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40 Years On: Ferris Bueller's Hidden Gems
11 Jun
Summary
- John Hughes wrote the script in under a week.
- The iconic Ferrari was a replica due to cost.
- Classroom scene actor Ben Stein launched acting career.
Forty years ago, on June 11, 1986, Ferris Bueller's Day Off debuted, becoming a timeless teen comedy. Director John Hughes famously crafted the script in under a week, calling the film his "love letter" to Chicago. The movie was filmed at real city landmarks, including Wrigley Field and the former Sears Tower.
Matthew Broderick starred as the titular high schooler, a role he took on at age 23. Key scenes, like the parade sequence, were filmed during Chicago's actual Von Steuben Day Parade. The memorable red Ferrari was not an actual Ferrari, but a replica, with one such car later selling for over $300k.
The "Bueller? Bueller?" classroom scene, featuring economist Ben Stein, became one of cinema's most quoted moments. Many of the secretary's lines were improvised by Edie McClurg. Despite the film's success, Hughes and Broderick decided against a sequel, viewing the movie as a "lightning flash" in life.
