As I finally catch-up on blogging, it’s time to turn to the Family Pictures Podcast which is now available on Apple’s Podcasts and Spotify as we get into the double-digits of episodes. “We’re mass communicatin’!”
I’m three episodes behind* so it’s time to get back on the horse because MBS and I are cooking with gas! Let me start catching up chronologically, which just happens to be a personal favorite: Michael Apted‘s First Born (1984). As MBS points out in the podcast, Apted took over the reins of the British documentary series Up which “follows the lives of ten boys and four girls in England, beginning in 1964, when they were seven years old.” Right before filming First Born Apted was finishing up the third installment of the series, 28 Up, which is considered by many critics a masterpiece.
As MBS astutely notes in the episode, Apted’s coming off this formative experience on the Up series following kids for 21 years which had to inform the way he approaches what is a remarkably authentic look at a 1980s suburban kid’s world. I essentially swoon over the production design of this film, and I’m pretty blown away by how accurate the film is at depicting the details of growing up in the mid 80s in the tristate area, everything from Def Leppard jersey shirts to lacrosse practice to Drake’s Cakes to the pre-posh mall experience to specific place mats and coffee cups you might find at some department store from that era—the devil dogs are truly in the details of this film.
As I mention in the podcast, this film has become the go-to show and tell for my kids to illustrate what it was like to grow up in a household of the 80s, right down to the Sony Walkmans, handheld games, and kitchen cabinet raids that were part and parcel of my growing up. Apart from the storyline (which is another take on family in the 80s) the film almost seems like a Frederick Wiseman documentary of a middle class suburban home from the tri-state area in 1984. Also, I have to believe the details were more localized in the 80s before the advent of gigantic box stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and their ilk that ensured no region of the US was distinct from another. For example, the multiple pizza parlors that populate any given town in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut had their own deco and the ways in which those spaces are highlighted in this film might be an argument for its greatness.
Screenshot from First Born highlighting a 80s Pizza Parlor in New Jersey that is featured in First Born. This film is all about the spaces.
Anyway, you can check-out our discussion in the YouTube video above or, as mentioned earlier in the post, subscribe to the podcast on Apple’s Podcasts or Spotify. In fact, we have two fun episodes since we recorded First Born that dive into Karate Kid (1984) and a personal favorite The Stepfather (1987), so this is post is truly in catch-up territory.
But I’m not done yet. In fact, the reason this post took so long to write is because I wanted to include the numerous screenshots of the moments in First Born that provide more concrete evidence of this authentic, documentary approach the film takes to 80s suburbia in the NY metropolitan area. I thought it would be fun to provide a running commentary of these images, if only for me and my begrudging children—this is the Family Pictures Podcast after all.
In case you forgot the film we were talking about here, this is the stark, black and white title card. Very John Carpenter
The intro 80s music stops as the shot moves from momr getting home from a date to Jake (Chris Collette) finally turning off the music of his bedside radio. Love that effect, truly brings you inside the home
Brian (Corey Haim) drinking orange juice from the carton, with the Cocoa Crispies in the foreground. The apple is simply for show. Also, check out that can opener, my family had one just like it
Brian playing Merlin with batteries he stole from his brother’s walkman.
Jake kicking Brian’s ass for stealing batteries from his Walkman. Look at that phone and the fridge, damn they are exactly the ones we had in our house.
Mom (Teri Garr) with uncharacteristically posh coffee/tea pot trying to get those little shits out of the house on time. This is the one time Michael Apted’s Britishness shows 
Grape Nuts were definitely a part of the morning ritual, but they were only eaten by those wanting to be healthy and/or lose weight.
OMG, a baby Robert Downey Jr who is showing off his new earring that he did get in “the right ear.” How did he get his parents to agree? He promised them he wouldn’t get a mohawk.
The classic abusive high school teacher with upturned moustache who calls kids fat in class.
The kid on the right with the red shirt is the one who the teacher “accuses of stuffing his face rather than studying” WTF!
OMGx2 a young Sarah Jessica Parker reminding me of many a middle and high school crush. Also, other kids in the classroom seem like high school students roped into being extras. No 30 year old high schoolers in First Born as MBS notes in the podcast.
