A Christmas Story (1983)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Bob Clark

Writers:

Jean Shepherd (novel)
Jean Shepherd (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

18 November 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Tagline:

A Tribute to the Original, Traditional, One-Hundred-Percent, Red-Blooded, Two-Fisted, All-American Christmas...

Plot:

Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940's.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | BB Gun | School | 1940s | Lamp

Awards:

2 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Melinda Dillon	...	Mrs. Parker
Darren McGavin	...	The Old Man - Mr. Parker
Peter Billingsley	...	Ralphie Parker
Ian Petrella	...	Randy Parker
Scott Schwartz	...	Flick
R.D. Robb	...	Schwartz
Tedde Moore	...	Miss Shields
Yano Anaya	...	Grover Dill
Zack Ward	...	Scut Farkus
Jeff Gillen	...	Santa Claus
Colin Fox	...	Ming the Merciless (scenes deleted)
Paul Hubbard	...	Flash Gordon (scenes deleted)
Leslie Carlson	...	Tree Man (as Les Carlson)
Jim Hunter	...	Freight Man
Patty Johnson	...	Head Elf

Runtime:

94 min | USA:93 min (20th Anniversary)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Norway:7 (original rating) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

3159 W. 11th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Company:

Christmas Tree Films

Trivia:

While reading the newspaper at the kitchen table the "Old Man" angrily mentions that the "Sox traded Bullfrog". This is a reference to long time Chicago White Sox pitcher Bill Dietrich, who's nickname was Bullfrog. He pitched during the 1930s and 1940s. Dietrich was never traded from the Sox, he was released September 18, 1946.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the early portion of the film, the space directly under the kitchen sink is wide open. Later in the film, after Ralphie's fight with Scut Farkas, Randy is found hiding in a wood enclosure below the sink with doors.

Quotes:

Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] My little brother had not eaten voluntarily in over three years.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Retarded Animal Babies (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

Family holiday fun

A Christmas story is a classic holiday film that is very funny and entertaining. This is a movie that should be viewed by everyone, and can been seen on television during thanksgiving and Christmas time. In most families, this film is already a tradition to watch every year and that's because it has a wonderful plot, great characters and believable actors.

A Christmas Story is about an average middle class family living in a small town in the 1940's. The film contains an average family of a regular husband and wife relationship and two young boys. The eldest of the boys is named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) who is the star of the film. All that Ralphie wants is to have a perfect Christmas containing the perfect gift, a Red Ryder carbon action BB gun. This is all that Ralphie can think about day and night. When Ralphie has to write a Theme about what he wants for Christmas, his teacher replies to him `you'll shoot your eye out' which seems to be the only reply to him throughout the whole film.

What makes this film so great is the ability to relate to Ralphie with his problems throughout the movie, such as wanting that one gift that everyone thinks that you're too young to have and are unable to get. The acting is very convincing and makes you think that this could even be you in the movie.

There are some very hilarious parts in this film that also make it very good. This particular scene also contains some very cheesy acting which also makes it funny. Ralphie has a dream about getting his Red Ryder BB gun and saving his family from a bunch of evil villains. In this scene Ralphie is wearing the white sparkly cowboy suit and he shoots down the evil villains and saves the day with his gun in a very unrealistic way.

There really wasn't much music that can be commented on in this movie, just that it was the orchestral type of music that was out in the time period of the 40's. The costumes where great and convincing. I also liked how real they made the 40's look. You actually think it might have been made in that time period which makes the film very authentic.

I would recommend this film to anyone who wants some holiday laughs and some great family time together. I would rate this film a 9 out of ten because it's so memorable.