Thank God Jack Nicholson turned down the "old man" part, Darren McGavin stepping in to be the perfect father. He was a priceless part of the best Christmas movie ever.
The Old Man has been played by several actors as has the Mother. Charles Grodin and Mary Steenburgen in My Summer Story (It Runs in the Family). I forgot who played the couple on the 4 PBS American Masters movies...but they were good too. McGavin is my favorite though, but Steenburgen was my favorite Mother. Julie Haggerty played it in the coming home movie a couple of years ago. She did a great job.
Where did the time go? I actually watch it every Thanksgiving evening, until then I don't pay attention to the stores who have been pushing Christmas since before Halloween. This marks the official start for me. (I was 21, where did the time go? Lol )
I think the reason Billingsley's ability to be so natural on screen was because he didn't think of himself as a "star." He just walked into whatever production he was a part of, very naturally hit a home run, and continued on to the next project. No ego, no bravado, just a normal kid.
He really is because a buddy if mine said he met him at a christmas story reunion at a comic con in pittsburgh and he told peter billingsley how much a christmas story means to him because my friend use to watch it with his dad who is sadly deceased and my friend said peter billingsley was gracious enough to talk to him for awhile after the comic con was over. So, I completely agree he was a humble child back then and he still is today as an adult.
They created believable magic with such simple creative materials and craft. This is my favorite Christmas movie....well, one of them. One of three. I didn't watch it this year, too much going on. I think it's time to watch it again this weekend.😊❤️🎄
The release of the movie vs now, and the making of the movie vs the time it was set in (1939 per the calendar) are now only about 2 years apart. Amazing.
Fun fact: the recently late Melinda Dillon, Ralphie's mom, was born in 1939. In just 2 years, this movie will be the same age as Melinda was when it first released.
I was 13 at the time and have no memory of this being released. I did see Light of Day in 87 at the Brookgate movie theater and totally remember MJFox being in town and on the news.
Top 3 favorite christmas movies of all-time 1. Bad santa 2. Christmas vacation and 3. A christmas story i watch those 3 movies religiously all christmas eve and all christmas day.
IF THEY ONLY COULD HAVE KNOWN AND WAITED TO FILM THIS MOVIE THE VERY NEXT WINTER OF 83/84 ,THERE WAS REAL COLD SNOW AND ICE OVER THAT AREA AND MUCH OF THE COUNTRY!
In 1988, the rights of the movie were sold to the -.Turner network. They bought 50 films from the studio and this film was tossed in the 50 films as a throw away. This did make a profit, but it wasn't a block buster. "It's a wonderful life was sold for a small sum in the 70s. Then, given to tv channels for little Money but asking for some money from advertising. . This was used as a filler for poor viewing spots.
Thank God Jack Nicholson turned down the "old man" part, Darren McGavin stepping in to be the perfect father. He was a priceless part of the best Christmas movie ever.
@@freemarketjoe9869 A Shining Christmas Story
I can't see anyone except Darren as the Old Man. I think Jack Nicholson would have been too sarcastic for the part but Darren was just right.
The Old Man has been played by several actors as has the Mother. Charles Grodin and Mary Steenburgen in My Summer Story (It Runs in the Family). I forgot who played the couple on the 4 PBS American Masters movies...but they were good too.
McGavin is my favorite though, but Steenburgen was my favorite Mother. Julie Haggerty played it in the coming home movie a couple of years ago. She did a great job.
I'm 37, it's been 40 years that this came out. We are getting old.
I went to see the movie Thanksgiving Day with family in 1983.
Where did the time go? I actually watch it every Thanksgiving evening, until then I don't pay attention to the stores who have been pushing Christmas since before Halloween. This marks the official start for me. (I was 21, where did the time go? Lol )
I think the reason Billingsley's ability to be so natural on screen was because he didn't think of himself as a "star." He just walked into whatever production he was a part of, very naturally hit a home run, and continued on to the next project. No ego, no bravado, just a normal kid.
I love how sweet and humble Billingsley was. Most child actors/actresses today are way too cocky. They'd yell "I'm the star!"
We still enjoy it on Christmas day. It is a loveable Christmas movie.
Greatest Christmas Movie of all time,I think so…
Not many movies can entertain the entire family at once.
Peter was such a humble child for not letting being a star in a huge hit affect his ego
Wasn't his reaction so sweet when the reporter told him he thought he was a star?
He had the perfect Ralphie attitude! Not greedy, but really ambitious.