More on the regional accuracy, this film is supposed to take place in a NYC suburb in northern New Jersey and here you have the very regional sport lacrosse. Being from Long Island lacrosse was (and still is) a way of life, so this detail spoke to me immensely as a 14 year old seeing this film
More lacrosse, because you don’t see enough of it in 80s teen films
Heading back home from lacrosse practice with pack of kids who will soon raid the kitchen cabinets for goodies
Just park those ten speeds on the front lawn, no worries
Brian and his geeky friend confronting the older high school kids, a scary prospect
High schoolers talking shit on the middle schoolers, as is their wont
Is that Mister Salty behind an OG Pepsi can? Also, you can see the first two letters of the lacrosse brand Brine to the left
Look at that Wise Potato chips page just laying there empty as the kitchen is ransacked by these teenage mutants
Teri Garr with her 80s mom glasses. I love her so much in this film
The boxy 80s Volvo station wagon is the family car of choice. Just upper middle class enough
Seat belts? They were entirely optional in the 80s
Studying with Sarah Jessica Parker? Sign me up.
First shot of the Def Leppard shirt, and also those very familiar (to me) place mats and napkin holder
I want my MTV! Look at that cable box on top of the 19″ RCA? TV I am in 80s heaven
That mobile TV cart was quite popular in the 80s, and we definitely had that brass fireplace setup. Also, that is Manfred Mann’s “Runner” video for MTV
Divorced family of the 80s complete with requisite dinner on absentee dad
You know it’s a fancy restaurant when they have green walls and flowers on the table. And check out those pearls over the blouse, as MBS pointed out to me. “Kids, we have something to tell you….” Fucking 80s lawyer dads. He was probably the one doing coke on a pinball machine, more on that later.
Sad 80s divorced parents panda. In fact, as Corey Haim was filming this movie his own parents had just gone through a divorce, so I am imagine this was extra raw and real for the newly christened child actor.
But nothing can cheer you up quite like Lucky Charms, still true to this day. Also, that stove, we had it. And I saw that spice rack in many a home growing up.
Introducing Sam (Peter Weller) who just rolled out of bed with the kids’ mom and is looking for coffee. Not exactly how you want the first encounter with new boyfriend to go.
Look at that LT jersey! Number 56 for life. Also, love the pads they are wearing, that is definitely period specific before everyone looked like Darth Vader. Real high school kids here for sure.
The coach (“a Tackleberry from Police Academy stand-in” -MBS) reminding the kids about the importance of hygiene imploring them to avoid losing a testicle, like he had. Awesome scene
Jake is interrogating his mom’s new beau with a Coke in hand and the family stereo system behind him, cassettes had not fully taken over the family hifi just yet.
Sam (Peter Weller) is soooooo good in this role as the bullshitting n’er do well. He just exudes bullshit in this scene and we have all dealt with these cats, but nothing worse then when they try an move-in on your mom.
One of the 80s childhood weapons of choice was the formidable wrist rocket, what were we thinking? This was such an insanely lethal “toy.” Is it illegal yet?
Sam’s 80s Chevy Blazer? Sign me up for one now. Notice the Garden State plates.
A Honda dirt bike was the dream, and Sam gets Jake one to try and buy his way into his heart.
The real 80s mall was filled with non-descript stores selling Lee jeans with tropical sales signs with neon colors that make no sense. This is the mall before Banana Republic moved in, as MBS notes in the podcast.
Land O Lakes butter? Do they know the secret?
A much better shot of the “Rock Til You Drop” Def Leppard jersey shirt
Jake gets the bad news about Sam moving in. I resent that Coffee Cake Jr.s, my favorite childhood snack, have to be indelibly linked with this moment.
Confronting mom in the kitchen. Also love how so much of the action in this film takes place in the kitchen. Those cabinets, so familiar.
Better shot of the place mats and kitchen table. I wonder what department store they were sold at, because we definitely had the same setup.
Look at Brian’s BMX bike with those pads, I had something almost identical on my Snapper and Mongoose back in the day.
