One of my favorite traditions from childhood was “Christmas Camping.” Early in December, everyone on my mom’s side of the family (all of the great aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.) would get together for a family reunion at an old Girl Scout cabin, and we would stay there together for a few days in the bunk beds there. The older relatives would go into the woods and make a Christmas tree out of tons of fallen branches, and us kids would cut out paper snowflake and coloring paper decorations to hang on it. We played in the snow and went sledding, played tons of board games, and we always had a huge white elephant gift exchange with everybody. It was always a great way to kick off the Christmas season😊
I love most things about Christmas, especially cooking together with my Mom and sister and swimming in the late afternoon (summertime here during Christmas). Being Christian, it has an extra special meaning for me. 🙂
I watch certain movies every year. "It's a Wonderful Life." "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." "A Charlie Brown Christmas." "The Little Drummer Boy." and "A Christmas Story."
mom saying she didn't wanna waste electricity when turning off the lamp while every other light in the house was on, is one of those small hilarious moments.
This took place around ‘39-‘40, before the US became involved in WWII. The reason the Wizard of Oz was so prevalent is because the movie had just been in theaters the year before (1939) & was very popular at the time. Seat belts weren’t really a common thing until the early-mid 1970’s & most states didn’t have seat belt laws until the late 80’s or early 90’s.
I remember being in kindergarten in 1971-2 and riding in the front seat of the car with no seat belt even available. A few years earlier, my brother was in the same seat and broke his nose on the dashboard when Mom was forced off of the icy road by a careless oncoming car.
The movie takes place in 1939. There is a calendar on the wall in the kitchen and you can see that the month starts on a Friday. December 1939 is the only December in that time period that started on a Friday. The Wizard of Oz was also released in August 1939 and would have been at the peak of popularity that Christmas.
Yes! I love the his representation in this movie! That for so much of it he's grumpy or upset, but when he sees Ralphie's joy at opening that present he wanted so much, his eyes light up and he smiles and laughs. And then later that night you see him sitting with his wife, enjoying her presence and the atmosphere. You get to see the love that he has for his wife and family, rarely on the surface, but underlying all the other junk he goes through. And it's all worth it, because they are worth it. Always leaves my eyes a little wet 🙂 beautiful storytelling.
I noticed right after Ralphie saw Santa Claus at the department store, The Old Man asked "Did you tell him what you want?" and then in a kind of coy way he said, "Don't worry. He knows. He always knows..." I wonder if The Old Man was hinting at something...
Fun little fact. The narrator is also the one who co-wrote the script for this movie, as it was based off of moments in his childhood. He also cameos as the guy in line to see Santa that tells the boys the line begins way in the back. You listen to the voice and you'll definitely hear it 😁
I think he used to do anecdotal radio broadcasts, somewhat like those of Garrison Keillor, in his Lake Woebegone Days program. There have been a few others of his stories made into TV or cinema, including "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven Of Bliss," "The Best 4th Of July Ever" and maybe one or two others I can't recall. His name is Jean Sheppard.
If anyone is into jazz, Jean Shepherd did an improvised narration on a piece by Charles Mingus called "The Clown" (1957): ruclips.net/video/f-b9I_UrRe4/видео.html
also fun fact: i live 5 minutes from where he grew up and based the story on. and i believe the scenes at the mall were shot in Canada but it looks so similar to old time Hammond its amazing.
There is a reason this plays for 24 hours straight every year on TNT from Christmas Eve until Christmas Day since 1997! It's a classic and is just a fun movie.
The guy narrating this is the actual author. He was a radio host in Chicago, who would tell nostalgic stories like this. The reason it's so "slice-of-life" is probably because it's cobbled together from multiple vignettes.
He (Jean Shepherd) also has a cameo in the department store when they are waiting in line to see Santa. He's the guy who tells them that "the line starts back there." That man was a true raconteur.
So glad y'all watched this one all together :) The ladies' faces when Ralphie cussed at the Ovaltine ad were absolutely priceless 😂 Like y'all mentioned, I love how this movie captures what it feels like being a kid, how life and death everything feels. And the urgency, thrill, and passion of Christmas! Every year I try to remember just a little bit of that feeling to remind me how special the season can be :)
Fun fact: the parade scene took so long to film that all the background extras left and they had to get last-minute replacements. My uncle was in the boy-choir, and since my grandfather drove him he got to be one of the replacement extras.
Apparently, the Female Elf was supposed to be a teenager, but the actress was in her thirties when she auditioned. When she responded negatively, they realised that the outburst was perfect for the character, so hired her on the spot.
This was my dad's favorite Christmas movie. He grew up at the same time and wanted a Red Ryder BB gun. He used to get tapes of the radio shows and play them for my boys when he took them camping. It was total nostalgia for him. The Wizard of Oz came out in the 1939 and so this was a way for them to advertise the movie. What was just as good was the Broadway musical of A Christmas Story. I saw the touring show and teared up at the end. It reminded me of my dad and how much I missed him.
The squeal/shriek from mom when the waiter hacks the duck's neck off ALWAYS makes me laugh. It's just a strange, funny sound and a funny moment. I've seen this movie easily a hundred times in my life, and I still laugh there. The Randy bits make me laugh nearly as much also. "Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie" in that pathetic whine just makes me wanna laugh at him and hug him at the same time.
Schwartz's Mom on the phone ALWAYS made me laugh! it's so sudden and the delivery of her on the other end is hilarious. I also love when Randy goes down the slide and he just starts crying🤣 So many classic scenes in this movie.
My mom, sister and I watched this movie (then with my sons and the Yule Log later) was such fun! We'd prepare appetizers, feed "Kitty " (Sassafras) and check on the turkey or prime rib, ham and the potatoes. Poppyseed muffins.
