Memosaic

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Leg Lamps, Bullies and Nostalgia

While paying tribute to A Christmas Story on Movie Addict Headquarters yesterday, guests Julie Matthews and Zack Ward talked fondly about their experiences working on this wonderful holiday classic.

Julie, who played one of the carolers and helped with recruiting extras for the movie, mentioned that A Christmas Story Museum Store is open in Cleveland, where the movie was made, and leg lamps -- resembling the one in the movie -- of various sizes can be purchased there. She also expressed admiration for the nostalgic appeal of the film, and insisted that everyone “who lives on this planet” should see it.

Zack, who portrayed Scut Farkus, the fierce red-haired bully, revealed that although he and Peter Billingsley (Ralphie in the film) were bitter enemies on screen, they became friends off set during filming. “We were just kids having fun running around in the hotel. We liked to order room service for other rooms,” he confessed.

Film critic A.J. Hakari (The Mad Movie Man) also joined in the discussion. Although a very tough critic, A.J. believes “the pitch-perfect take on nostalgic Americana in A Christmas Story earns it a place among cinema's most precious treasures.” I couldn’t agree more, A.J.

Click on the link below to hear the entire show.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/movieaddictheadquarters

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, December 26, 2008

A Christmas Story

My husband and I watched A Christmas Story for the umpteenth time yesterday and guess what? It's as delightful and funny as ever! In fact, I think this film is about as perfect as any movie could possibly be.

There's never a dull moment while watching Ralphie devise ways to make sure he receives that Red Ryder rifle for Christmas, no matter how many people warn him "You'll shoot your eye out." And the casting simply couldn't be better. Peter Billingsley as Ralphie, Melinda Dillon as his long-suffering mom and Darren McGavin as his furnace-fighting dad (the best performance of McGavin's career, in my opinion) fit their roles like they were born to play them. Author Jean Shepherd's wonderful narration is icing on the holiday cake. No wonder this is my all-time favorite family comedy.

Yes, indeed. Christmas means peace, love and joy in celebration of the birth of Jesus. But at our house, it also means taking another look at A Christmas Story.

Labels: , , , , , ,