“You’ll shoot yer eye out!!”
Undoubtedly, the funniest Christmas movie ever made.
Released on Thanksgiving of 1983, A Christmas Story quickly came and went from most theaters with little fanfare. The film was released to very mixed reviews, most of them negative. I had graduated from High School that year and honestly don’t remember ever hearing a single word about the movie when it came out. I probably did not even see it for the first time until it made it onto HBO or came out on VHS.
In case you have been living in a cave (or West Virginia) and have not noticed, the film has evolved into a modern day Holiday Classic. Not even “It’s a wonderful Life”, “A Christmas Carol”, or “Miracle on 34Th Street” get the 24hr Television marathon showings at Christmas that this little film now enjoys.
We go to my Wife’s Grandmothers house for Christmas Eve dinner. A Christmas Story is on the TV in the background.
Afterwards, we go to my In-Laws house to open presents. A Christmas Story is on the TV in the background.
We get up on Christmas morning to open Santa Claus presents and stockings. A Christmas Story is on the TV in the background.
We vacation in Cancun in July, return to the Hotel Room after a hot day of laying in the sun drinking margaritas. A Christmas Story is on the TV (in Spanish) in the background.
The movie is a non-stop riot with too many classic lines and jokes to list here. Surely, like me, you have now seen or heard the movie about 12,852 times and can recite the dialogue in your sleep.
Admit it, like me, you cannot see the word “fragile” on a box without blurting out “FRAH-GHEE-LAY”….”It’s French! It’s a Major Prize! I won a Major Prize!”
What a Classic!
The film starred:
Peter Billingsley – Ralphie
Darren McGavin – Dad
Melinda Dillon – Mom
Today, Peter Billingsley is 40 and is working as an actor, producer, and director. He most recently directed the 2009 Vince Vaughn comedy “Couples Retreat”.
Sadly, Darren McGavin passed away in 2006.
The house featured in the film is located in Cleveland, Ohio and is completely restored and is open to the public as the “Christmas Story” house.
I wonder if that hideous leg lamp is in the window?…..
Oh boy!!
This movie is probably my favorite thing about Christmas! Yes, I can recite the dialog, almost word for word, and often do. It’s just funnier that way. The USA network usually plays it for 24 hours, and if I get my way, we just leave it tuned into that the whole time. There’s just not anything about this movie that isn’t funny.
This post is pretty timely, Mark. They’ve started putting up Christmas stuff out in certain stores around town already!
By: Sparrow on September 12, 2011
at 1:40 pm
Sparrow – Christmas stuff….in SEPTEMBER?????? Are they crazy??????
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 12, 2011
at 3:00 pm
loved this and as xmas is coming a great blog il be back to read some more soon xxjen
By: jennygoth on September 12, 2011
at 3:02 pm
Thank you for confirming that i have finally reached Christmas perfection. I am VERY proud to say that, despite 48-hour marathon broadcasts, I have never seen Wonderful Life, 34th Street, nor Christmas Story.
Now, if I can get Twisted Sister’s A Twisted Christmas nominated as the official album of Christmas, I can die a happy man.
So, Mark, when do you review Twisted Sister?
By: John Erickson on September 12, 2011
at 3:34 pm
No-Hio – YOu have never seen a Christmas Story? What are you? Communist???????
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 12, 2011
at 3:42 pm
Dang it, I keep tellin’ ya, I’m not a Commie – I never did Russian re-enacting. I’m a Nazi – I was a German, after all!
By: John Erickson on September 12, 2011
at 3:51 pm
No-Hio – A Nazi that has never seen A Christmas Story ….. good grief….where do you live? OHIO???
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 12, 2011
at 3:57 pm
Idiot, we who have great minds must run in circles . . . um . . . that didn’t come out quite right. My latest post carries a short entry about ol’ Scut Farkas and the “Major Prize” from C.S. . . . Boughs of Horry, Fah-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra, Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra!!!!! J.
By: J. Boudreaux on September 12, 2011
at 3:58 pm
J. Boudreaux – Hello and welcome! I swear to God….I was in South America last summer and they brought out a cooked duck….a WHOLE duck…..and the first thing that popped into my head was that song!! Fah-ra-ra-ra-rah-ra-ra-raaaaahhhhhhhh…….
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 12, 2011
at 4:01 pm
Nope, I live in a little area called Redneckania. You head east out of Columbus, then go 200 IQ points down I-70, then hang a left at the 20th century. We’re the second village on the right – just past the family tree that doesn’t fork.
By: John Erickson on September 12, 2011
at 4:11 pm
No-Hio – OK…got it….. I know to avoid that area on any future road trips to the NE……. I’m trying to keep the kid’s neck nice and white……
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 12, 2011
at 4:51 pm
Don’t forget to drink your Ovaltine! ;-D
Not a single Christmas can be rightfully called Christmas without this movie…Gosh darn it, I was kind of hoping the actor would look exactly like he did in the movie, why did he have to go and get attractive on us?
By: Classic on September 12, 2011
at 9:46 pm
Classic – I am sure he has encountered many a time when he had to tell people “But really…. I WAS Ralphie! Honest!”……..
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 13, 2011
at 7:30 am
I was just at A Christmas Story house last month and yes, they have the Leg Lamp there! We have one for our house, too – it goes in our bedroom window and is lit up every night from Thanksgiving ’til New Years.
By: Leg Lamps on September 13, 2011
at 8:26 am
The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, ALL GONE!
By: Idiot's sister in law on September 13, 2011
at 10:44 am
Great Sis-in-Law – See what watching that movie 9,000 times has done!…..you can recite entire scenes from memory!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 13, 2011
at 10:48 am
When I first met my husband, we were on a blind date and he told me his favorite movie was A Christmas Story. I said, “Oh really. Will you marry me?” We’ve been married almost 12 years. So the point of this story is: Good movie! We both know every line by heart and we do watch the marathon on TV every year, have it on in the background all day long. My kids love it now as much as I do. We even have a little Christmas Leg lamp ornament.
By: She's a Maineiac on September 13, 2011
at 3:29 pm
She’s a Maineiac – You and your husband obviously have great taste in films
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 13, 2011
at 5:02 pm
I think the only way one could not have seen this movie is to not own a TV! It took me awhile to warm up to it but now I like it.
By: Booksphotographsandartwork on September 13, 2011
at 5:15 pm