A Christmas Story - 25 Behind the Scenes Facts
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- Опубліковано 9 гру 2018
- In this video about A Christmas Story, I'm going to share with you 25 behind the scenes facts about how this enduring holiday classic was made.
CLARIFICATIONS:
- Peter Billingsley was actually 12 years old during filming, but in the DVD audio commentary he mentioned he was 13, so that number was used in good faith that Peter would remember his own age correctly.
- All exterior shots of the house were filmed in Cleveland, but it should be noted that some other exterior scenes were filmed on location in Canada.
- The word "mall" was used out of habit due to the cultural association in America with Santas and shopping malls, but to be more accurate they filmed the Santa scene at an old department store called Higbee's.
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For clarifications on facts #2 and 5, please check out the details I left in the descriptions.
That fight scene looks like queen st TTC street car hub in Toronto..
You forgot one thing, when Ralphie tackled Scott into toe snow, the snow was actually mashed potatoes (no kidding)
I always feel that the best part of this movie was how excited Dad was when Ralphie gets the bb gun. Dad was the only person that Ralphie didn't ask for it, give him the dreaded "You'll shoot your eye out" line and only one who listened to him despite not saying a word to Ralphie.
You got that right......that was something him and his dad shared.....dads always seem to be so intimidating to you, but when you find out theyre on your side, can be the feeling he got, like what he said, it was his best Christmas gift ever, and isnt it amazing, from the guy he feared the most....
Dads somehow always know 😗
@@charliewerchan7252 Ralphie remembers his father's gift to him in the new movie "A Christmas Story Christmas".
This has become one of my family's favorite Christmas 🎄 movies 🎬.
Christmas is not Christmas without this movie. One of the greatest Christmas movies of all time
My family hates me at Christmas because I keep the TV on TNT for the Christmas Story 24 hour marathon. It ain't Christmas if this movie isn't on the TV!!!
@@e.b.1728 That's hilarious because I would do exactly the same thing LOL
I so agree, this is a real Christmas classic movie
@Michael Richmond Jr oh no. Well I guess everyone has their preference. Happy holidays
@Michael Richmond Jr oh I'm sorry.
I'm glad they didn't use Nicholson. Darren McGavin was perfect for that role.
Crazy how that works out. Like they didn't want to use Ed O'Neil for married with children and that worked out too. Funny how that stuff works out.
Agreed
agreed
Yeah, but how cool would it have been to see Nicholson in the scene where he says, "You used up all the glue...ON PURPOSE!"
If Jack had done the part, it would've turned into a Christmas version of The Shining...
Think of how many kids would've had Christmas induced PTSD...
I love Jack Nicholson but Darren McGavin was absolutely perfect as the Old Man. He was hilarious, intimidating, relatable, & a very loveable character. Bob Clark has even said that even though Nicholson was interested in the script, McGavin was always his first choice.
I agree, I love Jack too but I feel he might've stolen every scene. He has such a powerful presence!
I agree that Darren McGavin was perfect. At the time, I think audiences still associated Nicholson with "The Shining" (it came out 3 years prior) and would have found him too intense and dark for the role.
Also, if Nicholson was in it, you wouldn't see the old man, you would see Jack Nicholson.
Also, Nicholson seems sneering in most movies, whereas McGavin captured the firm but fair father more.
I agree 💯 I can't imagine Jack Nicholson playing the old man.
Yes he's a great actor but he doesn't fit the part.
RIP Darren McGavin 🙏
@@morganwildwood6168 Nicholson would've sucked. Too over the top.
I love how Darren McGavin scats instead of using real swear words. It just makes this movie more awesome.
Botta-feengahhh!!!!
B Laws 😂😂😂 Wouldn’t it be swell if that was all that came out of deniro’s mouth, in all his movies?
@@blaws6684 not a finger
Listen when the furnace has a klinker. He cusses jibberish through the whole movie though
Not a finger? Noddafingah!