During a reunion in California, the cast revealed that the duck scene was all improved. They had no idea there would be a duck brought out or that the owner would chop the head off. 🤣
“Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double beatloaf…I HATE mealoaf!” Notice every time the family has supper it's meatloaf, mashed potatoes and red cabbage. That was a common meal at the time, and probably the one Ralphie remembers most, so it's in all his memories of family meals.
Also, if you figure that this takes place in 1940 (pre-war but with military uniforms around due to the draft already in place a few months prior), then Ralphie would have been born in 1931, and grew up in the midst of the Depression. Even if the Old Man had kept his job throughout, I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept their spending as low as possible just in case. These are the things I think about after twenty-plus viewings…
Other Christmas classics: - White Christmas - The Bishop’s Wife - It’s a Wonderful Life - Miracle on 34th Street - Year Without a Santa Claus - Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown
I'm convinced this movie gets better the older you get, and thus is mainly for adults. If you watch this a child, it really doesn't resonate the same way, even if it's about a nine year old. Really, it's examining what it's like to be a nine year old, but from the nostalgic memory of an adult. I know several people who've said they didn't like this movie in the past, who claim it as a favorite now that they're older!
Firstly, my FAVORITE Christmas movie is A Muppets Christmas Carol! Secondly, I just learned that scholars have even said it's the closest movie adaption to the book. Plus the little parts are freakin hilarious! Please do a reaction!
The film was based on the book "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" by Jean Shepherd. Shepherd was the film's narrator and also played the guy who told Ralphie to go to the end of the line to see Santa. His book was somewhat autobiographical, made up of short stories based on his own life experiences.
I think Wizard of Oz characters were so prominent because this story is set in 1939, the year Oz debuted in theaters. So probably there was still a big promotional push, maybe merchandising for Christmas.
I love that it’s such a simple movie. It isn’t about saving the world by saving Christmas. It’s a slice of life about a kid wanting the perfect present. That’s it. To me that’s the heart of the film. The perils and growing pains of childhood. Reminds me of my childhood. 😂❤
At 24:57 on the left is Mr. Jean Shepherd--the narrator and co-writer of the movie based on his book "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" My favorite narrated line is, "My father worked in profanity like other artists might work in oils or clay. it was his true medium. A master."
It's a whole new movie when you watch this as an adult. The parents each were awesome in their own way. Also, I'll be looking for a BB gun to hang up as a Christmas decoration.
I like the theory that the mom told the dad about the fight before Ralphie came downstairs and explained that he was standing up to a bully (as pretty clearly evidenced by the power difference between him and Scut, his uncharacteristic violence, and his distraught crying), and then both parents agreed to act the way they do for Ralphie's benefit, being sensitive to his tender emotional state. For all their faults I think the parents would do that. The dad lets the topic of the fight slide by him unusually easily!
"Randy lay there like a slug. It was his only defense." The best line of any movie. The man you see in the line waiting for Santa telling Ralph where the line ends is Jean Shepard. The Author of the book this movie is based on and also the narrator of the movie. Whatever you do, don't look up Flick's movie career... This movie didn't do well on release but afterwards became a Christmas staple. You can actually rent the house the movie was filmed at and sleep over night in it.
The Dad is famous for being in a supernatural tv show in the 70’s were he was a reporter solving supernatural mysteries. It’s called Night Stalker. He is also great in The Martian Chronicles. Darren McGavin is his name.
Fun fact, when they filmed the scene with the tongue and pole, it was to warm in Cleveland for his tongue to stick to the pole, so they had to use a vacuum hose on one side of the pole to suck the tongue to the pole. Plus the snow on the ground is basically potato flakes
"i'm lactose intolerant, James, how dare you" yeah, James, how dare you. and while watching a christmas movie too. a truly low blow to the holiday spirit
Fun fact: nobody told the mom that they were going to cut the head off in front of her so her hysterical reaction is genuine, at least that’s how I heard it.
This movie is a downright classic. Your video was so thrilling to watch because all the jokes still can resonate with people. A few of my friends actually hate this movie or they " don't get it" which boggles my mind. I've grown up watching the marathon on TBS every Christmas Eve and it's always a treat, even if I've seen it a thousand times. The old man is honestly the best character!! He's hilarious 🤣
I adore this movie! My favorite scene is the waiters at the Chinese restaurant trying to sing "Deck the Halls." LMAO. HBO Max has the sequel that just premiered. It's the same child actors coming back. Ralphie brings his family back home for Christmas.
Have you all watched the original animated How The Grinch Stole Christmas? The original singer for "You're a Mean One Mr Grinch" was a gentleman named Thurl Ravenscroft, who was also one of the Singing Busts at the Haunted Mansion, and the voice of Tony The Tiger (They're Grrrrrreat!)!
I would definitely watch the Muppet Christmas Carol! It is legitimately one of the most faithful adaptations of the original book, and is a beautiful production. Another favorite of mine is While You Were Sleeping, it's not marketed as a Christmas movie but it's set at Christmas time, so it feels like one. Also recommend the original animated Grinch!
We should watch movies together - those are all favorites of mine, too 🙂 (But I should warn you, I'd probably also make you watch "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" LOL)
Fun fact: Tedde Moore, the actress who played the teacher Miss Shields was pregnant at the time of filming, and back in the 40s a woman would not still be teaching if she were pregnant, especially if unmarried (as suggested by the use of Miss instead of Mrs), so Moore is wearing a fat suit under her dress. Also I love all the adults' performances in Ralphie's fantasy sequences. The soap poisoning scene is probably my favorite.
