A Christmas Story Poll

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I literally watch the ENTIRE 24 hour span of it every year.

Despite having the dvd.

Great movie.  I hate Christmas but LOVE the movie.  The father is hilarious in it.

Yep, the father is none other than Darren McGavin, aka Carl Kolchak in Kolchak: The Night Stalker.   Also, I watched a 1955 movie with Frank Sinatra the other day, called The Man With The Golden Arm, and McGavin was the heroin dealer in the movie! It's hard to believe McGavin playing a scum drug dealer, but he did it pretty well.

[Allhallowsday]

I've never been able to watch the whole thing.  It's not even remotely funny or heartwarming.

You should be glad you're not talking politics on this forum, 'cause if you were and offered such commentary in the wake of the rest, you'd be meat. 

[Flick James]

I've never been able to watch the whole thing.  It's not even remotely funny or heartwarming.

You should be glad you're not talking politics on this forum, 'cause if you were and offered such commentary in the wake of the rest, you'd be meat. 

Hehe. Given your avatar I can clearly see you have the necessary whimsy to appreciate A Christmas Story fully.

[Raffine]

Anarchists! 

[HappyGilmore]

I literally watch the ENTIRE 24 hour span of it every year.

Despite having the dvd.

Great movie.  I hate Christmas but LOVE the movie.  The father is hilarious in it.

Yep, the father is none other than Darren McGavin, aka Carl Kolchak in Kolchak: The Night Stalker.   Also, I watched a 1955 movie with Frank Sinatra the other day, called The Man With The Golden Arm, and McGavin was the heroin dealer in the movie! It's hard to believe McGavin playing a scum drug dealer, but he did it pretty well.

"Fra-gi-le...must be Italian."

Darren McGavin.  He was funny in Billy Madison, as well.  He has a LOT of credits under his belt.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I literally watch the ENTIRE 24 hour span of it every year.

Despite having the dvd.

Great movie.  I hate Christmas but LOVE the movie.  The father is hilarious in it.

Yep, the father is none other than Darren McGavin, aka Carl Kolchak in Kolchak: The Night Stalker.   Also, I watched a 1955 movie with Frank Sinatra the other day, called The Man With The Golden Arm, and McGavin was the heroin dealer in the movie! It's hard to believe McGavin playing a scum drug dealer, but he did it pretty well.

"Fra-gi-le...must be Italian."

Darren McGavin.  He was funny in Billy Madison, as well.  He has a LOT of credits under his belt.

Yeah, it's sad that he passed away not so long ago. According to what I had heard, they were thinking of a Night Stalker movie at the time. 

Just the same, at one Chiller Theatre con', Billy Mumy told me that a Irwin Allen's big budget Lost In Space movie was gaining some serious speed in Hollywood at the time that Jonathan Harris passed on. 

It's always so ironic that the greatest stars pass away when they're so close to resurrecting one of their biggest TV roles. 

[venomx]

I voted - I adore it, can't get enough of it, and can quote it in detail.

It's not Christmas if I can't watch A Christmas Story!

Fun Fact: I'm sure most of you know this but the narrator is the same guy that tells Ralphie the line ends here when at the mall to see Santa. It's true.

[Flick James]

I voted - I adore it, can't get enough of it, and can quote it in detail.

It's not Christmas if I can't watch A Christmas Story!

Fun Fact: I'm sure most of you know this but the narrator is the same guy that tells Ralphie the line ends here when at the mall to see Santa. It's true.

I didn't know that, but it's not surprising. The voice is a close enough match.

[AndyC]

Darksider has it exactly right about the way A Christmas Story captures the child's perspective through an adult filter. There is something very genuine about this movie. It's heartwarming and nostalgic without being sappy or manipulative, and manages to mock family life and Christmas traditions without a trace of anything other than fondness. And it's a very quotable movie with lots of funny gags.

And I agree, it was pretty special that Dad, short-tempered, always busy, kind of scary, the one person Ralphie hadn't even thought about asking for a BB gun, turned out to be the sympathetic one. From an adult point of view, it makes sense, but Ralphie went for the people he thought he might have some influence over, and they were the wrong people when it came to dangerous boy stuff.

I actually just got it on DVD this Christmas, after years of only catching it on TV. Had to watch it right away though. After Christmas, watching anything Christmasy just feels wrong to me.

[Raffine]

I didn't know that, but it's not surprising. The voice is a close enough match.

that's Jean Shepherd, the author of the stories on which the film is based. Shepherd had a great radio program for years on which he told his stories and commented on current events.

Shepherd was a big influence on the style of Garrison Keillor and Spalding Gray.

[Raffine]

Another great small moment is when the Wicked Witch approaches Ralphie in the Santa line and Ralphie tells her "Don't bother me. I'm thinking."

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Another great small moment is when the Wicked Witch approaches Ralphie in the Santa line and Ralphie tells her "Don't bother me. I'm thinking."

And then you had that weird kid with the goggles, who stood in line with Ralphie, who kept telling him, "I like Santa."  I'm sure he did....

[Mr. DS]

Another great small moment is when the Wicked Witch approaches Ralphie in the Santa line and Ralphie tells her "Don't bother me. I'm thinking."

I actually have a picture of this with that caption on my desk.  I often tell people that when I'm in the middle of something and can't help them at that moment. 

[HappyGilmore]

Scut Farkus is in Freddy Vs. Jason.  That's awesomeness there.

[Raffine]

Another great small moment is when the Wicked Witch approaches Ralphie in the Santa line and Ralphie tells her "Don't bother me. I'm thinking."

I actually have a picture of this with that caption on my desk.  I often tell people that when I'm in the middle of something and can't help them at that moment. 

That's great! That bit is one of my favorite moments in the film.