It has been a movie that has been regarded as dated pretty soon after, but there is no denying Joel Schmacher’s ST. ELMO’S FIRE is one of the defining youth movies of all time.
Released at a time when youth movies aimed at adolescents focused on getting laid, drinking heavily and trying to have fun, ST. ELMO’S FIRE focused on the immediate aftermath of college in Washington DC. Co-written by Schumacher with Carl Kurlander, the film focuses on seven graduates – Kirby (Emilio Estevez) an aspiring lawyer working as a waiter at St. Elmo’s Bar in the city, who develops an infatuation with an old student, Dale Biberman (Andie MacDowell, FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL), Billy (Rob Lowe) a saxophone player with a wife and kid, but shows a total lack of responsibility, Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), a journalist who is cynical about everything and love itself, Jules (Demi Moore), a banker with serious addiction issues, Alec (Judd Nelson), a Republican and Democratic wannabe who switches sides because one of the parties pays more.
He is in a relationship with Leslie (Ally Sheedy), an architect who is not sure about commitment. Rounding out the septet is Wendy (Mare Winningham) who works in the Social Services, but has strong Jewish family values and her father (Martin Balsam, PSYCHO) sees that as nothing more than a stop gap before marriage.
However, the various personal and professional conflicts, coupled with the uncertainties of their early steps into true adulthood are about to take a darker turn….
Although its’ heart is rooted in the Eighties, there are elements that still ring true today and the template of the film, which was in itself inspired by Lawrence Kasdan’s THE BIG CHILL (1983), it was the inspiration for the comedy classic FRIENDS amongst others.
It also featured the hit single. ST. ELMO’S FIRE (MAN IN MOTION) by British rocker John Parr.