For years I’ve thought Peter did such a great job acting/crying when he gets hit with the snowball and now I understand why. Such a great scene!
You forgot one of my favorites: In that last scene at the Chinese restaurant, the Mother screams and laughs when she sees the duck still has its head. That was a real reaction from the actress as Bob Clark chose to leave her in the dark about the gag in order to capture her surprise when she saw the head for the first time. It works so well.
Another fun fact: the mom, when the duck head was cut off, hwr reaction was real and she had no idea that it was in the script. Everyone else knew about it, though.
I watch this movie every year at night on Christmas Eve with my family! And we are about to watch it right now!
Our family too, it’s a tradition for us to watch the first one at 8:00
Merry Christmas!
Yea🎄
I've been to the actual house in Ohio where parts of the film were made.
Me too,every year
Darren McGavin was my favorite in this movie. His expressions were priceless!
Hahaha...I never noticed the Chinese restaurant owner hiding his face in the caroling scene until you pointed it out.
tomshiba51 Me either! 😂
@@juliefuraitor5610 I noticed it, but I thought he was just putting his hands on his face in embarrassment. I like this better. A better time when nothing was offensive and people could all take a joke.
C Ramirez Exactly. People are too PC today. Can’t take a joke without getting triggered.
tomshiba51 it’s even better: The asian actors who played the restaurant workers in this scene actually ad-libbed much of their own script, and came up with much of their own “broken english” mispronounced song lyrics for the Carols. They had such a fun time doing it that they asked if there was going to be a sequel they could be in.
Sean Halloran 😂
Love this movie. Even though I've seen it countless times, I must watch it at least once every Christmas. I hope Hollywood never feels the need to remake this classic! Hard to believe it's almost Christmas 🎄
Jeremiah Allyn there’s a a sequel ralphie gets a car in part 2
@@MADMAX-vd8pr I knew that. I meant I hope they don't update the original movie with new actors, and CGI, all that unnecessary crap.
The live musical from last year sucked.
There was a re-make of this film. It was too terrible for words.
@@sb4040 It was not a remake, but an "unofficial sequel" not really based on the original. In other words, it was not based on Jean Shepherd's work.
The fact that Peter Billingsley still has the pink bunny suit is crazy
Wouldn't you keep it if you had the chance? I sure would!
I wonder if he made his kids wear it every year. What a family heirloom
Fun fact...I lived in Cleveland during the filming and my neighbor across the street had his '40 (or '41, can't remember) Ford in the movie. He was paid $25 a day to park his car on the street.
this is my favorite Christmas movie, and I wouldn't have wanted anything changed....thank you Darren McGavin for being the old man...you were the best one in it.
My husband loves everything Randy says in this classic. “Hey kid…”. “I can’t get up! “. He especially loves Randy’s laugh when Ralphie comes downstairs in the bunny pajamas 🤣🤣🤣
Weird department store kid is priceless.
For 30 years, I thought that it was a GIRL !! It turns out that the kid with the aviator goggles is a boy.
There are countless little nuances to this movie, including this kid, that's what makes it so great!
@@jsivco3sivco785 In the book it's a girl though.
I was a kid in the 80's and my parents got this movie on vhs to watch with my grandparents. They would roar with laughter at this movie. My granddad would be holding his stomach in pain with tears running down his cheeks. I never got the humor. I was too young. I avoided the movie somehow for another 20 years. When i watched it again i couldn't control myself laughing so hard. What's so funny is there is nothing zany or outlandish here. It's too close to reality. I'm convinced the leg lamp had to have happened in real life. You can't make that stuff up. And i can't remember how many times in my life hearing "don't shoot an eye out." gene shepherd really captured a treasure of americana here. Yeah, and i remember my mom going to bat for me when i got into a fight at school one day. I knew i was going to get a whooping when he got home and i waited for his car to pull-in. Mom never said a word.
Fun stories. Thanks for sharing!
my mom is the only person I know who does not like this movie,
William B lol and my dad. He hates this movie. How could anyone not get the humor?!
