Actor Andrew McCarthy is reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the iconic 1986 film, Pretty in Pink. Speaking on the podcast It Happened in Hollywood with host Seth Abramovitch, the 63-year-old actor shared candid details about the making of the John Hughes classic.

The Near Departure Over a Jerk Character

McCarthy admitted that when he first read John Hughes’ original screenplay, he was appalled by his character, Blane. In that initial version, the wealthy love interest ultimately buckles under peer pressure and dumps working-class Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald).

“I called my agent and said, ‘You’ve got to get me out of this movie. This guy’s a jerk,’” McCarthy recalled. He was motivated to take the role primarily for the needed $50,000 paycheck.

How Molly Ringwald Secured the Role

The part of Blane was initially envisioned for a more conventional, “broad-shouldered, square-jawed, quarterback hunk type.” McCarthy, at 22, felt he was decidedly not that, describing himself as “frail, overly sensitive.”

However, McCarthy’s audition changed minds. He credits Molly Ringwald for advocating for him after he read his single scene. As McCarthy stated, Ringwald reportedly turned to Hughes and Abramovitch, declaring, “That’s the guy.” Hughes, respecting the actors’ input, ultimately listened to her assessment that McCarthy was “sensitive and soulful and poetic.”

The Infamous Reshoot and the Terrible Wig

The original cut of the film, screened for test audiences at an Orange County mall, resulted in a negative reaction when Blane dumped Andie. Hughes stewed for weeks before devising a solution: reshooting the ending.

The problem was timing. McCarthy was in New York performing in a play and had shaved his head to portray a Marine. This necessitated a quick, last-minute fix for the reshoot.

“If they knew we’d still be talking about this movie 40 years later,” McCarthy laughed, “they would have paid for a better wig.” He described the resulting hairpiece as a “bird’s nest” that looked so bad it almost enhanced the scene, making him appear “so sad” when he finally tells Andie he believes in her.

Crafting On-Screen Chemistry

McCarthy discussed the dynamic with Ringwald, noting that while she had a public crush on him, his own fear and insecurity manifested as aloofness, which he regrets.

Interestingly, this off-screen tension inadvertently fueled the on-screen chemistry between Blane and Andie. He also revealed that an early scene in the record store, where their characters first connect, was stripped of all dialogue at his suggestion, focusing instead on looks and reactions, inspired by Montgomery Clift.

Hughes’ Musical Genius and the 'Brat Pack' Stigma

McCarthy shared how director John Hughes shaped the film’s legendary soundtrack. Hughes would arrive on set each morning with a boombox and cassettes, playing potential songs for the cast while they waited for camera setups.

The actor also addressed the “Brat Pack” label that followed him and his peers. He noted that the term, coined in a 1985 New York magazine article, instantly shifted industry perception of him from sought-after to diminished.

However, McCarthy concluded by noting that the audience embraced the label warmly, seeing those actors as representing the feelings of being young and confused. Now, after years of pushing it away, he views the association with these films as “nothing but love.”