Posted on 12/05/2008 11:11:43 AM PST by qam1
Fans of the holiday classic A Christmas Story are celebrating the films 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie was made.
The 1983 film, an adaptation of Jean Shepards memoir of a boy in the 1940s, was set in Indiana but largely filmed in Ohio. The movie starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
The film was a modest theatrical success, but critics loved it. It eventually joined Its a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street as a Christmas classic.
Its a film about being a kid and looking back, said Brian Jones, who owns the house where the movie was shot and the neighboring museum dedicated to the film.
About 4,000 fans attended the recent convention at Clevelands Renaissance Hotel, where they met some of the films actors, watched documentaries made about the film, and saw the original 1938 fire truck from a famous scene in the movie involving a childs tongue stuck to a frozen pole.
It is unbelievable that a movie has touched the lives of millions of families, said Phil Gillen, son of the late actor Jeff Gillen who played the movies worn-out Santa Claus. He traveled from Miami with his family to attend the convention....
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
see www.flicklives.com
Shepherd did the narration for the "Carousel of Progress" ride at the Disney parks, too. His voice is instantly recognizable.
I saw that. Ralphie grew up to be a very bright man. You work behind the camera’s for your entire life.
I love that part.
“Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. Though my personal preference was for Lux, I found that Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heavy, but with a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand... YECCHH!”
You’re not alone, I can’t see the attraction. That movie isn’t the least bit entertaining, and I have an excellent sense of humor. I sort of dread Christmas because of the constant references to this movie.
I like it, but the fact is it’s still not appropriate for kids. Thus, it’s hard for me to ever put it in “classic” category. Same as all movies these days, or most.
The father is obnoxious (cussing never mind the sexual lamp). That about sums up why this movie is inappropriate; also a few cussing from the kids.
But overall it is good.
And Peter Billingsly - LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MY BROTHER AS A YOUNG BOY. Including the glasses.
I appreciate it, but my dad is not at all like that man!
Uh, I believe it was c.1940. Before the war, and Wizard of Oz was a big deal.
You are not the only one with a problem with the cussing.
I don’t mind the “imitation” cussing, the father does, but the rotten language on some of the kids is disappointing in a family movie. However, if you watch it on TNT, they take all that out.
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I have lived nearly six decades and managed to have never stepped into a Disney park. When I was a kid we didn't have the money. When I had my own kids I wouldn't give Disney a nickel because of their politics.
Uh, that’s not his mother! 1915-1971, I don’t think so! And they’re only related by her marriage.
With us it was the steel rail on a Flexible Flyer sled that was the ‘tongue-sticking’ location. A guy from across the street (his name was Paul - now deceased) actually did it circa 1958 and yes, it did get stuck. Warm water released it. It was pretty cool.
Yea and I read the original story also. "Buncha Sunday drivers Buncha sonab******" LOL. I also liked the part about jumping on the hood of the Olds to get the solenoid to catch. That and the flat tire. Back in the mid 1960's when I was about 8 years old my dad taught me the fine art of tapping the solenoid with a hammer we kept in the 59 Rambler LOL. I learned quite a lot about working on cars when mom went somewhere in it.
And the chocolate bar in the glove box... and Fuzzhead...
If only things had turned out that way.
The neat thing about the movie is the reminiscing. You know, the “I remember that!” kind of stuff. It really takes you back to mid 1900’s Americana. I grew up in the 50’s, so much of it just hits me right. The art direction is great - the classroom, the teacher, the kitchen.
For instance, I remember the red snowsuit they jammed Randy in - only mine was blue. And when they left him behind when he yelled, “Wait up” - I had forgotten, but that was a common part of our vocabulary I haven’t used in years.
When my mom saw the little Orphan Annie decoder pin, she remembered hers. And we all remember getting our mouths washed out with soap at least once.
It’s just a great spot on remembrance of childhood as it used to be.
By the way, there was a second movie, Ollie Hopnoodle, and a third with Charles Grodin. The third was pretty bad, but the second was pretty good, if not the classic the first was. Instead of centering on Christmas, the setting is the yearly family summer driving vacation we all remember back when plane rides were a true luxury.
Different actors, but when Randy throws his “Salmon Surprise” sandwich across the highway (’I want a PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH!’, it’s pretty funny. And I remember the red plaid picnic set. Unfortunately, the movie is out of print. I think Disney now owns it.
I do remember the Disney Pavillion at the 63-64 World’s Fair in Queens. It was pretty good but I liked the Ford Pavillion better.
Yea that too. I can appreciate both the written stories {intended for adults} and the made for family movie versions. I had an uncle who grew up near Chicago and every time I read the stories I think of him. These characters were likely refinery and steel mill workers so their characters would be kinda rough around the edges.
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