He really is because a buddy if mine said he met him at a christmas story reunion at a comic con in pittsburgh and he told peter billingsley how much a christmas story means to him because my friend use to watch it with his dad who is sadly deceased and my friend said peter billingsley was gracious enough to talk to him for awhile after the comic con was over. So, I completely agree he was a humble child back then and he still is today as an adult.
He was awesome.
They created believable magic with such simple creative materials and craft.
This is my favorite Christmas movie....well, one of them. One of three.
I didn't watch it this year, too much going on.
I think it's time to watch it again this weekend.😊❤️🎄
The release of the movie vs now, and the making of the movie vs the time it was set in (1939 per the calendar) are now only about 2 years apart. Amazing.
VERY INTERESTING OBSERVATION!...I DO SAME THING MUCH OF THE TIME WITH TV SHOWS AND MOVIES!!
Fun fact: the recently late Melinda Dillon, Ralphie's mom, was born in 1939. In just 2 years, this movie will be the same age as Melinda was when it first released.
I love this movie. I watch it every year in December. ❤️👍🏻😀
I enjoyed the behind the scenes.
Leon was great in his narration!
I noticed that too. His narration here was exceptional.
It’s nice to see behind the sences footage. Of a Christmas story after all these years
Where we all learned to say Fragil'e in Italian (fragile to those not in the know... with mind powers)
Peter Billingsley is the perfect Ralphie Parker. They chose wisely.
And fun fact: peter billingsley was the first kid that auditioned for the role of ralphie.
I was 13 at the time and have no memory of this being released. I did see Light of Day in 87 at the Brookgate movie theater and totally remember MJFox being in town and on the news.
Peter Billingsley had a small part in the movie Elf. Thank you for making part two. As Jean Sheppard would say; Flick Lives!
She is so right, Leon would be a fantastic narrator!
Top 3 favorite christmas movies of all-time 1. Bad santa 2. Christmas vacation and 3. A christmas story i watch those 3 movies religiously all christmas eve and all christmas day.
Still the best Christmas Story ever told in motion pictures!
So it's now been 41 years since the making of this movie, but it was only 37 years between A Christmas Story and It's A Wonderful Life.
Holy Crap! Leon Bibb is still a reporter in Cleveland? I remember him from back in the day…he is now part of Cleveland history for me.
My favorite Christmas movie
I’m around the same age as PB. He did a ton of commercials….especially on Saturday mornings he played a character called Messy Marvin.
I loved Darren Mcgavin in everything he did,but A Christmas Story was his shining glory!Rest in peace to him and Melinda Dillon.❤❤
He was one cute kid. And pretty smart too!
There is hours of behind the scenes footage, we need a documentary on this film.
If only Peter knew what would become of this movie. hahah He is more than a star, he is a house hold name
Peter Billingsley seems to have always been in my life. Some of my earliest memories involve being called Messy Marvin.
IF THEY ONLY COULD HAVE KNOWN AND WAITED TO FILM THIS MOVIE THE VERY NEXT WINTER OF 83/84 ,THERE WAS REAL COLD SNOW AND ICE OVER THAT AREA AND MUCH OF THE COUNTRY!
The narrator nailed it!
Great movie 😂
The real Ralphie Parker narrating always made the film great too.
Jean Shepard
Neat. Thanks
Star. He was already Messy Marv for Nestles and a fixture on Real People. ❤
Hershey's chocolate syrup.
What a smart kid .
I was not born yet until 3 years later in 1986.
Just realized I didn't see/watch the movie ... for the first time. Fatigue setting in?
Funny, one of the greatest Xmas movies ever to come out, AND IT WAS A FLOP, 😊😊
8000 kids tried out for Ralphie Parker.
Did he say 40 Years since the movie????
You will be, Peter, you will be. 🙂
Ho Ho Ho!!!!
Yes, a heartwarming christmas story about a kid wanting a bb gun ...imagine if made today what kind of shit show it would be
The guy asking the kid if he thinks he's a star. What a weirdo.
The story had nothing to do with Cleveland's history. This story was about Hammond Indiana and Northwest Indiana.
luigi made his first appearence in mario bros on that year.
In 1988, the rights of the movie were sold to the -.Turner network. They bought 50 films from the studio and this film was tossed in the 50 films as a throw away. This did make a profit, but it wasn't a block buster. "It's a wonderful life was sold for a small sum in the 70s. Then, given to tv channels for little
Money but asking for some money from advertising. . This was used as a filler for poor viewing spots.
Scott Ferguson
This doesn't happen no more spending all this money to do these elaborate scenes.