be included in Blu-ray or DVD extras etc.

The following missing scenes from The Breakfast Club are believed legit. If you disagree or have additional info, please update us.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

Carl predicts where the five kids will be in 30 years. Bender will have killed himself, Claire will have had "2 boob jobs and a face lift," Brian will have become very successful but die of a heart attack. Allison will be a great poet but no one will care, and Andy will marry a gorgeous airline stewardess who becomes fat.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

In a dream sequence, Allison imagines Andy as a gluttonous Viking, Bender as a prisoner, Claire as a bride, and Brian as an astronaut. In an unfilmed alternative to this dream sequence, all five kids imagine random things, including cars, naked women, beer and fighter planes... -And these things end up filling the room until Vernon interrupts.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

During the scene where everyone gets high, Allison locks herself in a small room, hugs herself and hums.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

John Bender wasn't going to walk to school in the original script. He was going to be driven by his dad in a rusty tow truck, and have a brief fight with him before his dad drives off. Bender is also tossed a bagged lunch, his father saying "You are a waste of lunchmeat!"

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

After Bender demonstrates "Life at Big Bry's house" Brian stops Bender and corrects him with a much more pessimistic version of the skit. Claire then proceeds to act out her life before asking Bender to demonstrate his version. Bender's routine changes as well here. After Bender mimics his mom, he stops, commenting that "then they make me work to pay off the dentist for the teeth HE busts."

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

The scene with Andy and Allison walking to get the sodas is extended to a point where Allison pulls out a pack of cigarettes and smokes one.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

After getting the sodas, Bender shakes his can violently and places it among the five to see who gets the rigged one. Allison ends up getting it, and when she opens the can, all the soda squirts directly into her mouth.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

After Vernon asks who has to use the lavatory, the five go to the bathroom. Vernon gives the boys 2 minutes and the girls 3 minutes. Claire catches Allison in a stall eating a bag of chips, repulsing her. Bender mocks Brian for sitting down to pee instead of using a urinal.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

Several staff members were cut out of the script before filming. Dr. Lange, a social studies teacher who dresses oddly, and Robin, a gym teacher. Robin helps Vernon on a few workout machines until Vernon injures his back, and she eventually visits the students while they are in their circle in the library. Robin initially replaced many of Carl's scenes and Carl was originally set to be a minor character with only 2 scenes.

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

I thought I remember a scene where ally sheehy pulls out a whiskey flask. Did that happen or am I dreaming?

Thanks to Elizabeth Donzella

Update

There has to be a missing scene from the beginning. Two actors (Perry Crawford and Fran Gargano) are listed as Allison's parents, but they are never seen. What gives?

Thanks to moreno10

Update

I remember as a kid watching on TV and Claire asks for change ("Does anyone have change for a hundred?) during the lunch scene.

Thanks to May

Update

At the beginning of the movie when John takes the screw out of the door he also sets the clock ahead by 20 mins. This is what prompts Carl, the Janitor, after his speech about being the eyes and ears of this institution to comment on the alteration of the time.

I saw this movie in 1985 and every version I have seen there after does not have this scene in it. Although a very small portion, it is nonetheless representative of the respect Carl gets from the kids after his disclosure.

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Next Section: Alternate Versions

Alternate Versions

Sometimes, there will be several versions of a movie floating about on cable, tv or video etc. Other times, a Director may release a special cut of the movie on Blu-ray or DVD.

The following versions of The Breakfast Club are apparently real. If you disagree or have additional info, please update us.

Thanks to Krissi And Terri

Update

In the version that is shown on network cable, there are at least two scenes that aren't on the video. First, when Alison and Andrew are going to buy drinks, John makes Brian pay for his, and Claire holds up a $50 bill and asks if anyone has change. The other scence is when they are running in the halls trying to avoid the principal.

Thanks to Kari Redmond

Update

A scene that is not in the movie but in the TV version: when they are roaming the halls, and they each have to pass the teachers' lounge which Vernon is in trying to get a coke, everyone runs past individually, except Ally Sheedy who goes last, walks slowly and stands in front of the door for a few seconds without Vernon noticing... great scene!!

Thanks to Anonymous

Update

John Hughes' first draft of the film was originally scripted out to be a 2-1/2 hour movie. However, many of the scenes were cut out and the negatives destroyed. John Hughes has stated that he has the only complete copy of The Breakfast Club on film.

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