7 Behind-The-Scenes Secrets You Might Not Know About 'Pretty in Pink'

Pretty in Pink is a teen classic from the '80s. The 1986 film starred Molly Ringwald as Andie, a high school student whose style made her an outcast among her more affluent peers. Also in the film are preppy dreamboat Blane (Andrew McCarthy) and Andie's hipster friend, Duckie (Jon Cryer). This was Molly Ringwald’s third and final project with the movie's writer, John Hughes, who she had previously worked with on 1984’s Sixteen Candles and 1985’s The Breakfast Club. The film enjoyed commercial success and has since gone on to become a cult classic. Let's take a look at 7 secrets you probably didn't know about the movie.

1. The role of Andie was written specifically for Molly Ringwald

Though Hughes didn’t direct the film, he knew that Ringwald was the perfect person to play the part. Other actresses considered to play Andie in her stead were Tatum O’Neal, Lori Loughlin, Diane Lane, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Brooke Shields if Ringwald didn't initially accept the role but it all worked out in the end.

2. Andie's signature thrift store style was inspired by Molly's own sense of fashion

Ringwald was the one who provided the bucket hats, the blazers, and the piles of costume jewelry from her own collection.

3. Jon Cryer was not the first choice to play Duckie

Anthony Michael Hall was in fact offered the role but he turned it down soon after The Breakfast Club, which was released one year earlier, as he didn't want to be typecast.

3. Charlie Sheen was being considered early on for the part of Blane

 Ringwald wasn't a fan and suggested Andrew McCarthy after seeing his performance in St. Elmo's Fire.

4.  Jon Cryer completely ad-libbed Duckie's iconic dance scene

Duckie's famous Pretty in Pink dance for director Howard Deutch blew everyone away but the scene caused a lot of frustration on set as they hadn't budgeted enough time into the schedule to film it properly.

5. Molly's real-life boyfriend at the time makes a cameo appearance

Molly was dating Dweezil Zappa, son of the legendary shock-rocker Frank Zappa at the time. Dweezil Zappa briefly appeared in the movie: his first ever in a feature film.

6.  The original ending of the film was completely different

Andie was meant to be with Duckie, not Blane! Jon Cryer was even initially disappointed at the outcome. But test audiences objected that Andie had picked the wrong guy in the first draft, hence, the original ending.

7. Ringwald, Cryer, and Potts reunited for the film’s 25th anniversary

At the reunion, Ringwald admitted that she doesn’t imagine that Andie and Blane lasted, as a couple. But she's absolutely certain that Andie and Duckie remained friends for life. “I’m sure that Duckie has come out by now,” Ringwald joked to EW.