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by - December 25, 2007 - 6:01 AM
The Griswold post seemed to be a big hit, so we’ll continue the “obscure facts about my favorite Christmas movies” series with A Christmas Story. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I don’t own this one on DVD; but I guess I don’t need to when TBS runs it for 24 hours straight on Christmas Eve. Here’s a few tidbits to tide you over until you can catch Monday’s marathon.
1. Jack Nicholson was very interested in playing Ralphie’s dad. But casting (and paying) Jack would have meant doubling the budget, so he was removed from consideration. Director Bob Clark – who didn’t know Nicholson was interested at the time – says Darrin McGavin was the perfect choice, and I’d have to agree. I think Jack would have been too much of a scene-stealer.
2. What does Porky’s, the raunchy 80s teen sex movie, have to do with a wholesome film like A Christmas Story? Bob Clark directed both – Porky’s in 1982 and A Christmas Story in 1983. If Porky’s hadn’t given him the professional and financial success he needed, he wouldn’t have been able to bring A Christmas Story to the big screen.
3. For anyone keeping count, Ralphie says he wants the Red Ryder BB Gun 28 times throughout the course of the movie. That’s approximately once every three minutes and 20 seconds.
4. Peter Billingsley, AKA Ralphie, has been good friends with Vince Vaughn since they both appeared in the CBS Schoolbreak Special (their version of the after-school special) in the early ’90s. He made a surprise appearance on the “Vince Vaughn Wild West Comedy Show” in Memphis, Tenn., in 2005.
5. I’m a little sad to report this one. Scott Schwartz, who played Flick (who stuck his tongue to the frozen flagpole), was submerged in the adult film industry for a number of years. He got out in 2000 to try to become a mainstream actor again, but it looks like the only thing of any note he’s done since is Pauly Shore’s “You’ll Never Wieze in This Town Again.” Sigh.
6. Next time you’re in Cleveland, you can visit the original house from the movie for only $7. It was sold on eBay in 2004 for $150,000. Collector Brian Jones bought the house and restored it to its movie glory and stocked it up with some of the original props from the film, including Randy’s snowsuit.
7. Director Bob Clark got the idea for the movie when he was driving in the car with a date. He heard Jean Shepherd on the radio doing a reading of his short story collection, “In God We Trust… All Others Pay Cash”, which included some bits that eventually ended up in A Christmas Story. Clark said he drove around the block for an hour until the program ended, which his date was not too happy about.
8. The Wonder Years was inspired by A Christmas Story. In fact, in one of the last few episodes, Peter Billingsley appeared as one of Kevin Arnold’s roommates.
9. Mythbusters tested whether it was possible to get your tongue truly stuck on a piece of cold metal. Guess what? It is. So don’t triple dog dare your best friend to try it.
10. The real Red Ryder BB Gun was first made in 1938 and was named after a comic strip cowboy. You can still buy it today for the low, low price of $44.99.
11. While we’re talking shopping – you know you want the leg lamp. Put it in your window! Be the envy of your neighbors! It’s a Major Award! You can buy it here, but if you’re not feeling quite so flamboyant you can get a replica that serves as a nightlight for $7.95.
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Don’t shoot your eye out (kid).
Comments (32)
Comment
Believe it or not, I’ve never seen this movie. When it first came out, I was neither a child nor had a child, and it sounded like a made-for-TV movie (maybe it was). I understand its become somewhat of a classic since then.
posted by Miss Cellania on 12-24-2007 at 10:14 pm
when i was ralhphie’s age, nine, my father gave me a red ryder bb gun. i distinctively remember my mothers expression; she had thought the slender package (the last of the year) contained a childs size broom.
fortunately, i was never the recipient of anything similar to the bunny suit.
posted by elizabeth-anne on 12-24-2007 at 11:06 pm
I live in Michigan and A Christmas Story was voted the best Christmas movie in a Detroit Free Press poll.