True story, we would watch this movie every Christmas and everyone but my dad loved it. We could never understand why he got real quiet and left the room without saying a word when Ralphie broke his glasses. Fast forward to twenty years later when he goes in for laser surgery on his eyes to remove cataracts. The doctor asks him, "By any chance did you ever have an eye injury as a child? There was old scarring we were able to repair, but couldn't explain." Dad answers sheepishly, "I might have shot myself in the eye with a bb gun when I was 10." Apparently, he'd been hiding that fact from everyone for over 50 years.
paperdain, too much... sorry, but I had to laugh!!
The mom scream at the end when the duck's head gets chopped off was one of the best parts of the movie.
really? the best, you're more weird than the kid in the department store
"Deck the halls with bows of horry. Ra ra ra ra rah...." That Chinese restaurant scene slays me every year I watch it.
Imagine being the guy who got cast as the weird kid because he was actually weird
It’s like the Banjo inbred hillbilly kid from Deliverance! I believe they found him out of random working at some place in Georgia, and liked him cause he naturally looked like an inbred hillbilly, lol. He got the job, and is still stoked on it! There’s a few interviews on UA-cam of him talking about his experience. Being the weird kid can pay off 🤪
No wonder that scene was so authentic!! Everyone has a weird kid experience! 😂
I always wondered who tf that kid was. I never got why he was in the movie but it was bizarrely uncomfortable & hilarious
that is my dad!!!!!!!!!
@@laurensvoboda5960 does he ever randomly turn to you and say "I like Santa..." or "I like the Wizard of Oz...I like the Tin Man"?
Who's ready for the 24 hour marathon?!! I know I am.
I love it 😊
My mom just loves it! 🌲🛷🎄🎅🏼🤶🏼⭐️
I am. I look forward to seeing it every year....I love that movie!
they sure will do that too i have it on dvd
On TBS
Can't wait for Christmas eve on TBS....24 hours of A Christmas Story!!!
I can't wait either!!! I love watching A Christmas Story at least twice on Christmas Eve.
@VuDuVampirNinjaWitch That's awesome! Sounds like a nice tradition.
Yep...it stay's on the entire time! Do NOT touch my channel ;)
@@sportsygirl8 Me too.:-):-DI watch it 3 or 5 times in a row.:-):-D:-O
@@kareneastman9695 WOW! Sounds like you stay up pretty late watching. My streak was 2 and 1/2 times before I was tired and ready for bed.
Aw, the scene where Ralphie beats up on Scott is great because his sadness feels so genuine. I always tear up when his mom comes and stops the fight and he cries. ❤️
Reminds me of the first time I ever got into a fight at 5 or 6. I can relate so HARD with this whole movie.
30 or so years to finally own it on DVD was well worth the wait.
Probably one of the few movies that was a classic the day it first hit theatres. Watching this I still crack up.
My favorite scene is when Ralphie gets the boot from Santa.
And need I say it? EXCELLENT VIDEO. The 1st "behind the scenes" video where I didn't already know the "facts" beforehand.
Ahhhh. Back in a time, long ago and far away when people had a sense of humor.
It always amazes me when I hear that this or that actor was not the director's first choice, yet now we can't imagine the film without them. I think I'm becoming a fan of second choices.
After all my years of watching this movie I never realized the bearded man was Jean Shepherd!
Thee best Christmas movie ever. We luv watching it in Wakanda.
You're absolutely right! They'll never top this one and that's okay with me!
My teacher was Peter’s date to his senior prom. She always brags about it every Christmas season.
Lol. Her claim to fame that she’ll never let anyone else live down.
This has to be one of the most iconic movies of all time I love to watch it and it never gets old
Thanks for sharing Gary. It definitely is a classic.
I first remember Peter Billingsley as "Messy Marvin" in the Hershey chocolate syrup commercial.
