Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Plot

It is Friday, May 17, 1985.

Related Topics:
Friday - May 17 - 1985

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Ferris Bueller is a wise-cracking high school student from the fictional suburb of Shermer, Illinois (located close to Chicago, Illinois), who decides to take a day off from school for a little fun by pretending to be sick. As Ferris says "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it." To this end, Ferris convinces his best friend Cameron to take his father's 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California out for a spin, despite the fact that Cameron's Dad has so little trust in him he has recorded the car's mileage on his wrist (Ferris makes the promise to erase any miles they put on the car). Using the Ferrari as a high-class prop to give his masquerade as his girlfriend Sloane's father (Mr. Peterson) credibility, Ferris tricks the high school principal, Ed Rooney, into thinking her grandmother is dead, in effect excusing her from school.

Related Topics:
Shermer, Illinois - Chicago - Illinois - 1961 - Ferrari 250

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Ben Stein delivers a memorable performance as a dry, droning economics teacher. He discusses the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act and how it was perceived by some at the time to be related to what was famously dubbed "Voodoo Economics" by George H.W. Bush, while semi-conscious students look on. For many, the familiar feeling of extreme tedium experienced by students during a particularly dull lecture is captured in this scene.

Related Topics:
Ben Stein - Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act - Voodoo Economics - George H.W. Bush

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Rooney sees Ferris's attempt to get a little fun as an act of rebellion against his authority. He sets out to catch Ferris and make an example of him for other students. He spends several hours doing so; in the process his car gets towed away, he is assaulted by Jeanie Bueller and the Bueller's dog, suffering multiple injuries. Meanwhile Ferris's resentful sister Jeanie, jealous of Ferris, decides to leave school and uncover his scheme on her own.

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During Ferris's "day off," he enjoys a baseball game at Wrigley Field, dines at an elite restaurant, sneaks onto a float during the Von Steuben Day Parade to lip-sync "Danke Schoen" and "Twist and Shout", enjoys the view at the top of the Sears Tower and visits the Art Institute of Chicago. For details of the artworks shown in the movie see

Related Topics:
Wrigley Field - Von Steuben Day - Danke Schoen - Twist and Shout - Sears Tower - Art Institute of Chicago

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Later on, Ferris hoists the rear wheels of the Ferrari off the ground and puts it in reverse courtesy of a stone on the gas pedal in order to take off the miles to cover up the fact that it was driven. However, this fails as the odometer does not roll back. Due to Cameron's rage at the impending failure of their deception as well as his home situation, he kicks the Ferrari off the blocks sending it reeling backwards and out an upper story glass wall-to-wall window. It is in effect "killed" and Cameron is forced to stand up to his father for the first time in his life.

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After sharing a kiss with his girlfriend, Ferris realizes he is late and dashes back home, running through neighbors' backyards, hopping over fences, and arriving just in time so his parents can check on him.

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