I'm 57 years old now. I was a "Watts", except I was a gymnast and all-around tomboy with 7 brothers, 6 that lived to adulthood. I love this move, because in every tomboy is a young woman waiting to burst out at the right moment! Heck, my 77 year-old mom loves this movie and this ending!
I saw this movie back when it came out (I was still in high school) and I've seen it countless times. Every time I see the scene where Watts is walking down the street all brokenhearted I get teary-eyed. Gets me every single time, even 20+ years later.
The young actors in this film, especially these three, really nailed the facial expressions: Keith seeing Watts waiting for them and realizing, "Oh, my God--SHE'S the one!"; Amanda looking at the other two and understanding what's really happening between them; Watts turning to face Keith and asking w/o saying a word, "Does he FINALLY get it?" Yes, the JH script with lines like "You look good wearing my future" helped to make this a movie that some of us are still watching decades later; but was the subtleties of these performances that really sucks you in.
Lea Thompson was not the first pick for the part of Watts. Molly Ringwald was but she turned it down the part. John Huges was pissed. Boy how time has flown by. It is hard to believe that Lea Thompson is 56 now. Life and youth are all too short. I would love to go back to 1979 and be 12 years old again. I don't have to know what I know now all I want to know is, how precious time and youth are. I don't think any of us ever thought that one day we where going to be in 50's
.Masterson in a 2012 interview ...Masterson All anyone says to me a quarter of a century later is ”I love that part where you get the earrings!” It’s so weird! [Laughs] That materialistic aspect is not who Watts is. I always fantasized that she made him take them back so he could pay for college. Masterson Right? She would have walked away victorious, and then to the pawnshop.
I think it helped show that she was growing too, not a teen tom-boy any more, but becoming a young woman ;?) But yeah, I'd like to believe that afterwards, she probably would have returned them to get the money back so Keith could go to college, seems like the kind of person Watts would have been.
i hope everyone gets the Rolling Stones references... Watts = Charlie Watts... Keith = as in Keith Richards.... "Amanda Jones" was one of their early songs..... also, this film exists because of all the flack John Hughes took for the ending of Pretty in Pink, so he reversed the genders of the characters and let the underdog win in the end because so many people wanted Duckie to get Andie... AND! because of there being negativity between Hughes and Howard Deutch over the two endings of PiP, Hughes gifted SKOW to Deutch to direct as a way of making peace... Deutch subsequently went on to marry Lea Thompson, who played Amanda Jones.....
I knew about the original PiP ending having Duckie getting Andie, but did not know the rest. I always thought that was so wrong. But I'm very glad then that the situation gave rise to this movie, because this is my absolute favorite of Hughes, maybe my favorite of all teen romantic comedies. Love the cast, love love love the music. Best kiss, best ending, most adorable sweetheart ever in Mary Stuart Masterson. Even as a tomboy in a two of her major roles, she's still ultra feminine and alluring (I would think to men). I always thought of her as Tinkerbell in the movie Hook, rather than Julie Rogers (if she had this look, don't remember the year Hook was made as compared to this one in 1987). Anyway, someone like her, not Roberts.
Thanks so much for posting this awesome movie! This is one of my favorite John Hughes films. I idolized Watts as a teen, now in my late 30s, she was a tom-boy who loved boys. Thanks again. :D
Because I'm driving you crazy and you're driving me crazy and I'd rather not see you and have you think good things about me than have you see me and hate me. 'Cause I can't afford to have you hate me, Keith. The only things I care about in this goddamn life are me and my drums and you...
Well Keith can be forgiven somewhat, he did have a LOT on his mind THINKING he was in love with Amanda (and like most of us males, mistaking sexual attraction for love ;?)
Saw this in the theatre with my ex girlfriend when it came out. When I watch it now... I like to think I'm in the theatre back then so I can imagine watching this and sitting close to her with my arm around her again.
I can't believe, judging by the comments, how many straight guys love this film! It's that what '80s men were like? I mean, this is such a girly romantic film... I'm puzzled!
