Brat Pack (actors)

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The Brat Pack is a nickname given to a group of young actors who frequently appeared together in teen-oriented coming-of-age films in the 1980s. First mentioned in a 1985 New York magazine article, it is now usually described as the cast members of two specific films released in 1985 – The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire – although sometimes other actors are included. The "core" members are Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy.

The actors themselves were known to dislike the label. Many of their careers peaked in the middle of the 1980s but declined afterwards for various reasons.

Contents

[edit] Membership

The term "Brat Pack", a play on the Rat Pack from the 1950s and 1960s, was first popularized in a 1985 New York magazine cover story, which described a group of highly successful film stars in their early twenties.[1] Writer David Blum wrote the article after witnessing several young actors (Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, and Judd Nelson) being mobbed by groupies at Los Angeles' Hard Rock Cafe.[2] The group has been characterized by the partying of core members such as Robert Downey, Jr., Estevez, Lowe, and Nelson.[3] However, an appearance in one or both of the ensemble casts of John Hughes' The Breakfast Club and Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire is often considered the prerequisite for being a core Brat Pack member.[4][5][6] With this criterion, the most commonly cited members include Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy.[7][8][9][10][11] Absent from most lists is Mare Winningham, the only principal member of either cast who never starred in any other films with any other cast members.[12] Estevez was cited as the "unofficial president" of the Brat Pack.[1] McCarthy claimed that he was never a member of the group, saying, "The media made up this sort of tribe. I don't think I've seen any of these people since we finished St. Elmo's Fire."[13]

The initial New York magazine article covered a group of actors much greater than the currently understood meaning of the term "Brat Pack". For example, most of the cast members of The Outsiders were mentioned, including Tom Cruise, C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, and Ralph Macchio, none of whom starred in any other 1980s movies with any "core" Brat Packers.[1] Charlie Sheen appears in several lists - more for his family relationship to Brat Pack leader Emilio Estevez and his partying than for his collaborative film work with other members.[12] James Spader and Robert Downey, Jr. have also been considered members and appeared in several films alongside other Brat Packers, most notably together with Andrew McCarthy in Less Than Zero[14] (Downey was also in two eighties films with Anthony Michael Hall - Weird Science and Johnny Be Good, as well as The Pick-up Artist with Molly Ringwald). Other actors who have been linked with the group include Kevin Bacon, Matthew Broderick, Jon Cryer, John Cusack, Jami Gertz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Sean Penn, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kiefer Sutherland, and Lea Thompson.[2][7][9] In her autobiography, Melissa Gilbert implies that she was a member of the Brat Pack. Although she was a television actor, her social life centered on Brat Pack members Estevez and Lowe (she was engaged to the latter). Through frequent collaborative work, actor Harry Dean Stanton, then in his late 50s, became a mentor for the group of young actors.[3]

[edit] Filmography

The Brat Pack films have been described as representative of "the socially apathetic, cynical, money-possessed and ideologically barren eighties generation."[14][15] They made frequent use of adolescent archetypes, were often set in the suburbs surrounding Chicago, and focused on white, middle-class teenage angst.[7][8] According to author Susannah Gora, these films "changed the way many young people looked at everything from class distinction to friendship, from love to sex and fashion to music." They are considered "among the most influential pop cultural contributions of their time."[16]

Beyond the two primary films, there is no generally accepted list of "Brat Pack" movies. While Blum's article credits Taps, a 1981 sleeper starring Timothy Hutton with Cruise and Penn, as the first Brat Pack movie,[1] the list of movies below represents the more traditional filmography, with each movie including at least two core members in starring roles:

