“Pretty in Pink” Director Recalls Andrew McCarthy and Molly Ringwald's On-Set Dynamic as Film Turns 40 (Exclusive)
“Pretty in Pink” Director Recalls Andrew McCarthy and Molly Ringwald's On-Set Dynamic as Film Turns 40 (Exclusive)
Virginia ChamleeSat, February 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
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Andrew McCarthy, Molly RingwaldCredit: Everett -
1986’s Pretty in Pink remains one of the most enduring and emotionally resonant teen films of its time
It was also the site a few reported clashes between its actors
Director Howie Deutch tells PEOPLE about the cast dynamics at the time
Four decades after it hit theaters, 1986’s Pretty in Pink remains one of the most enduring and emotionally resonant teen films of its time. Now, its director tells PEOPLE about what the on-set dynamic was really like at the time.
Written by John Hughes, who would helm Ferris Bueller’s Day Off the same year, it cemented the director’s Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club star Molly Ringwald as the prom queen of an era.
The film was the first to be directed by Howard Deutch, who spoke to PEOPLE ahead of the film's anniversary.
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Howard DeutchCredit: Bruce Glikas/WireImage
The film also starred several young "Brat Pack" actors — which sometimes came with personality clashes. Ringwald was just 16 at the time of filming and Andrew McCarthy, who played her love interest, was 23.
Deutch, 75, says that Ringwald fought for McCarthy to get the role of hearthrob Blane (her love interest) in the film.
When McCarthy accepted the role and showed up on set, Deutch acknowledges the actor was "not that nice to" Ringwald, at least initially.
But eventually, the two warmed up to one another — though McCarthy famously did not warm up to all the others on set.
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In fact, the film was also the source of reported clashes between McCarthy and Jon Cryer, who played his rival in the film.
The two ultimately mended their rift in 2012 while backstage at The View. “Molly and I were work friends,” Cryer told PEOPLE in 2024. “Andrew and I couldn’t even manage that. I had no idea he was already dealing with an alcohol addiction. At the time, I perceived him as kind of haughty and remote, but had I known he was working so hard just to keep it together, I might have been more understanding.”
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Speaking to PEOPLE, Deutch says he and Hughes had to fight for Ringwald in the lead role of Andie Walsh, with the studio offering up a slew of other actresses initially.
"The studio wanted me to meet all different kind of actresses," he recalls. "I met with the actress in Flashdance and a lot of others, and I kept saying to John, 'You know, you wrote this for Molly, you know, this character is her."
He continues: “I went to Molly, and I said, ‘You gotta do this movie,’ and she said, ‘Well, they don't want me.' “I said, ‘Well, I want you.’”
“So she said, ‘Well, can I pick out my clothes?’ I said, ‘Absolutely.’”
on People
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