A Christmas Story
There ’s no denying thatA Christmas Storyhas become a holiday tradition for many house around the populace . First released in 1983 , the film asterisk Peter Billingsley as Ralphie ; a young male child who want nothing more than a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas .
Between the fascinate storytelling , quirky character , and overall filming style , A Christmas Storyhas stood out compared to several other similarly - styled Christmas movies . Much like other movies that are involve as classics , A Christmas Storyhas a lot of fascinating trivia behind the movie that many people might not be cognisant of .
Updated on December 12th , 2022 by Colin McCormick : Every year around this prison term , myriad fan revisit A Christmas Story as one of the classic vacation movie favorites . This year , there is even more cause to keep an eye on the original as a long - awaited subsequence A Christmas Story Christmas sees the return of Ralphie and many of the beloved characters . With all the source to the original , fan may be interested in diving deeper into how A Christmas Story was made and how it became an unexpected tradition of the Christmas season .
He Didn’t Say Fudge
There are many iconic moments inA Christmas Story , but among the most popular panorama is when Ralphie say fudge . Well , Ralphie did n’t really say fudge . He said : “ The queen mother of [ bad ] Word of God . ” As it turns out , actor Peter Billingsley did n’t say fudge either .
In an interview withBuzzfeed , Billingsley excuse that he had to say this “ high-risk word ” over and over again until they acquire the correct take . While people usually do n’t hear 12 - year - olds say that Bible , Billingsley explained that since he had been in Hollywood at an early age , that was n’t the first clip he heard or said it .
Ad-Libbed Profanity
One of the comical aspect of The Old Man , and one that might be relatable to a lot of people , is his profanity tirade against the house ’s malfunction furnace . histrion Darren McGavin improvised all of his gibberish swear words in these tantrum .
Proving they are one of thebest sire - Word duos in picture show , Ralphie takes after his male parent and also has a scene where he unleashes a string of incomprehensible obscenities while beating up a bully . However , Peter Billingsley confirmed in the moving-picture show ’s commentary cart track that , unlike McGavin , all his gibberish word were script , perhaps to avoid the young worker accidentally using real profanity .
They Gave Billingsley Stuff They Really Shouldn’t Have
While many child actors are drive to grow up too fast , Billingsley had to do something on the Seth ofA Christmas Storythat no histrion should ever have to do . During the tantrum where Ralphie is firing at the bandit in his backyard , Billingsley was actually manducate on the real tobacco .
Most actor chew on black licorice to make it seem like they are masticate the same stuff Cowboys did , but the prop department onA Christmas Storygave the fry thespian something they legitimately should n’t have . Billingsley explainedthat he got really dizzy , pop sweat , and his lips start out cut on set .
The Film Was Mainly Filmed In Cleveland and Toronto
Most movies film in several different cities to get the desired scenery for barb , andA Christmas Storywas no exception . The film is think to take berth in Northern Indiana in a town called Holman , but the film was mainly film in Cleveland , Ohio and Toronto , Ontario .
The Parker residence was filmed at 3159 W. 11th St. , Cleveland , OH 44109 near downtown Cleveland . That being said , many of the interior shots of the firm and the Christmas tree shopping picture were filmed in Canada .
The House Was Turned Into A Museum
Even with its less - than - telling box office number , the legacy ofA Christmas Storycannot be denied . In fact , along with becoming a traditional viewing for that vacation time of year among many fans , it has last on in some more surprising ways .
Ralphie Teamed Up With Flash Gordon In A Deleted Scene
When a motion-picture show go through the editing mental process , many fit are cut down or even taken out all to fulfill a certain runtime . This means that sometimes , the filmmakers ' full vision does n’t make it to the big screen , but will show up in deleted fit instead .
One deleted scene forA Christmas Storywas another fancy sequence whereRalphie joins force with Flash Gordonto overcome Ming the Merciless . While the scene ca n’t be found online , theChristmas StoryMuseum in Ohio has playscript page from it , as well as an epitome of Ralphie on the planet Mongo in a spacesuit with his BB gun .
