when the editor has to fix it in post

Star Wars may not have actually been saved in the edit. Paul Hirsch himself has debunked that in interviews. But Ferris Bueller… was. Support me and my work by making a small pledge: www.patreon.com/cinemastix

Ferris Bueller is a character that we've had in storytelling for as long as there have been stories: he's a trickster god.

We visited the Art Institute in Chicago a couple summers ago and there was a guy there who looked a bit like a young Alan Ruck (Cameron) and was actually wearing a Gordie Howe jersey. Needless to say, he caused quite a stir, and several of us snapped a photo of him standing in front of the Seurat painting. My wife and I had thoughts of mimicking the kiss in front of the Chagall stained glass, but thought better of it. My wife did capture my two sons and me with arms crossed standing in front of the sculptures though (which weren’t arranged at all like the movie). I know, it was all tourist garbage, but we did enjoy the art and the kids had fun. Ferris holds up really well a generation later, and is proof that editing might be the most important part of filmmaking. Another great video. John Hughes is a legend.

"when the editor has to fix it in post" Basically every movie ever.

Fun fact: (5:45) the two dudes with the silly hats in the observation lounge are from cologne. Those are carnival club hats and they wore them in the scene because... well they were there, they decided to wear them while sight seeing in chicago. John Hughes loved the idea of just having them stand at the edge of the frame and have people wonder what's up with those guys and their silly hats.

I completely forgot about the dreaded pan-and-scan until you mentioned it.

I only just realised. Ferris calls Camerons home a Museum, but its in a museum (okay an art gallery, but Ferris does refer to it as a museum.) that Cameron connects to art, he sees himself. Its a parallel that after years of watching this film I never really caught till now.

Yes, do the character and script analysis for this movie. Can't wait.

I'm one of those guys that grew up with this movie in the 80s. And this film was a large part of me and my formative years as I identified so much with Cameron, and I am glad you point out that it is more his story than Ferris'. I don't know if anyone else had a friend like Ferris, but I kind of did--not quite as fantastical, of course, but one of those guys who seemed to live a charmed life and for whom nothing went wrong. But the majority of the audience....yeah, we were all Cameron, stressed out and too worried about everything to enjoy some of the funnest years of your life before you have to become a responsible adult. On a side note, I learned a lot of mannerisms and goofiness from this movie that I would watch over and over to practice and get them down. For example, the water drop sound Cam does, I watched over and over and practiced until I could get it right, and ended up annoying so many teachers with it.... Also, the Baseball scene where Cam chants "He can't hit, he can't hit, he can't hit, he can't hit, he can't hit" all ran together so fast you can barely understand what it is sometimes. So, for all of us normal kids, no matter what generation we are from, 80s aughts or 20s, I hope people learn that it is ok to live a little now and then. You deserve it.

The deleted pancreas scene had me so confused! I was like, if it got deleted, then why do I have this clear memory of Matthew Broderick saying the word "pancreas" in his New York accent? And then you showed the "we saw priceless works of art... we ate pancreas!" clip from later in the movie. Mystery solved. Also, the line works great with the context removed by the edit, like it's just a euphemism for "ate at a fancy restaurant."

Whooaaa, I never knew about that cut pancreas scene! The way it's edited in the final film always gave me the impression that while Ferris was away, Cameron was cutting loose a bit, having fun, and messing with the snooty diners. It's not just editing, that's almost writing and directing through the edit! It takes a damn good editor and a trusting writer and director to make that work.

The best kind of commentary shows you a new perspective about something you love, that you'd never considered before; that makes you appreciate it even more. The thing has not changed, but is now a fuller, richer experience. Another wonderful example of that here. Thank you for sharing! : )

What are you doing here? Go, the video is over.

I once played hooky from work and on my "day off" I went out to see a movie. That movie was Ferris Bueller's Day Off! :-D

Character / script analysis would be great! Thankful that they edited Ferris Bueller into the film that we have today. Been watching it with my daughter since she was 9 years old. She's now 46 and we still quote lines & trade memes about it all the time. It will always be special to us.

When your favorite video essayist makes a video about your favorite comedy

Saw this opening weekend at a Woodland Hills theater (“The Valley”) & the audience was packed w students from nearby Taft High. Being surrounded in the bullseye of its target demo, I’ll never forget the unusually loud laughter—girls scream laughing throughout it. Decades later, I STILL have that night etched into my memory as one of the two best movie crowds ever (the 2nd being “Fast Times” in the Sherman Oaks Galleria, inside the mall/theater it was filmed). Even more visceral crowd reactions. Please forgive the reverie! 👀🤦‍♂️🙏

working with John Hughes would have been a dream as an Editor? You know how much easier it is to have MORE footage than LESS footage. You get to create your own world as Paul Hersch as long as Hughes isn't breathing down his neck saying "WE NEED THIS IN HERE, THIS TOO, THIS TOO"

I loved that side by side cut at the end with the homage to Ferris’ final run home. Gold!

It's amazing what a good editor can do. Kubrick and many directors look at the footage as the raw material that they then have to sculpt into shape in the editing, that THAT's where the film really becomes what it is.