You guys definitely need to see the sequel of this movie that was just released. It's called a Christmas story Christmas. Many of the original actors came back for it including Ralphie! He still has that dorky little smile!
It's funny that the family ends up at a Chinese restaurant, because it has been a long standing tradition for people from cultures that don't celebrate Christmas to eat at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve. These people found themselves with free time to spend with their families on Christmas, but no tradition for that day. Going out to eat Chinese food became part of that tradition. This is especially true for Jews who provide big business for Chinese restaurants on Christmas Eve. That's why, at least here in NY, you'll never find a Chinese restaurant closed on that day
my christmas gift that i had to have as a kid was an american girl doll when i was 8. i got it. i was so excited. i still have her sitting in a glass case in my house 32 years later next to the bear i got on my first christmas. both gifts from my nana.
So happy ya'll watched this one!! This one used to play all the time when I was a kid. My sister, cousins, and I would all be at my aunt's place and it would always be on TV for some reason. When it was on, we knew Christmas was coming soon and it just filled us with that warm fuzzy holiday feeling. 😊
The movie takes place in 1939 according to a calendar that’s on the wall in one of the scenes. The Wizard of Oz Characters and Mickey would have been the popular characters at the time. It makes sense as well. It’s a time where we were coming out of the Great Depression and pre Pearl Harbor so the movie doesn’t get bogged down by those more difficult times. Also my mom was about the same age as Ralphie and she has a decoder ring too!
This is a classic Christmas movie in my household as we got older it just plays in the background but this was so enjoyable watching the four of you who've never seen this
My mom's family had this on repeat 24/7 during Christmas, so by the time I was like 5-7 I could recite the whole thing😅 and at 19 I still have a soft spot for it, for better or worse
FYI, while preparing for the scene, the family heads to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. After the staff sings carols, they bring out a roasted duck with the head still on. Upon seeing the head, the Mother lets out a yell and begins laughing. it was essential to get an organic response from her. As a result, she was given a draft of the script that was different from the rest of the cast. Therefore, the moment the duck comes out, The mother isn't acting at all. Instead, she sells the movement without realizing it by looking at McGavin and saying, "I'm sorry!" before the waiter cuts the duck's head off.
If you haven't seen it, It's A Wonderful Life. It was one of my mom's favorite films, saw it every year growing up, and even now with her gone it's an annual tradition. It's the epitome of Christmas in film to me.
My mother grew up in the Depression and in their whole neighborhood there was only one child whose family could afford to get the Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. You had to buy a lot of Ovaltine and no one else could afford it. My mother said that the child used to decode the secret message in front of all the other kids in the neighborhood but not tell anyone what the message was. When my mother was almost 50 my older brother searched out and gave her the Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. It's pretty amazing. Solid metal and intricate and impressive. It looks like a badge with a moving ring to set and decode messages. It made my mother smile and cry a little bit. I have it now.
The movie is based on a story written by Jean Shepherd and takes place in Indiana in 1940, during his childhood. The story is part of a larger book of funny stories he wrote about growing up in the 1940s, called “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash”. My favorite book of his is “Wanda Hicky’s Night of Golden Memories”, another collection of his stories. The narrator in the movie is actually Jean Shepherd. He was also a radio personality and had a show of his own. The movie is funny, but nothing is funnier than his books. He was a brilliant writer and hilariously funny.
I had a red Ryder BB gun when I was a kid. It was so low power you could actually watch the BB while it flew through the air. Since I wasn't exactly a bright kid, I once shot an old car tire and watched the BB travel to the tire and then bounce right back at me. I saw it coming, but couldn't duck fast enough. It hit me right in the forehead. Absolutely no damage done except to my pride. I had to face the fact that only an idiot would shoot a rubber tire without thinking about the consequences. I loved the 4-way reaction by the way. Well done!
As a kid it wasn't the Christmas season until the movie White Christmas was on TV, usually about two weeks before Christmas. They don't show it on TV anymore, but I have it on DVD. So watching White Christmas and making Tom & Jerrys a couple weeks before Christmas has become a tradition.
I've been watching you guys for quite some time now, I honestly really appreciate your commentary and the way you carry yourselves. I love watching people's reactions to movies, and their demeanor makes or breaks their review. The ladies joining occasionally are a wonderful touch too. Keep up the good work! Merry Christmas!
This has always been my family’s favorite Christmas movie. It’s so relatable! We love the chaos and semi dysfunction of the family haha The sequel just came out this week I think. A Christmas Story Christmas which stars Ralphie grown up as a Dad. Haven’t seen it yet, it’s probably kinda cheesy, but it seems to have decent reviews!
I watched this movie when I would wrap presents every year. It was like my personal tradition from back when I was like 8. I bought it on Dvd so that I could wraps presents whenever and not wait for it to show up on tv. I would always leave it on the 24 hour marathon every Christmas eve. I'm pretty sure I could recite this movie in my sleep.
Seat belts in cars in the 1940s were considered an optional feature. They did not become mandatory installed in cars until the 1960s. And most people didn't regularly what wear seat belts until seat belt laws started to become ubiquitous in the late 70s and early 80s.
The sequel to this was just recently released and stars many from the original cast, most notably Peter Billingsley as Ralphie. And yes, there's a new triple dog dare.
I believe for the tongue-sticking effect (because they didn't want to ACTUALLY freeze a child's tongue to a pole!), they had a small hole in the "pipe" connected to a gentle vacuum. So long as he didn't jerk his head away, it would stay put.
Many street cars had lap belts in the 1930s, but few people used them. These early lap belt models kept passengers from flying out of the car but did nothing to protect their heads or torsos. The Wisconsin born Nash Motors became the first company to offer seatbelts in 1949.