A Christmas Story Is Based On A Book
pot of times , movies are n’t technically original stories , since many of them are based on books . Much like superhero movies habituate comic book narratives to adapt pop characters , Bob Clark basedA Christmas Storyon a book written by Jean Shepherd .
The movie was based on a bookcalledIn God We Trust : All Others Pay Cash , which was a compendium of Shepherd ’s stories that he had previously tell on the radio in the ‘ 60s and ‘ 70s . The book ended up becoming a good - seller , so it should n’t be a large surprise that music director Bob Clark terminate up conform it for a pic .
The Infamous Tongue Scene Was Fake (But Is Actually Possible)
Among the most iconic scenes inA Christmas Storyis a moment when Flick , played by Scott Schwartz , is dared to stick his tongue to a wintry flagstone pole . Only it was n’t just a daring , it was a threefold dog dare , so of course , Flick had no choice but to do it .
As it turn out , the child actor did n’t in reality practice his spit because a human tongue can really get stuck to a glacial pole ! Thescene was filmedby pulling the actors tongue with a suction tube , butMythbustersproved that in cold temperature , cold alloy will basically become saliva into “ a variety of superglue . ”
Jack Nicholson Almost Played Ralphie’s Dad
Many talented actors were part ofA Christmas Story , including Darren McGavin . The actor had been acting for nearly 40 age by the timeA Christmas Storywas eject , but his function of the “ Old Man ” almost went to a much younger histrion .
Jack Nicholson almost played Ralphie ’s fatherinA Christmas Story , but ultimately , he was n’t chosen since the film producer could n’t afford to pay him the amount he requested . By 1983 , Nicholson was something of a adept , so it is n’t a surprisal that a low - budget family film could n’t afford him .
The Leg Lamp Was Inspired By A Soda Ad
The lamp was first described in item for the short story “ My Old Man and the Lascivious Special Award That Heralded the nascence of Pop Art , ” write by Jean Shepherd . Describing the lamp is one task , but actually creating a strong-arm property was a whole other account .
Nobody Knows When The Film Takes Place
Even though the film was made in the 1980s , the moving picture actually call for plaza around the 1940s . Although it is widely opine that the picture takes stead in the ‘ 40s , the exact yr is still unsung . Some multitude trust it use up place in 1941 , since Mrs. Parker mention the Bears vs Packers game that hold stead on December 14 , 1941 . Also , theOrphan Anniedecoder bowling pin is the Speed - O - Matic mannikin that discharge in 1940 .
However , the film could even be localize in 1939 , since the calendar in the kitchen put December 1st on a Friday . However , irrespective of the yr , it is a timelesscoming - of - years narrative for the holiday .
Bob Clark And Jean Shepherd Have Cameos
Today , it ’s not extremely uncommon for movies to throw in celebrity cameo . Just about every superhero movie has several celebrity cameos , but in the ‘ 80s it was a tad less common . That being said , A Christmas Storynot only sport a cameo from director Bob Clark , but from writer Jean Shepherd as well .
Shepherd is the narrator of the film , but he also shows up in the section entrepot when Randy and Ralphie are waiting to see Santa . Clark also come along in the picture show as the neighbor refer Swede , who comes outside to look at Mr. Parker ’s leg lamp .
The Snow Was Made Out Of Soap And Foam
It should n’t be a huge surprise that movies often use faux nose candy to create winter wonderlands . Not only is simulated snow easier to verify than real snow , but it is usually comfortable on the actor , since they wo n’t immobilize while redeem their melody .
However , on the set ofA Christmas Story , during the conniption where the kids meet the meanies , soap shavings and firefighter ’s foamwere used for the snow . While this believably made the actors warm , several actors have stated that it made the set incredibly slippy .
The Movie Inspired The Wonder Years
WhileA Christmas Storygot a few unpopular sequels , it didpartly inspire a pop boob tube show : The Wonder Years . This becomes seeming when witness focus on the coming - of - age theme , as well as the narration used in the show .