Did I mention Paul Weller is awesome in this?
Again, the action takes place in the kitchen and this is when Sam is finally getting fed up with Jake and is showing his darker side. Just love the finger pointing, I have a story about this in the podcast.
Sitting around all day watching game shows, you know shit is going south
Another shot of the jerk off teacher
The one issue I had with this movie was no arcades or video games, but there was pinball. I do love that pinball is associated with a deadbeat, loser, bullshitter. What’s more…
Later on in the movie the pinball glass is used for doing rails of coke! 80s degeneracy on display for the children, “Just say no!” dammit
We get a quick look at the 80s super market, with Chips Ahoy and Ritz crackers…
There’s even some Vienna Fingers which sealed it for me
Crossing guard in uniform? This movie truly has it all!
As Sam continues to drive a wedge between mom and the kids, meals get worse and worse until they are finally left with a greasy bucket of Colonel Sanders
Another shot of the can opener
The New Jersey Devils were founded just two years before this film, so love that detail. I also love the weight bench in the room.
Hacky sack in the cafeteria! Also, look at those cafeteria tables, with the round seats.
Robert Downey Jr well ahead of the crowd when it comes to alternative style. Is that a bowling shirt?
The couch and dolls in the mom’s bedroom are pretty strange, but that couch pattern is all strangely familiar. I guess for that matter the creepy dolls are as well.
Also love the detail of the principal’s office. No computer in sight and that wire re-enforced glass for the random air born chair? Also the memos hanging behind her and the complex phone. Also the green mat, it’s too much!
The scene when Sam goes after Brian was the first one filmed, and according to various stories Weller was method acting. After the scene Haim approached Weller to say how impressed he was and Weller grabbed him by the neck and threw him against the wall and started screaming at him. It took several members of the crew to pry him away. I guess that explains why so many 80s child actors were so fucked up.
How I imagine Weller attacking Haim after getting positive feedback from the soon-to-be child star.
Smoking cigarettes and paying bills at the kitchen table. Need I say more? Have I made my case yet? This is the 80s. Also, my family had those ceramic coffee cups, fyi.
Uncle Ben’s on the stove.
Another shot of the pizza parlor, look at the options on that board menu
You can just make out the garlic powder, I used to smother my slices in it.
Finally the real coffee maker, where’s the Maxwell’s House or Chuck Full of Nuts
The OP t-shirt
See, under all that 80s terrible carpet in the bedroom were beautiful wood floors and hidden cocaine!
Move to the dining room table for the Chinese food, and please pass the spare ribs
The ultimate fantasy of this film is taking a Lousiville slugger to that unwanted house guest. Good for you, Brian, you’re an inspiration to many a teenager of the 80s.
I tried to edit my inclusion of screenshots a bit, but you get the general idea. This movie is my mid-80s life!
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*Although technically four given the one that we decided not to publish given I was being a total asshole. Maybe one day that will see the light of day after I have passed away
I was scrolling through this thinking I hadn’t seen First Born until the “importance of hygiene” shot. That scene has been seared into my brain for 40 years. I always dry my feet last.
Hahaha, so good. It may jut be the most memorable scene of the film, and that is saying something. I think I might become for this film what Tim Lucas was to Mario Bava, it might be my new mission to make this film great again
This is such a great deep dive into the production design of the film. There was an incredible amount of attention paid towards capturing that moment of time in that particular place.
The OP and Def Leppard t-shirts really stand out—both were absolute markers of social status at the time. Concert t-shirts, often only available at the show, were a way of saying, I was there, and you weren’t, sucker!
And another standout detail is the cable box on top of the living room TV. Those were the standard back then—super hackable, and if you knew someone who knew someone, you could unlock free HBO and more.
Yeah, that cable box is awesome. I remember the Jerrold remote box (https://www.retroist.com/p/jerrold-cable-tv-boxes) with the wire back to the TV. True story: our neighbor worked for the local cable company (Cablevision) and he climbed the pole in front of our house and essentially unlocked HBO for us. I think it was around the time Grease, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, and Omen were playing on that channel, which was absolutely magic to me.