Movie Actor
Emilio Estevez Anthony Michael Hall Rob Lowe Andrew McCarthy Demi Moore Judd Nelson Molly Ringwald Ally Sheedy Close contributors
The Outsiders
(1983)		 Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews Sodapop Patrick Curtis Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio
Class
(1983)		 Franklin 'Skip' Burroughs IV Jonathan Ogner John Cusack
Sixteen Candles
(1984)		 "Farmer Ted" (credited as "the Geek") Samantha Baker John Cusack, Jami Gertz
Oxford Blues
(1984)		 Nick De Angelo Rona
The Breakfast Club
(1985)		 Andrew Clark Brian Johnson John Bender Claire Standish Allison Reynolds
St. Elmo's Fire
(1985)		 Kirby Keger Billy Hicks Kevin Dolenz Julianna 'Jules' Van Patten Alec Newbury Leslie Hunter Mare Winningham
Pretty in Pink
(1986)		 Blane McDonnagh Andie Walsh Jon Cryer, James Spader
Blue City
(1986)		 Billy Turner Annie Rayford
About Last Night...
(1986)		 Danny Martin Debbie Sullivan
Wisdom
(1986)		 John Wisdom Karen Simmons Charlie Sheen (uncredited cameo)
Fresh Horses
(1988)		 Matt Larkin Jewel
Hail Caesar
(1994)		 Julius Caesar McMurty Prisoner One

Some films have been dubbed "Brat Pack movies" despite having no stars from the core membership, including 1984's Red Dawn[17] (with close contributors C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen, Harry Dean Stanton, Patrick Swayze, and Lea Thompson), and 1986's Ferris Bueller's Day Off[12] (also with Grey and Sheen in supporting roles, and starring close contributor Matthew Broderick). Many would include 1985's Weird Science, starring Brat Packer Anthony Michael Hall and close contributor Robert Downey, Jr., because it was directed by John Hughes[18] and is included in a Universal Studios "Brat Pack" box set.[19] Other 1980s films, many with similar coming-of-age themes, that starred only one core Brat Pack actor with one or more close contributors include:

[edit] Reaction

The "Brat Pack" moniker, often considered in a pejorative sense,[34][35] was not known to be used by members of the group.[4][12]

Indeed, the actors comprising the "Brat Pack" generally did not appreciate the label after the New York article was published. In July 1985, Judd Nelson said that he was "so sick of every single person [he talked] to bringing up the 'Brat Pack'".[36] Emilio Estevez called up the writer, David Blum, and said, "You've ruined my life."[13] The members of the group apparently stopped socializing after the article was published. According to Susannah Gora they became distant from each other, especially Emilio Estevez, who they blamed for the article.[37]

During the late 1980s, several of the Brat Pack actors had their careers derailed by problems relating to drugs, alcohol, and in Rob Lowe's case, a sex tape.[13] According to Susannah Gora, "Many believe they could have gone on to more serious roles if not for that article. They were talented. But they had professional difficulties, personal difficulties after that."[38]

[edit] Gallery

Images of Brat Pack actors
Anthony Michael Hall (shown in 2004) appeared in The Breakfast Club.  
Anthony Michael Hall
Molly Ringwald (shown in 2007) starred in The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles.  
Molly Ringwald
Andrew McCarthy (shown in 2010), appeared in St. Elmo's Fire and Pretty in Pink.  
Andrew McCarthy
Demi Moore (shown in 1989) appeared in St. Elmo's Fire.  
Demi Moore
Emilio Estevez (shown in 2006) appeared in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire.  
Emilio Estevez
Ally Sheedy (shown in 2011) appeared in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire.  
Ally Sheedy
Rob Lowe (shown in 2003) appeared in Class, St. Elmo's Fire and About Last Night.... 

