As I write this, TNT is in the midst of its annual run of 24 straight hours (12 showings) of this new Christmas classic from 1983. Based on the writings of Jean Shepherd (who narrates), the film stars Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin (as "Mom" and "The Old Man", respectively) and Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, the personification of Mr. Shepherd at about the age of nine or ten. The main plot concerns Ralphie's quest for his ultimate Christmas gift, a Red Ryder BB Gun. Lots of other subplots abound here, also. Rated "PG" for adult situations and language (albeit as mild as they can come in a "PG" film.)
I used to listen to Jean Shepherd's storytelling radio show as a kid, and the film pretty accurately captures the spirit of his stories. This wasn't the first time they were filmed, however. PBS made several attempts to film his short stories. The best one was the superb 1976 film The Phantom Of The Open Hearth, and I do wish that film was available on DVD or video.
Nitpick: The opening credits say the film was based on Mr. Shepherd's short story collection In God We Trust-All Others Pay Cash. However, at least one subplot (the mangy dogs who never let up on The Old Man) was taken from another of Mr. Shepherd's books, Wanda Hickey's Night Of Golden Memories and Other Disasters. (Wanda Hickey was also the source material for much of The Phantom Of The Open Hearth.)
You'll shoot your eye out, kid!
The anguished scream of Darren McGavin after the dogs destroy the dinner ("BUMPUSES! SONS OF *****!") never fails to bust up my family. Not that funny a line, but it's all in the delivery.
I love this movie & have it on DVD.
The dorky kid waiting in line to see Santa is one of the highlights. I can remember seeing someone just like that.
I too love this movie and have it on DVD. However, I do have a gripe in that, a year after I recieved the DVD as a Christmas present, THEN they decided to come out with the special edition. When I found out I felt just like Ralphie after decoding the secret messages "son of a •••••!"
Don't feel bad, Anon. As everyone here knows, Paramount did the same thing with Trek. First the movies, now the Original Series.
The American flag flying on the flagpole at the school, although correct for the era with 48 stars, looks a bit old and yellowed.
Which means they either used an actual one that had been instorage or wanted it that way for a reasons since you can buy reproductions online at several places.
According to IMDb, movies/TV-movies about Ralphie Parker were filmed 6 times, Mostly years apart, and out of order in Ralphie's life, so each required a separate cast.
This one, and the one Adam mentioned in the top post (The Phantom Of The Open Hearth, 1976) were set at Christmastime. The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski, 1983 was set at Thanksgiving. The other three, "Ollie Hoopnoodle's Haven of Bliss, 1988, The Great American Fourth of July, 1982 and It Runs in the Family, 1994 (also called My Summer Story, were set in the summertime.
It Runs in the Family was set the summer following A Christmas Story and attempted to present itself as a direct sequel, referencing several details from it. He didn't shoot his eye out, but....
This was posted elsewhere at NitCentral, but I think it belongs here as well. Darren McGavin died on 2/25/06. He was 81.
Another difference between the film and book was how Ralphie got the Orphan Annie decoder. In the film, it's implied that he had to drink a lot of Ovaltine to get it. In the book, Ralphie gets his decoder by stumbling across an empty Ovaltine can on the street, and sending in the inner foil ring to get the decoder, without having drunk so much as a drop of the stuff.
This film's director, Bob Clark, was killed today in a car accident. He was 67 years old. His other credits include Turk 182, Porky's and Baby Geniuses.
When we hear (but never see) the leg lamp break, it sounds like glass breaking, although the lamp appears to be plastic. (IIRC, in the short story, it was made clear that the lamp was made of plastic.)
When Ralphie "helps" "The Old Man" change the tire, and he says the mother of all obscenities, Shepherd's narrator calls what Ralphie spilled out of the hub cap "bolts". The correct term is lug nuts.
I wrote, what seems like ages ago, I used to listen to Jean Shepherd's storytelling radio show as a kid, and the film pretty accurately captures the spirit of his stories. This wasn't the first time they were filmed, however. PBS made several attempts to film his short stories. The best one was the superb 1976 film "The Phantom Of The Open Hearth", and I do wish that film was available on DVD or video.
quote:
The Phantom Of The Open Hearth is now on You Tube. So, if you're so inclined, watch it (even though it's a pretty poor quality copy, like someone transferred an early VCR tape to You Tube.)
The outlet where the Christmas tree (and other stuff) is plugged in (and The Old Man had to replace a fuse) is very overloaded, and a definite fire hazard. I should know; an overloaded outlet, combined with a flimsy extension cord, caused a fire in the basement of my parents' house in 2004. No one was hurt, but my folks were displaced for almost a year while the house was cleaned up and the kitchen (which bore the brunt of the smoke damage) was renovated.
What is TNT's obsession with this movie?
What makes it so special that it has to be run 24th smegging hours?
I could say that the movie is loaded with Christmas cheer, helps us relive our youth, and other sentimental gushings. All of which it does. But, in my opinion, it's simple economics. TBS, TNT and the movie are owned by Warner's. So, it's 24 hours of free programming. For both TBS and TNT this year, as they're both showing the movie. Staggering the start times, though. (A long time ago, TBS used to run James Bond marathons. Every movie from Dr. No through Licence To Kill. That ended what seems like ages ago.)
Anyone who loves this movie probably has it on DVD and/or Blue Ray. Marathons like this are no longer needed.
A really direct sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, is available for streaming on HBO Max. It has several members of the original's cast reprising their roles, almost 40 years later. Including Peter Billingsley as an all grown up Ralphie.
Oh yes-the original is available to stream on HBO Max as well. Without the commercials that TBS and TNT overload their broadcasts with.
Never watched this movie.