I didn't even see this movie for a few years after it came out but it instantly became my favorite Christmas movie. I think it's because it reminds me so much of an old-time Christmas when I was a kid in the 70's. Where I grew up looked extremely similar to this movie.
Absolutely love this movie. My all time favorite Christmas movie. I not only own the deluxe edition DVD, I make sure I watch it on the loop on TBS every Christmas. My wife and daughter are lukewarm to it. Also, the house in Cleveland is now a tourist attraction and the owners make it look like the house, inside and out. Sadly, I had forgotten it was there on my trip to Ohio in 2012.
Thanks for sharing Studa!
I never knew the exact year the movie was set in, but I noticed while watching it last night during the marathon that the year 1940 was on Ralphie's decoder. My mom told me that Wizard of Oz was released in 1939 and after checking Google, I was right.
I learn something new every Christmas regarding A Christmas Story. Such a classic!
The dogs stealing and eating the turkey was one of the funniest scenes ever.
I feel bad that's a real dog fight they instigated. I'm a dog expert.
"Sunsabeechin Bumpases!" 😂
The music makes it even funnier
That would be something my four dogs would do. And they're not hound dogs! 😂
@@melissacooper4482
My sister's Dachshund did something similar: she ate nearly half a pot roast that was sitting on the dining room table while my folks were outside. She didn't eat again for nearly a week.
My family watches this movie right after Thanksgiving dinner. Sort of an official start to the holiday season.
Jean Shepard always made cameos, as well as narrated all of movie adapted stories.
Our all time favorite Christmas movie! The first watch of the year is Thanksgiving Day... 10 more days, I can’t wait!!
How did I never notice the guy laughing at the restaurant? lol. I need to watch this movie soon. Nostalgia.
That’s part of the fun of doing these videos is the nostalgia trip. I’m glad you enjoyed it Kai.
I've seen this movie since I was a kid. I have never notices. Lol
I always thought it was scripted cringing at the terrible singing. That's exactly how a Chinese person would probably sing that song.
I never noticed the laughing either even though I've been watching the 24 hour marathon of it from Christmas Eve to Christmas night for years
I love this movie, it brings childhood memories and it has become a classic up there with the sand lot for all of us 80s kids!!!
I just realized, with a sudden feeling of sadness, while enjoying your video that I failed to observe my yearly tradition of watching this most wonderful masterpiece of a film for the very first time in the handfuls of years since it first appeared on television a lifetime ago.
It might still be on....On demand.....if you have it.....its not to late
One of my favorite Christmas Eve traditions, watching this movie and eating brownies.
FRA-GEE-LEE....must be Italian...😎
I always read 'fragile' that way, now
@@danielschneider1504 Then I say "hmm must be Italian".
@@danielschneider1504 Everybody I know, including myself, reads it that way now.
No honey, I think that’s says “fragile.”
8^{}
P.S. my grandfather was EXACTLY like a father - and I miss him so much - a big kid!
This became the best movie ever for Christmas!
" Its a major award "
Yeah but what IS it???
"Frah-gee-lay. It must be Italian."
I am watching this tonight because me and my family watch it every Christmas Eve Edit: thanks never had this many likes
Daniel Treadwell now that’s funny!!
I still crack up at this movie. Love it.
my mom is the only person I know who does not like this movie, can't understand why
@@bigwillietheb I knew someone that didn't like it because the Adults acted over the top. I reminded him that the Movie is filmed from the perspective of Ralphie. So you see them as Ralphie saw them not as they really were.
Shocking how many people have no idea this movie exists. I've watched it every year at least once since 1988.
This was an extremely enjoyable video. Thank you. I don't know of any other Christmas movie that lends itself so well to an annual 24 hour marathon. No matter where you pop in, you're sitting there to watch.
As if I needed anymore reasons to love this movie. ❤️❤️ It’s just perfect.