Okay, what bearing could someone's gender or sexuality have on being able to see what an awesome movie this is. John hughes gets how we think, makes the fairytale realistic. What's not to like about that?
whether you like the characters or the storyline of this movie, in my opinion all the fans of this movie are drawn to the simple fact that it offers a small piece of what its like to be happy! Watts was written a strong female character and also a tomboyish bestfriend to our MC Keith and theres also the story of an underprivileged outcast standing up to the tyrannical wealthy bully! both of these aspects draw the attention of young men who see a bit of themselves in the MC and seeing his eventual triumph over adversity and falling for his best friend is a dream most young men (myself included) were looking for in the 80's! hell even now i personally still strive for this dream! so is it because of Watts? is it because John Hughes was a damn good filmmaker? or was it the underdog rising up to overcome adversity? it could verry well be any or a combination of all of these! theres just something that makes you feel good at the end of this movie and the reason men are drawn to this so called "girly romantic film" is just because its a good movie that makes you feel good inside at the end! puzzle solved!!
"You knew you were going to get these" "No I didn't, I hoped, I didn't know" That's the line that gets me. I'm a tough hard guy, yet that line tears me up every time. Haha. What an old sap I am. :) A real man could never leave a girl like that. Ladies, don't be afraid to love with all your heart. Keep loving. Find a guy that's worth it. I think that there are a few left in this world.
Great ending of a fantastic movie. Have you ever noticed Keith’s little glimpse into the camera at 2:29? ;-) If anyone is interested: Hardy’s house is at 516 South Hudson Avenue, L.A. And the white house in the back at 2:23 (when Watts and Keith kiss) is at 641 South Hudson Avenue. So the two places are really very close together. You can find them on Google Maps. But notice: the white house at 641 South Hudson Avenue can also be seen at 1:01 when Watts is leaving Keith and Amanda who are standing in front of Hardy’s house at 516 South Hudson Avenue. That does not fit. So logically, the shots of Watts and the shots of Keith and Amanda were made in different places at different times and were later added together. Strange thing.
I've seen this a lot and that final scene gets me every time. and Yes about John Hughes, This is the stuff you deal with growing up, parents, cliques, friends school etc. Every 'teen movie' today is just guys trying to get laid and girls trying to out brat each other.
+Ashlee Nicole the original ending had Duckie getting the girl. when they screened the movie for audiences before the release people hated it so they reshot it to the ending we all know now.
i loved this movie it was so cute :D well amanda was rly kind to let him go to watts. i dont think there are many people like her. and yeah HOORAY FOR WATTS :D!
Ya know....all thru this movie it was painfully obvious that Watts was in love with Keith. Thats True Love for those of you who don't have a clue. Sure many posts throughout the movie were made wondering why Keith was so clueless and couldn't see it. Well, its easy to say when you are a viewer. And there are some that would wonder why Watts didn't just tell Keith she loves him. Its not that simple. If it had been that way then the movie would have no plot.
So, leave your date possibly stranded, although partygoers could give Amanda a ride home, but then walk the opposite direction of the car...I'm guessing to take a midnight stroll with Watts. Never was a fan of supershort boy cut hair on a girl but Mary Stuart Masterson sure pulled it off. Reminds me of a Mary at the Austin Arms Apts in San Antonio, Texas, back in '68, causing me to stop & think how stupid I was not to kiss that freckled-face boyish haircut girl in 1st grade. What might have been. Of course, her having the same name too, yet.
I'm so glad he ended up with Watts. I was afraid it was going to be a Duckie and Andie thing again. Nothing broke my heart more than Duckie not getting Andie. lol I feel like I have some sort of closure now. ;)
LOL i love the ending he he and at 2:21 Watts backed up like whoa u goanna hit me lol than he just picks her up awwwww just wish he figured it out sooner "I'm sorry i didnt know" "Yeah well you were stupid i always knew you were stupid" "Y didnt u tell me" "U didnt ask. Haha i wanted these i really wanted 'em" "There yours you knew you were goanna get these" "No i didnt i hoped i didnt know" "Nah you knew" "I had a feelin. well how do they look" "You look good wearing my future"
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL..LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL.. THIS MOVIE IS THE BEST FOR THE 80 S AND FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE ! I LIKE MARY STUART MASTERSON.. WATTS WATTS !!:) OMG !!
@harkovadm There was more dialogue between Keith and Watts at the end in the '86 script. She told him that the earrings were going back so he could go to art school. So that's what they're talking about while walking down the road, I guess. :)
She told him to, that was her moment to grow up and do what's right, that's part of what made the ending so good, her sacrifice for his happiness (and helped him off the hook so he didn't end up looking like a heel ;?).
"You look good wearing my future." Nice ending. =) Took him a long, hard time to realise it's Watts after all. Just wished Keith and Watts had more scenes as bf-gf before it ended. =/