I love it when you do group reactions. It reminds me of me and my siblings, there's 4 of us, anyways I really hope all 4 of you continue watching Christmas movies.
There is one cute, classic movie that is currently available on RUclips for free, and it is called 'The Bishop's Wife'. It's starring Hollywood legend Cary Grant and David Niven.
I played Santa for a fundraiser. We would go to people's houses and play Santa to their kids. 90 percent of the time the kids were screaming and crying but the parents just loved it and took tons of pictures while their kids were terrified.
For boomers like my parents, aunts and uncles, they all loved the Wizard of Oz details. When they were kids it was a huge kids thing that was associated with Christmas. That's when it would get shown on TV and before that they would have a radio show of it. When this came out it would send my whole family down memory lane, because it isn't year specific as much as era specific.
A Christmas Story is my favorite movie . It's such a well written and wholesome movie full of nostalgia, I love it. Fun Fact: There's a sequel of sorts, It Runs in The Family (1994) not quite as good or funny but it's full of the same charm. Written by the same author/writer. It chronicles an eventful summer for Ralphie and his family.
Great reaction! I think this movie is the absolutely best representation of what childhood is really like that I have ever seen. You just remember how it was! So awesome to that the one person Ralphie didn't think to ask about the BB gun was his father, and yet his old man had his ears tuned all the time and was the one that came through in the end! This is one of those timeless classics that works both as a child and as an adult... It's the same content but you just see everything differently as you grow older.
Hey guys and girls, wonderful review!!, f.y.i, the old man that told Ralphie, the starts here, was the author and narrator, Jean Shepard!, it was so nice to see young people watch this movie!!!!🙋🙋🙋👏👏😁
The leg lamp was actually an advertisement for a brand of soda called Nehi (knee-high). I think it still exists but I haven’t seen it in forever, not since I was a kid in the late 80s early 90s.
You have to watch The Muppet's Christmas Carol! It's having its 30th anniversary this year. BUT make sure you watch the original version with the song "When Love is Gone." It's the heart of the whole movie, but was cut probably because they thought it was "too sad" to be in a kid's film.
The Wizard of Oz characters would be around because the movie takes place in 1940, and The Wizard of Oz just came out in 1939. It would be like having Spiderman or Captain America in a parade today. They were the super popular characters of the time.
What is your favorite Christmas Tradition??
One of my favorite traditions from childhood was “Christmas Camping.” Early in December, everyone on my mom’s side of the family (all of the great aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.) would get together for a family reunion at an old Girl Scout cabin, and we would stay there together for a few days in the bunk beds there. The older relatives would go into the woods and make a Christmas tree out of tons of fallen branches, and us kids would cut out paper snowflake and coloring paper decorations to hang on it. We played in the snow and went sledding, played tons of board games, and we always had a huge white elephant gift exchange with everybody. It was always a great way to kick off the Christmas season😊
I love most things about Christmas, especially cooking together with my Mom and sister and swimming in the late afternoon (summertime here during Christmas). Being Christian, it has an extra special meaning for me. 🙂
@@godefroidkayombo5584 Can I come over??
Making Christmas breakfast for my family
I watch certain movies every year. "It's a Wonderful Life." "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." "A Charlie Brown Christmas." "The Little Drummer Boy." and "A Christmas Story."
mom saying she didn't wanna waste electricity when turning off the lamp while every other light in the house was on, is one of those small hilarious moments.
Favorite line: “Randy laid there like a slug. It was his only defense.”
God-tier line
And how it just cuts to him being perfectly still and out for the count completes it. It's the perfect moment in that scene 😂
One of Randy's crowning achievements
Ngl I did not hear slug
My favorite line 2! Laugh every time
This took place around ‘39-‘40, before the US became involved in WWII. The reason the Wizard of Oz was so prevalent is because the movie had just been in theaters the year before (1939) & was very popular at the time. Seat belts weren’t really a common thing until the early-mid 1970’s & most states didn’t have seat belt laws until the late 80’s or early 90’s.
i was born in 76 and my mother told me seat belts were an option in most cars where she lived when she was a kid & i can remember 8 track players
I remember being in kindergarten in 1971-2 and riding in the front seat of the car with no seat belt even available. A few years earlier, my brother was in the same seat and broke his nose on the dashboard when Mom was forced off of the icy road by a careless oncoming car.
It was even more recent than that when seat belts for the back seats became common.
Thanks for this. I was yelling at the screen every time they'd say 40's lol Yes, 1939, the year WoO came out! :)
The movie takes place in 1939. There is a calendar on the wall in the kitchen and you can see that the month starts on a Friday. December 1939 is the only December in that time period that started on a Friday. The Wizard of Oz was also released in August 1939 and would have been at the peak of popularity that Christmas.
The mom turning off the lamp to save electricity is even more hilarious when the camera pans back to show that every other light in the house is on!
I love that the Old Man was the only person Randy didn’t tell that he wanted the BB gun, yet he was the one who bought it for him.
Yes! I love the his representation in this movie! That for so much of it he's grumpy or upset, but when he sees Ralphie's joy at opening that present he wanted so much, his eyes light up and he smiles and laughs. And then later that night you see him sitting with his wife, enjoying her presence and the atmosphere. You get to see the love that he has for his wife and family, rarely on the surface, but underlying all the other junk he goes through. And it's all worth it, because they are worth it. Always leaves my eyes a little wet 🙂 beautiful storytelling.
Some people have a theory that the old man actually saw the ad for the BB gun in the magazine by coincidence and knew Ralphie wanted it.
Ralphie-Randy was the little brother
Parents know. I'm betting that they discussed it and the mom firmly said no but the dad remembered what it was like to want a bb gun.