Can’t wait till the day after thanksgiving all the Christmas movies are coming out in my house first one up of course A CHRISTMAS STORY can’t get enough of it🎅🏻🎄
..why wait?!?..:D
I had been a Jean Shepherd fan for years before this movie came out. I had been listening to him on WOR since the mid 1960s, and had read his books. I already knew all of the stories which Shep spun into the script for the movie. I liked the movie too, and the fact that Shep was the narrator. I highly recommend it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. Jean Shepherd was probably the greatest humorist of the 20th century. I say humorist, not comedian, but humorist, in the vein of Mark Twain. He was a consummate story teller, who could keep you spellbound and amused by his tales.
A Chritmas Story is a great film, but merely the tip of the Iceberg when it comes to Jean Shepherd. Jean was an amazing storyteller and writer. I grew up listening to him tell stories on radio as my parents used to tune in his show every night. He also made several PBS specials which are well worth looking up.
Oh yeah, if you look up Jean Shepherd's WOR shows...the funniest ones actually were his days in the Army.
everybody should read and listen to his works.
One of the best Christmas movies ever
I watch this movie every December 🤣
Darren McGavin was a fine actor with no limitations except one: he could not exit a scene without being hysterically funny. Him going out of the shot- always with some determined purpose- is just priceless. The Old Man forever.
And how did no one discover until 1983 how brilliant he was with kids?
Honestly everyone was brilliantly cast. It’s flawless
Darren McGavin was perfect, in his part. Jack Nicholson - I’m glad he wanted too much money.
Jack Nicholson is into dark movies 🎥
Jack Nicholson being in this would have been as bad a miscast as if Gene Hackman had played the dad in "The Brady Bunch" (he was first choice for the role).
@@dhenderson1810 Yes, to both commenters. He (Jack) did make some movies of endearment, but as you mention, is a dark character. He sealed that with the shining. My comment was meant to highlight, Darren McGavin. I always enjoyed his characters.
@@buckjohnson1119 Oh, McGavin is great in this. Missed him in "A Christmas Story Christmas" ( but then, he had passed in real life, so couldn't have been in it anyway).
I love his outbursts with the radiator, and he was the one who got Kevin the BB Gun, even though he was the only adult he didn't mention it too.
Now that's what I call fun facts. Love a Christmas story movie.
I look forward to the 24 hour marathon every year.
Was it released in the movie theaters in America? It's weird it is completely unknown outside America if it was.
@@ticketyboo2456 not sure
Everybody should read Shepard’s short stories. Fabulous writing. This movie has parts of his stories. I used to read his stories every year for 10 years. That is how good they are.
He would always refer to “the old man” and I always associated it with my dad. As I got older I realized that I am the “old man” now
Such a classic. Unforgettable!
Looking closely, I notice Persol has very similar eyeglasses in their line of products.
I always wondered how they made his tongue stick to the pole. A vacuum, genius!
This Is my favorite Christmas movie
Nice! I'm glad that I could give you some facts about your favorite.
The school in this movie was my grandpa's
TheXWarrior No way? Really? A lil info please. Ty.
I'm watching this Christmas classic right now.
I LIVE for this movie. It just would not be Christmas without it.
"It was ...Soap.. Poisoning"
Merry Christmas to everyone! Happiness, health & prosperity in the New Year!
The goggle kid freaked everyone out even parents....Best movie ever though!!
That Chinese restaurant scene still kills me. My whole family sings it when it comes on.
I watch this over and over and over from Christmas Eve to day after Christmas ....love it ...
Merry Christmas , Happy New Year
Same to you Jill!
The woman who played the mom was not told about anything about the scene in the restaurant with the cooked goose so her reactions are real
She appears topless in the movie Slapshot with Paul Newman. I watched it years later after watching A Christmas Story a million times and remember thinking "Oh my God! Thats Ralphies mom....and she is hot!"
I heard that too about that scene. She wasn't told about chopping off the ducks head. Awesome authentic reaction!!!
