Released June 28th 1985, co-written and directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Mare Winningham, St. Elmo's Fire centers on a clique of recent graduates of Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown University, and their adjustment to post-university life and the responsibilities of adulthood. Panned by the critics, the film was a big box office hit grossing $37.8 million on a $10 million budget.
On it's 35th anniversary, here are five fast facts about St. Elmo's Fire.
1. According to Joel Schumacher, St. Elmo's Fire was a nightmare to cast! Along with producer Lauren Shuler Donner, Schumacher interviewed "hundreds of people" for the cast, including Anthony Edwards and Lea Thompson, who both turned down offers of roles. Perhaps because...
"...the head of [one] major studio called its seven-member cast "the most loathsome humans he had ever read on the page."
2. Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, and Ally Sheedy were all, at the time, filming The Breakfast Club with writer/director John Hughes. It was through a recommendation from Hughes that the trio were cast, and in doing so inadvertently spurred the formation of the "Brat Pack", as first detailed by David Blum in his New York magazine cover story, "Hollywood's Brat Pack", cover dated on June 10, 1985
3. Joel Schumacher offered Demi Moore the role of Jules, unaware of her drug and alcohol problem.. But before filming began, her drug addiction became obvious during a wardrobe fitting session. The director then insisted Moore went to rehab and promised to stay clean if she wanted to continue in the part of Jules. Which she did.
The character of Jules, of course, had a coke problem.
4. St. Elmo bar is part of the Universal back lot on a road known as "Georgetown Avenue". Down the road, although never in shot, is the Hill Valley Clock Tower from Back to the Future.
5. St. Elmo's Fire was the first soundtrack written by Canadian composer/producer David Foster (who has worked with Chicago, Madonna, Whitney Houston and many others, plus won 16 Grammy Awards). He co-wrote the title track with performer John Parr in just two hours. Parr recalled.
"We wrote it together, with David sitting at the piano. [Schmuacher] wanted a song about determination, a song about kids who are growing up and have to make decisions about what to do with their lives."Having not seen the film, Parr took inspiration for the lyrics from somewhere entirely different though - Canadian athlete Rick Hansen who, at the time, was traveling around the world via his wheelchair to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries, a trip called the "Man in Motion Tour."
Schumacher also told Parr and Foster to not use "St Elmo's Fire" in the lyrics but Parr did it regardless.
"I thought it fit in the song. In the movie, St. Elmo's is a bar. But to me St. Elmo's Fire is a magical thing glowing in the sky that holds destiny to someone. It's mystical and sacred. It's where paradise lies, like the end of the rainbow."
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