Q 01/05

Which 1984 film was John Hughes's directorial debut?

A) Sixteen Candles

B) The Breakfast Club

C) Mr. Mom

D) National Lampoon's Vacation

Answer · why

A) Sixteen Candles

Its honest picture of high school life stood out against the Porky's-style comedies of the time and won near-unanimous praise.

Q 02/05

In which Chicago suburb did Hughes spend his teenage years, attending Glenbrook North High School?

A) Evanston

B) Northbrook

C) Winnetka

D) Skokie

Answer · why

B) Northbrook

He met his future wife Nancy Ludwig, a cheerleader, at the school that inspired his most famous films.

Q 03/05

Before films, Hughes sold jokes to which comedian, among others?

A) George Carlin

B) Richard Pryor

C) Rodney Dangerfield

D) Bob Newhart

Answer · why

C) Rodney Dangerfield

The jokes got him an entry-level advertising job in Chicago, where he later created the Edge "Credit Card Shaving Test" campaign.

Q 04/05

Which magazine did Hughes write for before films, publishing the story that became Vacation?

A) Mad Magazine

B) Rolling Stone

C) Spy Magazine

D) National Lampoon

Answer · why

D) National Lampoon

Editor P. J. O'Rourke said he wrote so fast and so well that a monthly magazine struggled to keep up.

Q 05/05

Which 1983 comedy, Hughes's first hit screenplay, sends the Griswolds cross-country to Walley World?

A) National Lampoon's Vacation

B) Mr. Mom

C) National Lampoon's Class Reunion

D) The Great Outdoors

Answer · why

A) National Lampoon's Vacation

It grew out of his magazine story "Vacation '58", based on his own family trips as a child.