26
Ironic that Melinda Dillion during filming was 43yrs old (10/13/1939 and Darren McGavin was 61yrs old (5/7/1922) Ralphie is supposed to be 9yrs old so The Old Man and Mother weren't youngsters when Ralphie was Born...LOL ! R.I.P. Darren McGavin (1922-2005)
Daniel Treadwell not anymore!!
I love this movie. Every year, Christmas Eve 8pm - Christmas Day 8pm it’s on TV (24 hours straight) I try to watch every showing. Drives my wife and other family members nuts (that’s kind of why I do it). Christmas Day I mute the sound, change the channel for football, eat supper with family, then watch the 8pm showing. 4. years ago my wife bought me a Red Rider daisy for Christmas. I cried.😂
As a kid, for some reason I thought my family was one of the few weird ones that actually watched this show. I guess it didn't really occur to me that it was broadcasting to every city all over the US. lol
1,476 times I have watched this movie, IMO its the perfect Christmas movie.
I ❤️A Christmas Story!!
This and Christmas vacation are my favorite Christmas movies
Btw please do Christmas vacation
2:23--Nice dramatic effect! ("What, are you gonna cry now?")
Fun Fact #26 - The house used for the movie in Cleveland has been restored to how it appeared in the movie (even the interior which was hardly used for filming)and is open to visit year round. You can purchase an authentic leg lamp there as well!
"I like santa." "I like the Wizard of Oz." "I like turtles."
LOVE this movie...and as a Torontonian, I knew that was my city (the old red street cars, which use to be used until the 60’s, were a dead giveaway)!
Sounds like you know your city well!
The restaurant scene.. the duck..it’s smiling at us then whack of comes it’s head is absolutely gold.
Jack Nicholson?.... No way, sorry, he could never play the “Old man”.
His role would’ve been a very different character for sure!
Fun Fact Films this remind me of home alone lmao haha my older brother did that too 🤣 when he was in middle school lol 1:08 this is my favorite movie and home alone
11-14-19
He probably could, but wouldnt be funny enough bc hes too serious type.
Much filmed in my hometown of Cleveland where there is a museum now in the house. I lived a few blocks from the school they showed.
Never miss this on TBS every Christmas..hope to go see the house someday.
Me too. My sister went last month but didn't get any interior shots just the outside.😢
This is the greatest holiday movie.
Aww fudge!
Turkey Man “Only I didn’t say fudge. I said “the” word, the big one, the Queen Mother of dirty words, the f-- word” lol!
Turkey Man i
My neighbor’s display a full size replica of the leg lamp in their front window every year for Christmas lol!
So do I.
Greg Coates 😎
I LOVE this movie...my favorite!
A humorous movie, no doubt about that. Nice to know some of the stories, behind the production of this classic.
Jack Nicholson as the old man would have "killed Ralphie" for saying the F dash dash dash word. And he would have used a croquet mallet.
😂💀
he would use an axk and yell out heeere's johnny
"Fudge!"
"Mall scene." It's a department store!
Every Christmas, I LOVE watching this movie. It just brings out the true meaning of the Holiday spirit and SOOOO MANY GREAT MEMORIES!! Plus this year marks the 35th anniversary of this movie which is SO HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE. I've ALWAYS liked Peter Billingsley. He played an EXCELLENT "Ralphie"!! I also thought that Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin did a GREAT job playing parts in the movie also. One of the BEST movies during the Holiday season.
What a pleasure it was to be a kid in them days.
Interesting facts! This has always been one of my favorite Christmas movies. Thanks for sharing this!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed my work.
@@FunFactFilms It was the first time I've seen your channel's videos in my timeline, had to check it out. I subbed and will check out more soon. Have a good one.
Its a tradition in my house to eat chinese on xmas because of this movie.
@Daniel Treadwell we leave your mom at mom,so no.
HMW USA Nothing wrong with that, Chinese food is hard to beat, Damn good!
I’ve been to the house. I’ve met skut too. I said hey ur eyes aren’t yellow ?! He says nope never were. lol. Nice guy. Got a pic of him and my boy.