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Blum, David (1985-06-10). "Hollywood's Brat Pack". New York: 40–47. http://nymag.com/movies/features/49902/. 
  2. ^ a b Mansour, David. From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2005), p. 56.
  3. ^ a b Pulver, Andrew; Steven Paul Davies (2000-12-15). "The year of the brat". The Guardian. http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,411528,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-19. 
  4. ^ a b Fine, Marshall (1993-10-24). "Remember the Brat Pack? Well, Now That They're Grown Up...". Los Angeles Times: p. 20. 
  5. ^ Pulver, Andrew; Steven Paul Davies (2000). Brat Pack: Confidential. B T Batsford. ISBN 0713486856. http://www.bratpackconfidential.com. [dead link]
  6. ^ Eaton, Andrew (2007-01-20). For a short time they were on fire, then they vanished into obscurity. Whatever happened to the Brat Pack of the 1980s?. The Scotsman. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13099506.html. Retrieved 2008-03-28. 
  7. ^ a b c Lurie, Karen (2002). "Brat Pack". St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (Gale Group). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200128. 
  8. ^ a b Horwitz, Laura (2005). "The Brat Pack: 80's Icons". 6 Degrees Film. http://www.6degreesfilm.com/features.php?id=79. Retrieved 2008-03-28. 
  9. ^ a b Currie, Jamie (2003). "The Brat Pack Site". The Brat Pack Site. http://www.thebratpacksite.com. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
  10. ^ "The Brat Pack". The E! True Hollywood Story. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  11. ^ Earnshaw, Helen (2008-07-18). "What Happened to the Brat Pack?". Teen First. http://www.teenfi.com/movies/bratpack-5780.html. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 
  12. ^ a b c d Pulver, Andrew; Davies, Steven Paul. "Brat Pack Confidential: The Players". Brat Pack Confidential. http://www.bratpackconfidential.com/brat-pack.html. Retrieved 2008-03-19. [dead link]
  13. ^ a b c Miller, Samantha and Jewel, Dan. "Brat Race". People. April 19, 1999.
  14. ^ a b Manning, Jason (2000). "13. The Brat Pack". Material Things. The Eighties Club. http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id299.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
  15. ^ Bullock, Saxon (September 2004). "Don't You Forget About Me". Originally published in DVD Review. http://www.saxonbullock.com/don't%20you%20forget%20about%20me.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-15. "...ended up representing both the best and worst of the ambitious, materialistic 'Me' generation." 
  16. ^ Gora, Susannah. You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation (Random House, Inc., 2010), p. 3.
  17. ^ Bullock, Saxon (September 2004). "Don't You Forget About Me". Originally published in DVD Review. http://www.saxonbullock.com/don't%20you%20forget%20about%20me.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-12. 
  18. ^ Perrotta, Tom (2008-09-26). "Brat pack blues". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/26/drama.comedy. Retrieved 2008-11-12. 
  19. ^ "Brat Pack Collection (The Breakfast Club/ Sixteen Candles/ Weird Science) (1984)". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A3DGEE. Retrieved 2008-12-20. 
  20. ^ "WarGames Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  21. ^ "Bad Boys Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  22. ^ "No Small Affair Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  23. ^ "Heaven Help Us Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  24. ^ "One Crazy Summer Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  25. ^ "Youngblood Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  26. ^ "The Pick-Up Artist Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  27. ^ "Less Than Zero Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  28. ^ "Mannequin Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  29. ^ "Johnny Be Good Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  30. ^ "Young Guns Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  31. ^ "Kansas Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  32. ^ "We're No Angels Cast". allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  33. ^ [1]. allmovie.com. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  34. ^ Skow, John (1986-05-26). "Greetings to the Class of '86". Time Magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,961446,00.html. Retrieved 2007-08-31. "...the group of kinda talented, kinda famous young actors somewhat unfairly called the Brat Pack." 
  35. ^ Blum, David (1987-06-21). "The Brat Pack Strikes Back Why One Writer Is Weary of His Words". Los Angeles Times: p. 8. "All it is, is a condescending load of..." 
  36. ^ "Judd's on 'Fire' after 'Breakfast'". Spokane Chronicle. July 6, 1985.
  37. ^ Gora, Susannah (2011). You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation.. New York, New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0307716606. 
  38. ^ Wilson, Craig. "John Hughes and the Brat Pack, revisited". usatoday.com. February 16, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
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