"Hughes allegedly wrote Ferris Bueller's Day Off in four days, Planes, Trains and Automobiles in three days, The Breakfast Club in two days, and Vacation in a week. He never went to film school or studied cinema. And he spent most of his incredible career in the Midwest, far from the Hollywood Hills. One of the most prolific and successful film directors in Hollywood history, John Hughes helped launch the careers of Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Macaulay Culkin, and Judd Nelson. He made John Candy a household name. The genius that was John Hughes--from his humble beginnings in direct mail to his blockbuster success with classics like Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and Home Alone. Honeycutt also explores the darker side of John Hughes: his extreme sensitivity, his stormy professional relationships, and the devastation Hughes experienced after the death of his friend, John Candy."--Provided by publisher.

"The genius behind Ferris Bueller, The breakfast club, Home alone, and more"--Front cover.

Welcome to Hughes world -- The blizzard -- The lampooner -- The coming of booth Tarkington, Jr. -- Hollywood bound -- Movie mogul -- John Candy -- Antic comedy -- Enfant terrible -- Post-Hollywood.