I noticed right after Ralphie saw Santa Claus at the department store, The Old Man asked "Did you tell him what you want?" and then in a kind of coy way he said, "Don't worry. He knows. He always knows..." I wonder if The Old Man was hinting at something...
The mom is seriously the MVP of the movie. I love her so much!
For sure!!
Remember him saying that after that moment his relationship with his mother was never the same.
THAT is wonderful parenting.
She knew Victor, too.
She was also Barry's mother in Close Encounters.
Darren McGavin for me(the Old Man)
Fun little fact. The narrator is also the one who co-wrote the script for this movie, as it was based off of moments in his childhood. He also cameos as the guy in line to see Santa that tells the boys the line begins way in the back. You listen to the voice and you'll definitely hear it 😁
I think he used to do anecdotal radio broadcasts, somewhat like those of Garrison Keillor, in his Lake Woebegone Days program. There have been a few others of his stories made into TV or cinema, including "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven Of Bliss," "The Best 4th Of July Ever" and maybe one or two others I can't recall. His name is Jean Sheppard.
If anyone is into jazz, Jean Shepherd did an improvised narration on a piece by Charles Mingus called "The Clown" (1957): ruclips.net/video/f-b9I_UrRe4/видео.html
also fun fact: i live 5 minutes from where he grew up and based the story on. and i believe the scenes at the mall were shot in Canada but it looks so similar to old time Hammond its amazing.
The sweetest one you have to react to is It's a Wonderful Life. When I was a kid they showed it on TV every XMAS 😃
I never realised that before!
There is a reason this plays for 24 hours straight every year on TNT from Christmas Eve until Christmas Day since 1997! It's a classic and is just a fun movie.
That's 25 years now. Wow
@@ladyanime100 Yep every single year.
Now, after its run, sequel will probably follow the original in the 24 hours.
@@MrTech226 We can only hope!
And to give as many people at the channel a Christmas break as possible.
Darren McGavin as the dad is the perfect casting and nobody could have ever replaced him
not even Jack Nicholson. he was the first choice and im so glad it didnt go to him.
The guy narrating this is the actual author. He was a radio host in Chicago, who would tell nostalgic stories like this. The reason it's so "slice-of-life" is probably because it's cobbled together from multiple vignettes.
He (Jean Shepherd) also has a cameo in the department store when they are waiting in line to see Santa. He's the guy who tells them that "the line starts back there." That man was a true raconteur.
So glad y'all watched this one all together :) The ladies' faces when Ralphie cussed at the Ovaltine ad were absolutely priceless 😂
Like y'all mentioned, I love how this movie captures what it feels like being a kid, how life and death everything feels. And the urgency, thrill, and passion of Christmas! Every year I try to remember just a little bit of that feeling to remind me how special the season can be :)
Fun fact: the parade scene took so long to film that all the background extras left and they had to get last-minute replacements. My uncle was in the boy-choir, and since my grandfather drove him he got to be one of the replacement extras.
Apparently, the Female Elf was supposed to be a teenager, but the actress was in her thirties when she auditioned. When she responded negatively, they realised that the outburst was perfect for the character, so hired her on the spot.
lol
She still lives in Cleveland and comes to all the gatherings.
She was also on a couple of episodes of ER.
This was my dad's favorite Christmas movie. He grew up at the same time and wanted a Red Ryder BB gun. He used to get tapes of the radio shows and play them for my boys when he took them camping. It was total nostalgia for him. The Wizard of Oz came out in the 1939 and so this was a way for them to advertise the movie. What was just as good was the Broadway musical of A Christmas Story. I saw the touring show and teared up at the end. It reminded me of my dad and how much I missed him.
I can't believe you missed the kid screaming "I CAN'T PUT MY ARMS DOWN" because it's the one quote from this movie that I quote all the time.
The squeal/shriek from mom when the waiter hacks the duck's neck off ALWAYS makes me laugh. It's just a strange, funny sound and a funny moment. I've seen this movie easily a hundred times in my life, and I still laugh there.
The Randy bits make me laugh nearly as much also. "Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie" in that pathetic whine just makes me wanna laugh at him and hug him at the same time.
the mom didnt know they were gonna chop it off. thats a 100% genuine reaction.
Schwartz's Mom on the phone ALWAYS made me laugh! it's so sudden and the delivery of her on the other end is hilarious.
I also love when Randy goes down the slide and he just starts crying🤣
So many classic scenes in this movie.
My mom, sister and I watched this movie (then with my sons and the Yule Log later) was such fun! We'd prepare appetizers, feed "Kitty " (Sassafras) and check on the turkey or prime rib, ham and the potatoes. Poppyseed muffins.
During a reunion in California, the cast revealed that the duck scene was all improved. They had no idea there would be a duck brought out or that the owner would chop the head off. 🤣
At least the head. The mom’s reaction is the actress’s real reaction
All 4 of you should react together more often it's really entertaining.
That’s the plan
“Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double beatloaf…I HATE mealoaf!” Notice every time the family has supper it's meatloaf, mashed potatoes and red cabbage. That was a common meal at the time, and probably the one Ralphie remembers most, so it's in all his memories of family meals.
Also, if you figure that this takes place in 1940 (pre-war but with military uniforms around due to the draft already in place a few months prior), then Ralphie would have been born in 1931, and grew up in the midst of the Depression. Even if the Old Man had kept his job throughout, I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept their spending as low as possible just in case.
These are the things I think about after twenty-plus viewings…
@@kathyastrom1315 My mom is 3 years younger than Ralphie and said that was a common meal because it was cheap. So I think you're onto something there.
i would love to see the old man look at the prices for meatloaf materials now.
