Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to director Amy Heckerling!

Today’s scene that I love comes from Amy Heckerling’s feature debut, 1982’s Fast Times At Ridgemont High.  In just two minutes, Heckerling introduces us to almost all of the major characters, establishes the mall as the center of Ridgemont High culture, and leaves us with little doubt that we’ve entered a time machine and found ourselves in the 80s.  Judge Reinhold looks like he’s on top of the world.  Jennifer Jason Leigh bravely faces the pizza oven.  Sean Penn makes us wish he had never lost his laid back stoner vibe.  And the underrated Robert Romanus struts through the mall like a king overlooking his kingdom.  With this scene, Heckerling announces that she has made the ultimate 80s high school film.

(And just a decade later, she would make the ultimate 90s high school film with Clueless.)

Here is today’s scene that I love: