Posted on 12/24/2008 8:31:13 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
Curiosity about the behind-the-scenes stories and locations where director Bob Clark shot his cult holiday classic 'A Christmas Story' has inspired a documentary by two diehard fans of the film.
Tyler Schwartz and Jordie Smits spent the past two years researching, interviewing and filming the documentary Road Trip for Ralphie, a chronicle of their travel to the film's locations.
Filmed in Ohio and in Ontario, the 1983 original continues to appeal to audiences today. "It's so funny. It's so down to earth," Smits told CBC News on Tuesday morning.
"It's a real story about a family at Christmas time. It's not idealized in any way," she said.
The two had long heard local lore about the nearby locations, like Toronto and St. Catharines, Ont., where the film was shot. They decided to find out exactly where and see if they could still track down artifacts dating from the film shoot.
"We had so much great fortune," Schwartz said, including discovering the actual school where scenes were shot — just days before it was slated to be gutted.
Officials allowed the duo to remove the chalkboard shown in the film and recreate the "tongue stuck to the frozen pole" scene outside.
The two filmmakers would eventually go on to track down the fire truck featured in the movie (still proudly owned by a firehouse in the village of Chippawa, Ont.) as well as a treasure trove of Christmas Story costumes stuffed inside a Toronto warehouse.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Based on a story by Gene Shepherd. Shepherd was a national treasure.
I love this movie. Watching it has become a family tradition. Merry Christmas Freepers!
Where’s Flick? Has anyone seen seen Flick?
Jean Shepherd. A Hammond, Indiana native.
“Ohhhhhh.....fuddddgggge” as the lug nuts fall into the deep snowbank.
And Lifebuoy causes blindness ;)
Director Bob Clark and his son sadly killed in a car accident earlier this year.
He used to write a lot of great stories for Playboy. At least that’s what somebody told me once.
Bttt
Agree. This one and ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. The two best Christmas movies at this house.
Many of the exteriors were shot in downtown Cleveland. I recognized the old Higbee’s building. I love seeing that movie.
I did that once. No one was around. Left a patch of tongue on the pole.
To the list of "must view annually" Christmas movies, I would add Miracle on 34th Street (the original, not the re-make) and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
My favorite Christmas movie EVER.
Loved it when it came out, still love it and my kids love it. Gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Required Christmas watching along with Lethal Weapon, and Die Hard...the other must see Christmas Movies. :)
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What a voice Shepherd had. I read that he narrated the movie.
Roger that. Visited Higbees often with my aunt and grandmother who had their theatrical booking office in the old Hippodrome Building on Euclid.
My uncle was Security Director for the Midland, Guild Hall and Republic Buildings (the structures at the base of the Terminal Tower).
Been gone for 40 years but STILL miss that old lake (and the fresh water it contains).
Merry Christmas to you too!
And God bless us all.....
I love it too, and it's also a tradition in my house. Merry Christmas to you too!
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Dr. Scarpetta