Also that when the turkey is ruined….that was probably a lot of money back then. When the mom is crying over it I want to cry too….
Other Christmas classics:
- White Christmas
- The Bishop’s Wife
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Miracle on 34th Street
- Year Without a Santa Claus
- Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown
And Going My Way.
The Bells of St Mary's
I'm convinced this movie gets better the older you get, and thus is mainly for adults. If you watch this a child, it really doesn't resonate the same way, even if it's about a nine year old. Really, it's examining what it's like to be a nine year old, but from the nostalgic memory of an adult. I know several people who've said they didn't like this movie in the past, who claim it as a favorite now that they're older!
I can't recommend A Muppets Christmas Carol enough!! It's so well done and actually beautiful! Please guys, react to that!!
That is a great adaptation of the story.
@@johnfrilando2662 I know right!! If they do react to it, I just hope they find the version that kept that song "When Love is Gone" in it!
@@tinahastie that would be the DVD in full screen
Great suggestion
Firstly, my FAVORITE Christmas movie is A Muppets Christmas Carol! Secondly, I just learned that scholars have even said it's the closest movie adaption to the book. Plus the little parts are freakin hilarious! Please do a reaction!
The film was based on the book "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" by Jean Shepherd. Shepherd was the film's narrator and also played the guy who told Ralphie to go to the end of the line to see Santa. His book was somewhat autobiographical, made up of short stories based on his own life experiences.
I love it when the old man says
'he looks like a deranged easter bunny."
"He looks like a pink nightmare."
I think Wizard of Oz characters were so prominent because this story is set in 1939, the year Oz debuted in theaters. So probably there was still a big promotional push, maybe merchandising for Christmas.
I love that it’s such a simple movie. It isn’t about saving the world by saving Christmas. It’s a slice of life about a kid wanting the perfect present. That’s it. To me that’s the heart of the film. The perils and growing pains of childhood. Reminds me of my childhood. 😂❤
At 24:57 on the left is Mr. Jean Shepherd--the narrator and co-writer of the movie based on his book "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" My favorite narrated line is, "My father worked in profanity like other artists might work in oils or clay. it was his true medium. A master."
This film takes place in 1940. The wizard of Oz was released in 1939, which is why they were in the parade. It was super recent and super popular.
It's a whole new movie when you watch this as an adult. The parents each were awesome in their own way. Also, I'll be looking for a BB gun to hang up as a Christmas decoration.
I like the theory that the mom told the dad about the fight before Ralphie came downstairs and explained that he was standing up to a bully (as pretty clearly evidenced by the power difference between him and Scut, his uncharacteristic violence, and his distraught crying), and then both parents agreed to act the way they do for Ralphie's benefit, being sensitive to his tender emotional state. For all their faults I think the parents would do that. The dad lets the topic of the fight slide by him unusually easily!
I love that theory. And it honestly makes sense
My dad is around the same generation (born in the 30's) and they play acted nothing.
"Randy lay there like a slug. It was his only defense."
The best line of any movie.
The man you see in the line waiting for Santa telling Ralph where the line ends is Jean Shepard. The Author of the book this movie is based on and also the narrator of the movie.
Whatever you do, don't look up Flick's movie career...
This movie didn't do well on release but afterwards became a Christmas staple. You can actually rent the house the movie was filmed at and sleep over night in it.
The Dad is famous for being in a supernatural tv show in the 70’s were he was a reporter solving supernatural mysteries. It’s called Night Stalker. He is also great in The Martian Chronicles. Darren McGavin is his name.
Kolchak was the coolest show of its day! :-D
Fun fact, when they filmed the scene with the tongue and pole, it was to warm in Cleveland for his tongue to stick to the pole, so they had to use a vacuum hose on one side of the pole to suck the tongue to the pole. Plus the snow on the ground is basically potato flakes
It's a family tradition of mine where we have this film playing every single Christmas morning
Muppets! Muppets! Muppets! Yes do that one next. It’s the best version of a Christmas Carol.
This movie is great. Love how it's about nothing specific just a great slice of nostalgia and fond christmas memories of youth.
I love when Ms. Shields says “he has refused to say who.” He LITERALLY CAN’T!! 😂😂😂😂 Poor Flick
Loving Hayley's and Stella's Christmas lipstick!! So pretty!
"i'm lactose intolerant, James, how dare you" yeah, James, how dare you. and while watching a christmas movie too. a truly low blow to the holiday spirit
😂😂😂
Fun fact: nobody told the mom that they were going to cut the head off in front of her so her hysterical reaction is genuine, at least that’s how I heard it.
This movie is a downright classic. Your video was so thrilling to watch because all the jokes still can resonate with people. A few of my friends actually hate this movie or they " don't get it" which boggles my mind.
I've grown up watching the marathon on TBS every Christmas Eve and it's always a treat, even if I've seen it a thousand times.
The old man is honestly the best character!! He's hilarious 🤣
Naw man, this is great lol
@@whitenoisereacts I'm glad!!🥰 It's a classic film!
I adore this movie! My favorite scene is the waiters at the Chinese restaurant trying to sing "Deck the Halls." LMAO. HBO Max has the sequel that just premiered. It's the same child actors coming back. Ralphie brings his family back home for Christmas.
Have you all watched the original animated How The Grinch Stole Christmas? The original singer for "You're a Mean One Mr Grinch" was a gentleman named Thurl Ravenscroft, who was also one of the Singing Busts at the Haunted Mansion, and the voice of Tony The Tiger (They're Grrrrrreat!)!
The fact that stella guessed the right age of the kids, which in the movie most of the kids were 9 years old and skut was actually 13 aswell 21:20
I would definitely watch the Muppet Christmas Carol! It is legitimately one of the most faithful adaptations of the original book, and is a beautiful production. Another favorite of mine is While You Were Sleeping, it's not marketed as a Christmas movie but it's set at Christmas time, so it feels like one. Also recommend the original animated Grinch!
