Darren McGavin, who was always a favorite of mine, is PERFECT as the dad in A Christmas Story. My old man used to fight the furnace and haggle with the Christmas tree salesman just like that!
BTW, did anyone see the follow-up to A Christmas Story, “It Runs in the Family”? It wasn’t exactly a sequel, but it was about the same family and based on another of Jean Shephard’s stories.
In any case, it was a real stinker. None of the original actors, IIRC, were involved. Darren McGavin’s role was played by Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen played the mom, and Ralphie and his little brother were played by a couple of the Culkin brothers. Pee-YEW!
In any case, it was a real stinker. None of the original actors, IIRC, were involved. Darren McGavin’s role was played by Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen played the mom, and Ralphie and his little brother were played by a couple of the Culkin brothers. Pee-YEW!
Yep, that one sucked. Somewhat better was The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters. The only big casting mistake was Ralphie (Matt Dillon!). That film actually predates A Christmas Story by a half-year or so. It's worth a look, if you can find it (maybe on BitTorrent download), if only for the Dago Bomb segment.