I love this movie. Even though it takes place in 1939 or 1940, it reminds me of my childhood in the 50s and 60s.
posted by CGB on 12-24-2007 at 11:12 pm
It’s on right now..on DVD! My all time fave. Ohsosad about Flick. :(
Playing Santa and through with the milk and cookies…just about to start to nibble the reindeers’ carrots. Merry Christmas!!
posted by mrs.djs on 12-25-2007 at 12:39 am
i could have told you that your tongue will stick to frozen metal. it hurts, especially when you freak out and jerk your head backwards.
for the record, i hate this movie, but am compelled to watch it every year.
posted by Heather on 12-25-2007 at 1:37 am
Watching it on TBS right now! It’s just the best Christmas movie in life. The scene where Ralphie is loading the BB gun and his dad is watching him always gets me right in the heart. You can see the guy reliving his childhood…Darren McGavin was one heck of a movie actor.
Merry Christmas, all!
posted by Joe Maz on 12-25-2007 at 1:42 am
The fight scene between Ralphie and scut is possibly the greatest fight is all cinema…
posted by Fred on 12-25-2007 at 7:54 am
You know, it’s sad that director Bob Clark died last year I think in a car accident. But I’ve heard about a documentary about him and the movie and a Christmas Story convention that they have every year in Ohio.
So, R.I.P. Bob Clark. Thanks for making my Christmas a little brighter.
posted by JHop on 12-25-2007 at 12:40 pm
The winter this came out, I was 10. I remember going to the theater to see it. It is one of the greatest Christmas movies because it has a very light touch. It doesn’t take itself to seriously. Simply beautiful movie.
posted by Matt on 12-25-2007 at 12:43 pm
It definitely IS true that your tongue sticks to metal in the cold. EVERY single winter, at least one person stuck their tongue to the metal fire escape or one of the gate-posts at the elementary school I attended. Unsticking a kid was a routine matter that the janitor knew would happen. (I believe this continued until the old school was replaced by the new one.) Oh, and you get a tongue unstuck by running warm water over the tongue and metal.
posted by cmk on 12-25-2007 at 1:06 pm
Having only seen the movie on TBS, I’ve always wondered what scenes were cut from the big screen version.
posted by mike on 12-25-2007 at 6:17 pm
I’m watching The Break-up w/Vince Vaughn - never noticed that Peter Billingsley was in it as well. He’s all growed up to!!
posted by shana on 12-25-2007 at 6:55 pm
I went to teh school that the movie was filmed in, it was David Hill Elementary school in Akron, Ohio. Sadly it’s been torn down I believe.But when I watch it reminds me of the classrooms because they hadn’t changed since the movie was filmed and when i went to there years afterwards, and the school was from the same era that the movie is set in.
posted by Erik on 12-25-2007 at 10:16 pm
Yes, Bob Clark did die last year. He was killed by a drunk driver, and on top of that…the drunk driver was an illegal alien.
Sad
R.I.P. Bob Clark
lessthan12parsecs
posted by lessthan12parsecs on 12-26-2007 at 5:23 am
I live a few blocks away from the Christmas house. I tend to see many cars slowly driving by my house looking for it. Everyone in my neighborhood puts the leg lamp in their front window. They do a whole tour with the trolley’s here, you can not only stop by the house and it’s museum across the street, but go to the old Higbee’s site and the Chinese restaurant!
posted by raven419 on 12-26-2007 at 9:47 am
The window where the kids were looking at all the toys was in Higbee’s department store on Public Square in Cleveland (although I understand that some of the toys were not ‘period’). The ‘mountain’ where Ralphie goes to see Santa and slides down into a big pile of cotton was where I used to see Santa in Higbee’s. Many memories for me in that movie!
posted by Fred on 12-26-2007 at 9:50 am
Our family turns this on and leaves it on for the full 24 hours. It’s on when we open presents in the morning. Christmas morning without Ralphie just wouldn’t be right.
