SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL

The 1987 film '''Some Kind of Wonderful''' stars Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson, and Mary Stuart Masterson. It was one of the many successful teen dramas written by John Hughes in the 1980s, although this one was directed by Howard Deutch. The film's title comes from a song written by John Ellison that was a hit for Grand Funk Railroad. The song itself is not featured in the movie.

Contents

Synopsis

Connection to Pretty in Pink

Production notes

Cast

External links

Synopsis

The tomboyish Watts (Masterson) has always considered working-class Keith Nelson (Stoltz) her best friend, but when he begins dating the popular Amanda Jones (Thompson), she realizes that she feels something much deeper for him. Hardy Jenns, Amanda's jealous former boyfriend (played by Craig Sheffer), further complicates matters.

Connection to Pretty in Pink

''Some Kind of Wonderful'' is noted for having the same basic premise as Hughes and Deutch's previous film, ''Pretty in Pink'': A quiet blue-collar high-schooler with aspirations of upward mobility (Stoltz in ''Wonderful'' and Molly Ringwald in ''Pretty in Pink'') becomes infatuated with a "popular" classmate (Thompson and Andrew McCarthy), while remaining oblivious to the attraction to them felt by their close friend of the opposite sex (Masterson and Jon Cryer) and avoiding the attention of a spiteful and petty "rich kid" with a connection to the love interest (Sheffer and James Spader). Hughes originally wrote ''Pretty in Pink'' ending with Ringwald and Cryer's characters falling in love, but was pressured into changing the story so that Ringwald would end up with McCarthy. Supposedly, Hughes wrote ''Some Kind of Wonderful'' in response, with the ending he preferred.

Production notes

★ The lead characters are either named after members of The Rolling Stones or one of their songs --- Keith is Keith Richards, Watts is Charlie Watts, and Miss Amanda Jones is named after the Stones' song "Miss Amanda Jones" from their 1967 album ''Between the Buttons'' which is in the film and on the soundtrack along with a cover version by The March Violets. Coincidentally, Eric Stoltz starred in the film ''The Wild Life'' three years earlier where the Stones' Ron Wood made a cameo appearance.

★ Molly Ringwald was offered the role of Amanda Jones but refused it, ending her successful relationship with John Hughes. At the recommendation of Eric Stoltz, Hughes then hired Lea Thompson. Thompson met director Deutch on set, and they later married.

★ The role of Keith Nelson was written with Eric Stoltz in mind.

★ The car that Watts drives in the movie is a very dilapidated Austin Mini modified for driving in the US. Although they are very popular now, they were quite alien and unknown to most of the American public in 1987.

★ Maddie Corman, like Elias Koteas, was discovered by John Hughes in New York and also suggested she'd be cast in this film.

★ Candace Cameron, who played the role of 'Cindy Nelson' would become well known to American television audiences in the role of 'D.J. Tanner' on the sit-com ''Full House''.

Cast

★ Eric Stoltz - Keith Nelson

★ Mary Stuart Masterson - Watts

★ Lea Thompson - Amanda Jones

★ Craig Sheffer - Hardy Jenns

★ John Ashton - Cliff Nelson

★ Elias Koteas - Duncan

★ Molly Hagan - Shayne

★ Maddie Corman - Laura Nelson

★ Jane Elliot - Carol Nelson

★ Candace Cameron - Cindy Nelson

★ Chynna Phillips - Mia

★ Scott Coffey - Ray

External links

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