| | | | Class
(1983) |
he 80's was probably the one decade in movie history that had the most movies either aimed at a high school audience or set in a high school.
They ranged from the utterly ridiculous through to the well researched and wry social comment that was Cameron Crowe's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".
One thing that they all shared was humor... One thing they most lacked was drama.
...Not so with "Class". It featured solid performances and high teen drama from a cast of unknowns. Unknowns who weren't destined to stay that way for long. For just as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" had established many stars of the future the year before, "Class" was to repeat this feat in 1983... --This was the movie that introduced not only Andrew McCarthy and Rob Lowe but John Cusack as well !!!
Set at an upscale Illinois prep school, "Vernon Academy", Andrew McCarthy plays 'Jonathan', a somewhat geeky, sensitive student from a modest background on a scholarship who joins the school to become the roommate of 'Skip' played by Rob Lowe.
Skip is the son of a well known and wealthy family who is clearly rebelling against the very strict order and structure his successful and wealthy father is trying to push on him. When he first meets the awkward Jonathan his mischeiveous side is immediately revealed with a cruel but hilarious prank that leaves his awkward roommate in womens underwear in front of the whole school.
Jonathan is quick to show his mettle in retaliation and the two become firm friends.
Skip is everything that poor Jonathan isn't. Sauve, sophisticated and exerienced, the one area of Jonathan's life that Skip is most determined to assist in is ... his love life, of course! Jonathan foolishly reveals that he is an innocent in such areas and so Skip is determined to put an end to that.
And it is at this point that the movie starts to deviate significantly from the path of so many other "high-school" movies. rather than a tawdry and pathetic 'cherry losing' story, "Class" chooses to be both more realistic and suprisingly dramatic.
Skip sends Jonathan -alone- to a bar in the city that is known as a meat market to meet someone. After a few pitiful failures in the bar the poor, inexperienced Jonathan finds himself pitied by the older and very beautiful Ellen.
They have a warm and adult first night together with the experienced older woman guiding Jonathan into manhood. This leads to further meetings with the two of them both becoming more and more attached to each other.
Unbeknown to both of them, Ellen is, in fact, Skips mother! Weary of her life in a strict and seemingly loveless marriage, she was deliberately looking for excitement and romance. She does not realise Jonathan could be a friend of ger son because he lies about his age and occupation.
However, after a few weeks, a chance glimpse of Jonathan's id in his wallet ends the romance suddenly with Ellen vanishing immediately, leaving Jonathan devastated.
And this is how the story probably would have ended, had Skip not invited Jonathan to his home for the Christmas break...
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"Class" is just that... Class. The young cast deliver a very dramatic and accomplished performance with unusual depth for a teen movie.
The movie tries to cover many aspects of adolescent life and the pressures thereof. Not just romance but academic pressure, peer pressure and the inevitable split loyalties.
Orion were probably worried about selling a 'serious' teen school movie to the public so they tried to sell the movie as just another screwball highschool sex comedy. But that couldn't be further from the truth.
If you haven't ever seen the film I would recommend it very highly if you fancy something with some depth for a change...
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As well as Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy, this movie introduces John Cusack in his first, small, screen role. He would follow it up with "Sixteen Candles". 
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Writers Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt also wrote "Secret Admirer" and "Stakeout".
Watch out for Alan Ruck, who played "Ferris Bueller's friend 'Cameron'.
Ellen (Jacqueline Bisset) finds out Jonathan (Andrew McCarthy) is a student at Vernon Academy when his wallet falls out of his jacket pocket in the Burberry store. She sees his student card. Notice Jonathan's date of birth, 29th November 1964. 29th November is Andrew McCarthy's birthday in real life, but he was born in '62 rather than '64. -Thanks to Ann Leysen
At one point during filming, Rob Lowe allegedly threatened to quit the movie unless he was allowed to appear in a scene totally naked in a bathtub full of baked beans? The director refused, but did manage to finally lure Lowe back to the set. -Thanks to David Blackowiak
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Rediscover your favorites! If you like
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check out this list: ..... Outsiders ..... Elephant Man ..... Rain Man ..... Drugstore Cowboy ..... Stand By Me ..... Wall Street ..... Mask ..... Amadeus ..... Full Metal Jacket ..... Witness ..... Breakfast Club ..... Glory ..... Platoon ..... Scarface ..... Six Weeks ..... Urban Cowboy .....[More]
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As Jonathan is climbing the trellis in women's underwear, the football player who runs into a tree hits the tree, then, in the next frame he is again approaching the tree but has not yet hit it. -Thanks to Paul
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|  |  |  | | Class
Locations |
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 Featured Movie Location: Vernon Academy
Wanna see the real life filming location used for Vernon Academy in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at Lake Forest College, located in Lake Forest, Illinois. [New! Show Google Map]
Skip and Jonathan's room is in the Blackstone Hall at Lake Forest.
The September Farm, home of the Burroughs, is in real life the Duchossois Estate, in Barrington Hills, IL.
Jonathan (McCarthy) has a good time with Ellen (Bisset) in the elevators of the Water Tower Place (shopping center) in Chicago, IL.
A New York shop in the movies, but a Chicago shop in real life: Ellen discovers Jonathan is a student in the Burberry's shop on 633 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL.
The Original Mother's Nightclub at 26 W. Division Street stands in for the "Free and Easy Club" where Skip (Lowe) sends Jonathon (McCarthy) to meet the girl of his dreams after he's banned from the Foxfield School for girls and thus has to stay at his room at Vernon Academy on Halloween.
The movie was also filmed in Evanston, Illinois, USA.
The Original Mother's Nightclub at 26 W. Division Street. It stands in for the Free and Easy club where Skip (Lowe) sends Jonathon (McCarthy) to meet the girl of his dreams after he's banned from the Foxfield School for girls and thus has to stay at his room at Vernon Academy on Halloween. You can easily check the location for yourself. On the corner of Division St. and Dearborn, you have Hoolihans and nextdoor is the Free & Easy Club. They put a big yellow light box with Free & Easy where the trademark heartlogo of Mother's hangs. Nextdoor you have She-nannigan's House of Beer. Check the scene where Jonathon arrives at the Free & Easy Club in a taxicab. This should give you a good insight in the area and the locations mentioned.
[Thanks to Ann Leysen for the excellent locations info]
See any errors? Something we've missed? [Let us know]
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The score was written by the legendary composer Elmer Bernstein. I Dunno whether it was ever released.
There's a scene where Rob Lowe is listening to a Walkman as Andrew McCarthy returns from his first encounter with Jacqueline Bissett. The song playing on the Walkman is "Holiday In Cambodia" by Dead Kennedy's. -Thanks to Tod Coleman
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