We should watch movies together - those are all favorites of mine, too 🙂 (But I should warn you, I'd probably also make you watch "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" LOL)
Fun fact: Tedde Moore, the actress who played the teacher Miss Shields was pregnant at the time of filming, and back in the 40s a woman would not still be teaching if she were pregnant, especially if unmarried (as suggested by the use of Miss instead of Mrs), so Moore is wearing a fat suit under her dress.
Also I love all the adults' performances in Ralphie's fantasy sequences. The soap poisoning scene is probably my favorite.
IMHO, the greatest Christmas movie ever! Of course I’m a lot older than you guys, so it’s much more nostalgic.
I loved watching this with y'all. It takes me back to watch it with folks who've never seen this particular classic for the first time.
I think we all had that "decoder pin" experience growing up where we got a toy that completely disappointed us after waiting so long to get it.
You guys definitely need to see the sequel of this movie that was just released. It's called a Christmas story Christmas. Many of the original actors came back for it including Ralphie! He still has that dorky little smile!
I second that.
The house used in this movie is in Cleveland Ohio, and it still has tours!
1:55 LOL James. I'm going to think of that everytime I watch this now.
It's funny that the family ends up at a Chinese restaurant, because it has been a long standing tradition for people from cultures that don't celebrate Christmas to eat at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve. These people found themselves with free time to spend with their families on Christmas, but no tradition for that day. Going out to eat Chinese food became part of that tradition. This is especially true for Jews who provide big business for Chinese restaurants on Christmas Eve. That's why, at least here in NY, you'll never find a Chinese restaurant closed on that day
my christmas gift that i had to have as a kid was an american girl doll when i was 8. i got it. i was so excited. i still have her sitting in a glass case in my house 32 years later next to the bear i got on my first christmas. both gifts from my nana.
You can actually visit the “Christmas Story House”, and purchase things like the leg lamp, and the BB gun
Fun fact: grown up Ralphie cameos in the first Iron Man film (and I think helped produce it)... He's the one who tells Obediah "I'm not Tony Stark".
So happy ya'll watched this one!! This one used to play all the time when I was a kid. My sister, cousins, and I would all be at my aunt's place and it would always be on TV for some reason. When it was on, we knew Christmas was coming soon and it just filled us with that warm fuzzy holiday feeling. 😊
its still on for 24 hours every Christmas and on 4 channels.
I hope you eventually do White Christmas. Its an old one but a classic! I watch it every year
What a great, great movie.
And it's two men and two women just like them! Lol
The mom was not aware they were going to cut the ducks head off right in front of her. That is her genuine reaction.
😂😂
The movie takes place in 1939 according to a calendar that’s on the wall in one of the scenes. The Wizard of Oz Characters and Mickey would have been the popular characters at the time. It makes sense as well. It’s a time where we were coming out of the Great Depression and pre Pearl Harbor so the movie doesn’t get bogged down by those more difficult times. Also my mom was about the same age as Ralphie and she has a decoder ring too!
This is a classic Christmas movie in my household as we got older it just plays in the background but this was so enjoyable watching the four of you who've never seen this
My mom's family had this on repeat 24/7 during Christmas, so by the time I was like 5-7 I could recite the whole thing😅 and at 19 I still have a soft spot for it, for better or worse
There are some tv channels in my area that still show this movie for 24 hours straight, starting on Christmas eve and ending Christmas night.
FYI, while preparing for the scene, the family heads to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. After the staff sings carols, they bring out a roasted duck with the head still on. Upon seeing the head, the Mother lets out a yell and begins laughing. it was essential to get an organic response from her. As a result, she was given a draft of the script that was different from the rest of the cast. Therefore, the moment the duck comes out, The mother isn't acting at all. Instead, she sells the movement without realizing it by looking at McGavin and saying, "I'm sorry!" before the waiter cuts the duck's head off.
If you haven't seen it, It's A Wonderful Life. It was one of my mom's favorite films, saw it every year growing up, and even now with her gone it's an annual tradition. It's the epitome of Christmas in film to me.
My mother grew up in the Depression and in their whole neighborhood there was only one child whose family could afford to get the Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. You had to buy a lot of Ovaltine and no one else could afford it. My mother said that the child used to decode the secret message in front of all the other kids in the neighborhood but not tell anyone what the message was. When my mother was almost 50 my older brother searched out and gave her the Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. It's pretty amazing. Solid metal and intricate and impressive. It looks like a badge with a moving ring to set and decode messages. It made my mother smile and cry a little bit. I have it now.
The movie is based on a story written by Jean Shepherd and takes place in Indiana in 1940, during his childhood. The story is part of a larger book of funny stories he wrote about growing up in the 1940s, called “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash”. My favorite book of his is “Wanda Hicky’s Night of Golden Memories”, another collection of his stories. The narrator in the movie is actually Jean Shepherd. He was also a radio personality and had a show of his own. The movie is funny, but nothing is funnier than his books. He was a brilliant writer and hilariously funny.
I had a red Ryder BB gun when I was a kid. It was so low power you could actually watch the BB while it flew through the air. Since I wasn't exactly a bright kid, I once shot an old car tire and watched the BB travel to the tire and then bounce right back at me. I saw it coming, but couldn't duck fast enough. It hit me right in the forehead. Absolutely no damage done except to my pride. I had to face the fact that only an idiot would shoot a rubber tire without thinking about the consequences.
I loved the 4-way reaction by the way. Well done!
