Director John Hughes Knew How to Cast Cars as Supporting Players

John Hughes populated the 1980s film canon with teen characters full of ambition and angst—yet the cars in his movies often act like supporting players with their own stories. Set repeatedly in the fictional Chicago suburb of Shermer, Illinois, Hughes’ films aren’t usually about vehicles, but they’re selected with care, frequently spotlighting sports cars—often in red. The article notes Hughes’ remark to P.J. O’Rourke that he “knew everyone in Shermer,” including where they lived and worked, implying the same intentionality extended to the cars. Hughes died in 2009 at age 59 from a heart attack.