DAILY DIRT: All of these years later, it can be easy to overlook these classic films, tunes from the Big ’80s

July 24, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

"The Big Chill" might be the most underrated movie of the '80s.

Daily Dirt for Thursday, July 24, 2025

Today marks the first time in my life I have ever used the term “butt glue” … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,352 of The Daily Dirt.

1. As far as decades go, I’ve always felt the 1980s have never received enough credit, at least as far as movies and music are concerned.

With that in mind, here are three films from that 10-year period I don’t think ever received their full due:

“The Big Chill” (1983): This movie was always so much more than just a story about a group of baby boomer friends who gathered for the funeral of an old friend. The stories of their lost dreams, accented perfectly by one of the best soundtracks ever, make this a classic worth watching over and over. The cast of Tom Berenger, William Hurt, Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, Meg Tilly, JoBeth Williams and Mary Kay Place each contributed a vital role to this film, which deserved an Oscar for best screenplay. By the way, remember that corpse at the outset of the film? That was Kevin Costner, whose (other) scenes were ultimately cut from the finished product.

“Peggy Sue Got Married” (1985): Kathleen Turner starred in this fantasy comedy-drama (directed by Francis Ford Coppola, no less). On the verge of divorce, Peggy Sue finds herself transported back to the days of her senior year in high school in 1960. At the time, the film was a darling of the critics, but over the years has been all but forgotten. This is the perfect Saturday night movie for some mom and dad currently reading this.

“Fatal Attraction” (1987): Suspenseful, even terrifying. This is another ’80s classic that has seemingly been lost through the years. All you have to know before watching is never, ever, ever cheat on your spouse. Glenn Close is marvelous in her role as Alex Forrest.

Steve used to think boiled bunny was a delicacy.

And now, some of the music we may have forgotten about, specifically the vaunted power love ballads of that decade:

“Take My Breath Away,” by Berlin (1986): This rather haunting throwback to the Big ’80s was written for the 1986 film “Top Gun” and eventually won an Academy Award, yet we rarely hear it these days, even on the stations that target 1980s songs. Jessica Simpson later covered the song, but this version, by far, is the best.

“Heaven,” by Bryan Adams (1983): This effort was heavily influenced by Journey’s “Faithfully” (ironically, released in the same year), but Adams’ gritty voice set it apart and moved it to the “power ballad” file. Although it received a number of major awards and nominations, “Heaven” seems to have lost its oldies airplay niche to some of Adams’ other hits like “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” “Cuts Like A Knife,” “Please Forgive Me,” “All For Love” (with Rod Stewart and Sting) and “Summer of ’69”.

“What About Love,” by Heart (1985): When you think of Heart songs, “Alone,” “Barracuda” and “These Dreams” are often the first tunes to come to mind, but “What About Love” also deserves a place on the podium, or at least nearby. The song marked Heart’s biggest hit in three years and a return to “power ballad” status among its fans. For those who might not know, the song was originally released by Canadian band Toronto in 1982.

2. Did you know (Part 435)

That the Miss America pageant has allowed divorcees to be contestants since 1999. Prior to this, contestants were required to certify they had never been married or pregnant. Don’t know if they allow contestants who have done porn, which got Vanessa Williams bounced. She ended up okay though.
That more than 2.5 million compete in U.S. beauty pageants each year.
That some people in Venezuela are so obsessed with beauty pageants that they send their daughters to special academies also known as “Miss Factories,” to groom them to be Beauty Queens. (Venezuela has the most international beauty titles of any country.)
That “butt glue” is a real thing in many beauty pageants. It keeps bikini bottoms in place and from revealing too much.
That Miss World is the oldest of the major beauty pageants, dating to 1951.

3. This week’s “Celebrity Birthdays” include the following:

Actor Michael Richards (Kramer on “Seinfeld”) is 76 today.
Actor Matt LeBlanc (Joey on “Friends”) turns 58 on Friday.
Singer Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones will be 82 on Saturday.
Actress Sandra Bullock turns 61, also on Saturday.
Singer Geddy Lee of Rush will be 72 on Tuesday.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Speaking of the Rolling Stones, original band members from 1962 were Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watt, Of those five, only Jagger, Richards and Wyman remain alive. Jones died in 1969, Watts in 2021. Wyman left the group in 1993.