As a kid it wasn't the Christmas season until the movie White Christmas was on TV, usually about two weeks before Christmas. They don't show it on TV anymore, but I have it on DVD. So watching White Christmas and making Tom & Jerrys a couple weeks before Christmas has become a tradition.
I've been watching you guys for quite some time now, I honestly really appreciate your commentary and the way you carry yourselves. I love watching people's reactions to movies, and their demeanor makes or breaks their review. The ladies joining occasionally are a wonderful touch too. Keep up the good work! Merry Christmas!
That means a lot! We’ll keep the reactions coming
This has always been my family’s favorite Christmas movie. It’s so relatable! We love the chaos and semi dysfunction of the family haha
The sequel just came out this week I think. A Christmas Story Christmas which stars Ralphie grown up as a Dad. Haven’t seen it yet, it’s probably kinda cheesy, but it seems to have decent reviews!
i enjoyed CSC. very heavy on nostalgia but it pays off in the end.
I watched this movie when I would wrap presents every year. It was like my personal tradition from back when I was like 8. I bought it on Dvd so that I could wraps presents whenever and not wait for it to show up on tv. I would always leave it on the 24 hour marathon every Christmas eve. I'm pretty sure I could recite this movie in my sleep.
Seat belts in cars in the 1940s were considered an optional feature. They did not become mandatory installed in cars until the 1960s. And most people didn't regularly what wear seat belts until seat belt laws started to become ubiquitous in the late 70s and early 80s.
Aw I love all 4 of you watching together!
OMG!! I love Ralphie. Have watched him since I was a teen.
Great... Now I have to be distracted trying to watch your reactions?!! Thanks A Lot guys!! Lol.. 🤪
The sequel to this was just recently released and stars many from the original cast, most notably Peter Billingsley as Ralphie. And yes, there's a new triple dog dare.
I believe for the tongue-sticking effect (because they didn't want to ACTUALLY freeze a child's tongue to a pole!), they had a small hole in the "pipe" connected to a gentle vacuum. So long as he didn't jerk his head away, it would stay put.
I love that they did it practically
Many street cars had lap belts in the 1930s, but few people used them. These early lap belt models kept passengers from flying out of the car but did nothing to protect their heads or torsos. The Wisconsin born Nash Motors became the first company to offer seatbelts in 1949.
To this day, whenever I see something labeled as "FRAGILE" I think to myself, "It must be Italian."
Same. I hear that line in my head every time.
I love it when you do group reactions. It reminds me of me and my siblings, there's 4 of us, anyways I really hope all 4 of you continue watching Christmas movies.
Aww that’s so sweet
There is one cute, classic movie that is currently available on RUclips for free, and it is called 'The Bishop's Wife'. It's starring Hollywood legend Cary Grant and David Niven.
I love how you guys reciprocated how the kids felt
I would love to see y’all watch Muppet Christmas Carol, it is delightful and hands down one of the best performances of Ebenezer Scrooge
Back when my parents were anti-gun, my grandpa thought it was amusing to gift my elder brother, a Red Rider BB Gun for Christmas;)
As a kid I had some trouble keeping up with this amazing narration. As an adult I love listening to his dialogue.
I played Santa for a fundraiser. We would go to people's houses and play Santa to their kids. 90 percent of the time the kids were screaming and crying but the parents just loved it and took tons of pictures while their kids were terrified.
For boomers like my parents, aunts and uncles, they all loved the Wizard of Oz details. When they were kids it was a huge kids thing that was associated with Christmas.
That's when it would get shown on TV and before that they would have a radio show of it.
When this came out it would send my whole family down memory lane, because it isn't year specific as much as era specific.
A Christmas Story is my favorite movie . It's such a well written and wholesome movie full of nostalgia, I love it. Fun Fact: There's a sequel of sorts, It Runs in The Family (1994) not quite as good or funny but it's full of the same charm. Written by the same author/writer. It chronicles an eventful summer for Ralphie and his family.
Great reaction! I think this movie is the absolutely best representation of what childhood is really like that I have ever seen. You just remember how it was! So awesome to that the one person Ralphie didn't think to ask about the BB gun was his father, and yet his old man had his ears tuned all the time and was the one that came through in the end!
This is one of those timeless classics that works both as a child and as an adult... It's the same content but you just see everything differently as you grow older.
He had to do the tongue thing. He Triple Dog Dared him. 😝 A Christmas classic, fun to see someone enjoy it so much. 🌲
My birthday is the 23rd of December. One year I got a left roller skate for my birthday and the right one for Christmas.
LOL I really like that
I remember the year my sister got her BB gun … my parents kept saying “you’ll shoot your eye out!”
Peter Billingsley (Ralphie) grew up to produce movies like Ironman and other Marvel films. Also appeared in many films ( Elf).
Hey guys and girls, wonderful review!!, f.y.i, the old man that told Ralphie, the starts here, was the author and narrator, Jean Shepard!, it was so nice to see young people watch this movie!!!!🙋🙋🙋👏👏😁
I love driving by the house every year, it’s basically a tradition for me
The leg lamp was actually an advertisement for a brand of soda called Nehi (knee-high). I think it still exists but I haven’t seen it in forever, not since I was a kid in the late 80s early 90s.
You have to watch The Muppet's Christmas Carol! It's having its 30th anniversary this year. BUT make sure you watch the original version with the song "When Love is Gone." It's the heart of the whole movie, but was cut probably because they thought it was "too sad" to be in a kid's film.
I’ve watched this movie every year since I’ve been born. I adore this movie
The Wizard of Oz characters would be around because the movie takes place in 1940, and The Wizard of Oz just came out in 1939. It would be like having Spiderman or Captain America in a parade today. They were the super popular characters of the time.