The 42nd anniversary of something usually isn't very noteworthy. But because we live in a content-crazed world, this photo of director Martha Coolidge on the Sunset Strip in front of a billboard for her movie "Valley Girl" the day it opened back in '83 is making the rounds.
My pal Adam Sank even marked the occasion, writing:
Folding laundry while watching "Valley Girl" (1983) a forgotten treasure of the early '80s. It stars a then-unknown Nicholas Cage, alongside a cast that would remain unknown forever. This includes his costar, Deborah Foreman. She would go on to appear in a few low-budget horror films, but it was all downhill for her after "Valley Girl."It's a shame, because Foreman gives such a subtle, natural performance as the titular Valley girl who must choose between her vapid friends (and douchey boyfriend) and Cage's charming Hollywood punk. The whole cast is better than you'd expect for a teen romp such as this, and the soundtrack is outstanding -- including "I'll Melt With You" by Modern English and Josie Cotton's classic novelty song, "Johnny, Are You Queer?" Definitely worth a watch or re-watch.
He right, as it certainly left a lasting impression on me. (And he didn't even mention Bonnie Hayes's "Girls Like Me" or "A Million Miles Away" by the Plimsouls. The "Valley Girl" soundtrack is only rivaled by "Pretty in Pink" as the best new wave compilation of all time.)
I wrote up my memorable experience seeing "Valley Girl" at the AMC Lakes in the summer of '83 -- movies stayed in theaters that long back then! -- with "the punk kids" from Dobson High School HERE, marked the film's 25th anniversary HERE and lamented the death of the foxy dad HERE. And I just might introduce Damian to it this weekend -- he was 5 when it came out -- assuming he doesn't surprise me and tell me he's already watched it!
For more humiliations, follow HERE.
April 29, 1983 was a busy day! VALLEY GIRL in the afternoon and THE HUNGER that night!! Both have held up perfectly!!
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