A CHRISTMAS STORY
US, 1983, 89 minutes, Colour.
Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin?, Melinda Dillon.
Directed by Bob Clark.
A Christmas Story is an unusual entertainment. While it focuses on a young boy and his desire for an air-rifle for Christmas, the film is entertaining for adults as well. It is based on stories and a novel by Jean Sheppard, 'In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash'. Sheppard himself does a voice-over commentary as the older Ralphie.
With its focus on Christmas, a young boy and his desire for an air-rifle, the film focuses on the American family of the '40s, the lifestyle of the time, the commercialism of Christmas and highlights fantasies of young boys as well as some of the harsh realities of the treatment of children. Peter Billingsley is excellent as Ralphie. Darren Mc Gavin croaks and snarls as The Old Man and Melinda Dillon is pleasant as the mother.
The film was directed by Bob Clark who made such thrillers as Dead of Night and Black Christmas, Murder by Decree as well as the Porky's series. He also directed Tribute and Rhinestone.
1. An entertaining and offbeat Christmas story? A piece of Americana?
2. The re-creation of the '40s, the Indiana suburb, the family home, schools, shops? The commercial Christmas? The fantasy sequences? Editing and pace? Musical score - and the range of Christmas songs and carols?
3. The title and expectations? A happy story? Charm? Expectations fulfilled? The changing of expectations? The original novel.- and its ironic title? The author doing the voice-over for Ralphie?
4. The film as Ralphie's story? Peter Billingsley and his presence and appearance? The young hero? His place in the family? His being loved, getting into trouble? The Red Ryder air rifle? The store window? His desire for a Christmas present? His imagination of derring-do during his ordinary life? Home and mother, little Randy and his being persuaded to eat, father and the nickname of The Old Man, the neighbours' dogs, the newspaper competitions - and the irony of the sexy lampstand that he won and displayed? Ralphie at school, the essay, its poor reception by Miss Shields? The bully? The fantasy of success at school and its lack of fulfilment? The preparation for Christmas, the buying of the Christmas tree? Ralphie and his swearing - and having the soap in his mouth? The fight with Scott Farkus? The reaction of his father? The visit to Santa Claus - and his lukewarm reaction to the present? Ralphie's disappointment? The practising in the garden, Ralphie hitting his glasses? His excuse? Christmas dinner - and the irony of the disappearance of the family turkey? The end of Christmas day for Ralphie? The point of view of the voice-over of the older Ralphie - a memoir?
5. The portrait of mother and father? Mother and her love, her fussing, looking after the baby, teaching it to eat, the preparation of the Christmas dinner and the dog eating the turkey? The Old Man and the dogs, the competitions, the win and his pride? His seeming to ignore Ralphie? The gift? A child's memory of mother and father?
6. Randy and Ralphie's relation to him? Randy and the difficulties with eating the food? Scenes of family life?
7. Santa Claus and the dashing of expectations about the gift? Miss Shields and her class - and her not enthusing about the rifle?
8. The fantasy sequences - the imagination of the nine-year-old? Of the '40s?
9. The atmosphere of the '40s, the music, the look, the commercials and products, the expectations of children? A nostalgic look back from the '80s?
