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A Christmas Story (1983)

Trailer
0:54 | Trailer
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.

Director:

Bob Clark

Writers:

Jean Shepherd (based on the novel "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" by), Jean Shepherd (screenplay) | 2 more credits »
3 wins & 11 nominations. See more awards »

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Melinda Dillon ... Mother Parker
Darren McGavin ... The Old Man Parker
Scott Schwartz ... Flick
Jean Shepherd Jean Shepherd ... Ralphie as an Adult (voice)
Ian Petrella Ian Petrella ... Randy
Tedde Moore Tedde Moore ... Miss Shields
R.D. Robb ... Schwartz
Zack Ward ... Scut Farkus
Yano Anaya ... Grover Dill
Jeff Gillen Jeff Gillen ... Santa Claus
Peter Billingsley ... Ralphie
Colin Fox Colin Fox ... Ming the Merciless (scenes deleted)
Paul Hubbard ... Flash Gordon (scenes deleted)
Leslie Carlson ... Christmas Tree Man (as Les Carlson)
Jim Hunter Jim Hunter ... Freight Man
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Storyline

Christmas is approaching and 9 year-old Ralphie wants only one thing: a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun. When he mentions it at the dinner table, his mother's immediate reaction is that he'll shoot his eye out. He then decides on a perfect theme for his teacher but her reaction is like his. He fantasizes about what it would be like to be Red Ryder and catch the bad guys. When the big day arrives he gets lots of present under the tree including a lovely gift from his aunt that his mother just adores. But what about the BB gun? Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Comedy | Family

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2005 the original home used for the exterior shots of the family home was put up for auction on eBay, and avid fan of the movie Brian Jones purchased it directly from the seller for $150,000. Jones then spent the following year restoring the home to the way it looked on screen. The exterior was completely restored and the interior was renovated to match the interior of the home shown in the movie (parts of the interior were actually filmed in a Toronto studio). On November 25, 2006, the home finally opened its doors as a tourist attraction. Jones spent close to $500,000 in preparation for this grand opening. In addition, he also purchased the house next door and converted it to a gift shop and museum dedicated to the film and the house. See more »

Goofs

When Ralphie blurts out "Schwartz" and his mom calls Mrs. Schwartz, the voice of the kid receiving the spanking on other end of the phone is not R.D. Robb, the Schwartz actor. If you listen closely, it is actually the voice of the Flick actor, whose name is, oddly, Scott Schwartz. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Ralphie as an Adult: [narrating] Ah, there it is. My house, and good old Cleveland Street. How could I ever forget it? And there I am, with that dumb round face and that stupid stocking cap. Oh, but no matter. Christmas was on its way. Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, around which the entire kid year revolved.
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Crazy Credits

Above the MGM distribution logo at the end of the closing credits is the film's title See more »

Alternate Versions

Another fantasy of Ralphie's, in which Flash Gordon faces Ming the Merciless with the help of Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun, was deleted from the final cut. (However, credits for Flash Gordon and Ming the Merciless remain in the cast list of the closing credits.) See more »

Connections

Referenced in Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

Peter and the Wolf
Music by Sergei Prokofiev
See more »

User Reviews

 
Christmas Classic
8 December 2005 | by Tommy-5See all my reviews

A Christmas Story touches my heart as does no other film, and I know the reason for this is because it reminds me so much of my own 1950's boyhood. For sure it strikes a nerve in persons of my generation. This is Bob Clark's masterpiece and I know I am not the only person who feels this way.

I am going to assume that, if you are reading this, chances are you have seen the film; indeed, probably have seen it countless times as I have. This is not a film review in the normal sense. It is more a reminiscence and appreciation of a great story captured for all time in moving pictures which, in turn, captured the essence of the time and place of its setting; that time and setting being a typical town in Indiana during Christmas season in the 1940s as we observe a typical family (the Parkers) with two young sons named Ralphie and Randy.

Most of us over the age of 50 can relate very well to the story's key elements. I recall vividly family outings to crowded downtown sidewalks, Mom and Dad squeezing in a season's worth of shopping in one day and doing it under the nose of one who had a visit to Santa Claus on his mind. Staring at the prominent HIGBEES sign in the downtown square, I could almost see the words John A. Brown in its place. Browns was the main department store in my hometown of Oklahoma City and the place where I would make my annual visit with Santa Claus.

I am sure most who have seen the film realize this is Ralphie's story, but Melinda Dillon as the typical 1940's stay-at-home mom and Darren McGavin as the grumpy but kindly father made the story work. The stove in the Parker's kitchen reminds much of the one my grandmother had, and the rest of the house reminded me of the home my other grandparents lived in. As you see, viewing A Christmas Story is always a magical experience for me. It is almost as if Mr. Clark made this film with Tom Fowler in mind.

There are so many comments to make. It will be impossible to relate them all in a short review, but here are some that I know people my age will be most familiar with:

Beautiful toys displayed in department store windows. The agonizingly long wait for toys ordered via mail and learning too late they are not quite what was expected. The excitement of buying a Christmas tree, the joy of setting it up and how much bigger Christmas trees seemed then. Neighborhood bullies who were not nearly as tough as they seemed. Ralphie wanting a BB gun more than life itself. Mom covering trouble for Ralphie to his dad, and the same mom making him eat soap for uttering words -- learned from Dad. Randy sitting underneath the kitchen sink when depressed. A panicky visit to a tired Santa. An unwanted gift from a well-meaning aunt. The furious unwrapping of gifts on Christmas morning. I could go on and on. I will make two more observations and then will sign off and let somebody else speak.

In the film's sweetest scene, we see Dad coming through for his son at the last possible moment. To see the look on young Ralphie's (ably played by Peter Billingsley) face as he unwraps his best and last gift is one of filmdom's true golden moments.

But, for me the best moment was the last. Ralphie is in bed at film's end. We see snow outside and Ralphie dreaming of his wonderful gift, as the story's author and narrator Jean Shepherd, speaking as the grown up Ralphie, realizes this was the best Christmas he ever had, or ever would have.

If you are middle age or older and have not seen A Christmas Story, you are perhaps unaware that you have cheated yourself. Buy or rent the 2003 20th anniversary DVD. It will be the best money you spend this Christmas -- or any Christmas.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. DVD site

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1983 (Canada) See more »

Also Known As:

Une histoire de Noël See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$3,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,072,473, 20 November 1983

Gross USA:

$20,605,209

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,618,717
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »

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