Jean Shepherd’s book is pretty good; if you’re a huge fan of the movie you should pick it up - although you should know that the entire movie is taken from a very small section of the book. Jean Shepherd is the narrator for the film, and when you read the book, you can’t help but hear his voice, as though he’s reading it to you.
posted by Amber on 12-26-2007 at 10:18 am
Fantastic movie–the play’s good, too, if your local playhouse happens to run it over the holiday season. The play’s sort of a mix between the movie and the book, but if you like the movie, you’ll love the play. It explains the characters more, I think.
posted by Mikey on 12-26-2007 at 12:58 pm
I’m surprised that so few people know about the film’s sequel, “My Summer Story”. It lacks a lot of the charm (and all of the cast) of the holiday predecessor. I’ve seen it before, and it’s really not that great. It had something to do with Ralphie playing with tops or something.
posted by Austin on 12-26-2007 at 12:59 pm
Peter Billingsley is indeed friends with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. The Director’s Cut of the movie “Made” (which was made after “Swingers”) has Vaughn, Favreau and Billingsley doing narration of scenes. Billingsley was a co-producer.
posted by Thomas on 12-26-2007 at 1:48 pm
I LOVE this movie, and this year my girlfriend got the leg lamp ornament. It comes in a box that, each time you open it, has 3 different lines from that scene in the movie. She handed it to me, I opened it, and then heard “Fra-gi-le. It must be Italian!” I laughed and laughed.
The Alamo Drafthouse (in Austin, TX) was showing it this year along with a theme menu. Randy’s meatloaf muffins, Red Ryder soup, Chinese duck, and Oh Fudge and mint ice cream. I wasn’t able to go, but it sounded like a fantastic time.
posted by Sharon on 12-26-2007 at 3:10 pm
I love this movie and see it every year. It is my aunt’s favorite. She won a national chamber of commerce award at work several years ago and referred to it as her “major award”. In celebration, her hubby had a leg lamp built (before they were available online, I guess). It’s displayed in her showroom year-round and is certainly the envy of the neighborhood. It’s great to watch people walk in and see it - whether they get it or don’t, the looks are priceless.
posted by Trena on 12-27-2007 at 8:55 am
If you really want to show your Christmas Story spirit, giant 6-foot tall inflatable leg lamp lawn ornament things are available.
I proudly display my regular-size leg lamp on my night stand.
posted by caroline on 12-27-2007 at 10:48 am
Just wanted to echo Mikey - our local theater group performed the play this year, and it’s excellent.
posted by Roger on 12-28-2007 at 11:02 am
Peter Billingsley also made an appearance at Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show in San Diego. He also had a bit part in Elf as one of the head elves…
The movie is my dad’s favorite, and has of course become one of my favorites as well now over the years.
I was just in Cleveland for Christmas and we took our first ever visit to tour the Christmas Story house and met the woman who played the mean elf at the Department Store…
posted by SMc on 12-28-2007 at 5:58 pm
Well, my Red Ryder buddy did almost put his eye out…in 1958 or so. He shot against a tree, and the ricochet hit him in the canthus and got behind his eyeball, where it partially detached his retina. True story, from age 11 or so.
posted by George H. on 12-29-2007 at 4:19 pm
“Deck the Huals wit bows of horay . . .”
posted by Micky on 12-29-2007 at 11:26 pm
I don’t know about “My summer story, but there was a movie called “Ollie Hopnoodles Happy haven of bliss” —or something to that effect…Havent seen it in years, but it followed Ralphie and his family on their summer vacation to these ramshackle lake cottages. pretty funny! My family used to go to Stan & Jan’s cottages every summer in the eary 80’s in northwestern PA, brought back a lot of memories. Peter billingsly wasnt in it though, the kid that was Ralphe was….kinda eh.
posted by cygnus on 12-30-2007 at 8:10 pm
Yesterday I drove past a house with the Leg Lamp in the window. I had to stop the car, back it up and look again.
posted by boliyou on 12-31-2007 at 2:23 am
Me,my wife and five kids love watching this movie and try to watch it a few times a year.
posted by michael on 1-1-2008 at 9:04 pm
The Mom in that movie is a true MILF
posted by Rollo Jenkins on 1-5-2008 at 10:21 pm
I might add a 12th item to the list: Much of the film is a flashback.
posted by Bill Hartman on 4-11-2008 at 12:42 am