The show revolved around Kevin Arnold ( Fred Savage ) , who told storey of develop up in the ‘ 60s and ‘ 70s , which is well comparable to Ralphie telling the write up about that Christmas in the ‘ 40 . Peter Billingsley even play Micky Spiegel in the final two episode of the show .
Peter Billingsley Was The First Child To Audition For Ralphie
When making a picture , casting is one of the most important steps during the development of a film . If a movie make a project decision wrong , it can often weaken the full movie , but thankfully , Bob Clark choose Peter Billingsley for Ralphie .
Clark apparentlywent through thousands of youngster actors , only to pass back to the first boy who auditioned for Ralphie . Clark did n’t think he should hire the very first player that auditioned , but he terminate up ravage a lot of sentence by auditioning so many other actors . While Billingsley did n’t become as successful anadult actor as some other former child actors , he stop up having a successful producing career along with his late return as Ralphie .
The Character Scut Farkus Wasn’t In The Book
While many element from Jean Shepherd ’s novelIn God We Trust : All Others give Cashmade it intoA Christmas Story , Scut Farkus was n’t present in the book at all . Farkus ( Zack Ward ) is one of the meanie that attacks the children in the movie , but he is also accompanied by Grover Dill ( Yano Anaya ) .
While Grover was a character in Shepherd ’s book , Scut Farkus was designed specifically for the movie .
The Actor’s Reactions To The Singers Were Real
WhileA Christmas Storyhas many heartwarming scenes and secure family substance , the very end of the picture is really deal quite offensive . In one of the final scenes of the movie , the family goes to a restaurant where a Christmas duck’s egg is impart to their table .
The scene contains a group of men let the cat out of the bag “ Jingle Bells ” in a very stereotyped mode , which occur off as improbably loathsome . Despite that fact , the aspect still happened , and theactors ' reactions to the singing were genuineas Bob Clark did n’t tell any of them that the man were lead to spill the beans during the film .
Billingsley Got To Take Home Several Props
There have been several occasions where role player are allowed to take home props from motion-picture show sets they worked on . While there are several props fromA Christmas Storythat lover would love to have , actorPeter Billingsley actually got to take home three item .
These item included the famous Red Ryder BB gun , the mortifying pink bunny girl suit , and Ralphie ’s upset ice . What form this even more interesting is that the broken glasses Billingsley look at menage were n’t really a prop , they were his own glasses that broke on set .
Shepherd Disliked People Thinking It Was A Nostalgia Story
One of the things that fan seem to discover the most charming aboutA Christmas Storyisthe way the movie portrays nostalgia . Even those who did n’t grow up in this particular earned run average will probably have remembering as a child at Christmas that they relive through Ralphie ’s chronicle .
However , Jean Shepherd apparently does n’t delight that fussy scene of his story . accord toVanity Fair , he saw it as anti - slushy and a satire of consumerism . While those elements can certainly be retrieve , audiences clearly also saw a glimpse of their own childhood in the vacation tale .
The Film Had A Very Small Budget
Even though Bob Clark was a successful managing director by the timeA Christmas Storywas released , the film still had anincredibly small budget . The flick was give around a $ 3,300,000 budget , which was n’t even made back in its opening weekend .
The cinema only made $ 2,072,473 when it open up , but ended up making adomestic total grossof $ 19,294,144 . Since the film had a small budget , the film had very little special effects , meaning that the scene where the bandit has sparks come out from his behind was actually real .
Wil Wheaton And Sean Astin Auditioned For The Role Of Ralphie
While Peter Billingsley will constantly be know as Ralphie fromA Christmas Story , there were several other player who auditioned for the role . Director Bob Clark is said to have auditioned over 1,000 kids for the character , includingWil Wheaton and Sean Astin .
Wheaton is known for his use in the movieStand By Me , as well as the tv set showStar Trek : The Next coevals . Astin on the other handwriting , is known for his role in Richard Donner’sThe Goonies , as well as his office ofSam in theLord of the Ringstrilogy . While both would have likely been good in the role , nobody can supercede Billingsley as Ralphie .
Ralphie Says He Wants A Red Ryder BB Gun 28 Times
Everybody who has seenA Christmas Storyknows exactly what Ralphie want for Christmas . Ralphie wanted an prescribed Red Ryder , carbine action , two - hundred injection range model air rifle , but everybody state him that he ’ll bruise himself .
It ’s pretty surd to blank out what Ralphie wants for Christmas , since the BB hit man is such an important part of the story , and the fact that Ralphie enunciate he wants it for atotal of 28 time ! Ralphie , of course , gets his wish concede on Christmas , but he also does injure himself in the process . gratefully , those gravid glass saved his eyesight .
Locals Filled In As Extras
Usually , when films are under development , they will begin an extensive casting process to incur the right worker for the roles in the film . Sometimes , a film will pass on famous actors , and instead , just upchuck regular people . In the pillow slip ofA Christmas Story , several of theminor reference were filled in with local extras .
In the scene where Ralphie and Randy are waiting to meet Santa , Ralphie encounter a weird child wearing bounteous goggles . The son was just an surplus , but Bob Clark decided to put him in the picture show because he seem odd . Santa , his gremlin , and the Wicked Witch of the West were also all local extra .
The Movie’s Writer Would Often Try To Direct
Directors commonly are n’t the only individual on set to put their ideas into the film . Many times , director will have pushback by other gang phallus who do n’t think something is go right . ForA Christmas Story , Bob Clark no doubt did an unbelievable job directing the celluloid , but author Jean Shepherd also tried to direct the actors many time .
In an interview withVariety , Billingsley explained that both Shepherd and Clark had a specific vision for the flick and that Shepherd would often assay to direct him after Clark had walked away .
Bob Clark Thought Of The Film While Picking Up A Date
Filmmakers often have odd inspirations for why they make a film , but Bob Clark actually consider ofA Christmas Storywhilehe was picking up a date . While the motion-picture show was based on Jean Shepherd ’s bookIn God We Trust : All Others yield Cash , he actually thought of the movie idea when he try one of Shepherd ’s fib on the radio .
In 1968 , when Clark was going to pluck up his date , he became so hypnotised by Shepherd ’s story that he continued to drive around the block until the story was over , will his date wait for him .
The Success Of Porky’s Allowed A Christmas Story To Be Made
WhileA Christmas Storyis a heartwarming fib that the entire family can enjoy , Bob Clark ’s late film was not . Two year prior to the release ofA Christmas Story , Clark had released the raunchy comedycalledPorky ’s .
Even thoughPorky’sis now seen as an offensive movie that exteriorize women , the celluloid was a massive success in the ‘ 80s . The film made a mountain of money at the box office and it is wide believed thatA Christmas Storywouldn’t have been given the green - lightness if not for the success ofPorky ’s .
A Second Fantasy Scene With Black Bart Was Cut
Many scenes inA Christmas Storyare lovingly remember , but among these scene is the fantasy succession . In the conniption , Ralphie is save his family from the criminal , Black Bart , and his brigand . He uses his trusty gun for hire “ Old Blue ” to defeat the brigand , but Bart gets aside and says he ’ll be back .
Apparently , Bart really did derive back , only , it did n’t make it into the final slash of the moving picture . There was say to be asecond fantasy episode orb around Black Bart , but much like that delete scene with Flash Gordon , fan never gravel to see it .
All Three Leg Lamp Props Were Broken On Set
Since the leg lamp has become such an iconic image not just forA Christmas Story , but Christmas in general , many hoi polloi would be intimate to have their own lamp for the holiday season . Many actors likely would have liked to take the original leg lamp home from the set as well , but that never pay back to happen sinceall three leg lamp props were brokenon readiness .
After Jean Shepherd cerebrate of the idea for one of his unforesightful account , product designer , Reuben Freed , created three lamp that were used in the film , but none of them survived the production .
NEXT:10 Behind - The - Scenes fact About A Christmas Story Christmas
