A Christmas Story (1983) [VHS]

The 1983 film, "A Christmas Story", quickly became a holiday classic as viewers fell in love with its witty prose as narrated by Jean Shepherd (1921-1999), who wrote the novel upon which the film is based: "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash".The film begins weeks before Christmas in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana circa 1934. A young Ralph 'Ralphie' Parker (Peter Billingsley) stares through the glass of a storefront window at the local department store to see what he wants most for Christmas, a Red Rider Be-Be Gun, and ponders the quandary of how to convince his parents to buy him one. He leaves various clues in the house for his parents to find about how wonderful and necessary the be-be gun is, but when his mother (Melinda Dillon, who received Oscas nominations for her roles in the 1977 film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and the 1981 film "Absence of Malice") asks him what he wants for Christmas during breakfast one morning, Ralphie excitedly blurts out, "I want an official, Red Ryder, Carbine-action, 200-Shot, Range Model, Air Rifle". His mother responds, "No, that's too dangerous. You'll shoot your eye out." Ralphie is crushed at hearing the common adult "prejudice" against the be-be gun, but decides upon finding another tactical means of persuasion.At school, Ralphie's teacher, Miss Shields, (Tedde Moore) assigns his class to write a Christmas theme. Most of the students are not happy with the assignment, but Ralphie sees this as another golden opportunity to bolster the superiority of the Red Rider be-be gun as the ideal Christmas gift. He writes what he believes will be regarded a masterpiece, but when Miss Shields returns his theme, Ralphie is shocked to see a grade of "C+". To add insult to injury, Miss Shields writes in red ink, "You'll shoot your eye out!" For Ralphie, the universe is coming apart at the seams and it leads to one of the film's many subplots: a fight with the bully Scut Farcus (Zach Ward). Throughout the first half of the film, Ralphie, his younger brother Randy (Ian Petrella) and his two friends Flick (Scott Schwartz) and Schwartz (R.D. Robb) are terrorized by Scut Farcus and his toady Grover Dill (Yano Anaya). Upon receiving a C+ for his prized theme, Ralphie's rage empowers him to mercilessly beat upon the unexpecting Scut Farcus and to express his Red Rider frustration in a torrent of obscenities (don't worry, they're unintelligible). Fearing a severe punishment from his father (Darren McGavin, well-known for his characterization of Carl Kolchak in the 1972 TV-series "The Night Stalker"), Ralphie & Randy tearfully wait for their father to return home from work; but their mother plays down the fight in a conversation with him to Ralphie's relief.Ralphie's father is a fascinating character in the film with several great subplots: his unintelligible expressions of frustration with the neighbor's uncontrolled pack of dogs and struggles with their failing furnace, and his winning of a "major prize". Ralphie's mother isn't too thrilled with her husband's "major prize" since it is a tall plastic lamp in the shape of a woman's leg wearing a black-lace stocking that he proudly displays in front of their livingroom window; but a mysterious and unexplained accident changes the sitation.Other subplots in the film include Ralphie's "Little Orphan Annie Secret Society Decoder Ring", Ralphie assiting his father change a flat tire with unforeseen consequences, Schwartz challenging Flick to stick his tongue to a frozen flagpole to see whether it will get stuck, the discovery of Chinese turkey and the frequent overheating of inadequate electrical fuses and outlets in the Parker's home.Jean Shepherd's narration throughout the film binds all of the many subplots into a coherent whole that continues to delight viewers of all ages to its timeless humor and realism. Though the film itself gets 5 stars, DVD quality is far less than it what it could have been, as other reveiwers have remarked. The DVD is full-screen instead of widescreen and there is little bonus material offered. I highly recommend to Warner Studios that this film be digitally remastered in widescreen format and include additional bonus material, such as a biography of Jean Shepherd.Though the DVD quality is low for "A Christmas Story", the film itself is well worth the purchase of the full-screen DVD. This is a film that can be enjoyed at any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. Watch and see whether Ralphie will ever get his beloved, official, Red Ryder, Carbine-action, 200-Shot, Range Model, Air Rifle!

More than 2600 reviews! How does one get useful information here about a specific product when amazon lumps together reviews of EVERY VERSION ever released, written over a span of decades??? We all know the movie itself and its many charms, and I would guess that the majority of folks shopping for A Christmas Story already like/love/LOVE it. So I will confine my comments to one specific product: The 2008 "Ultimate Collector's Edition", which ships in a metal canister and includes a string of "leg lamp lights" along with the Blu-ray disc. First, the disc: As a few others have pointed out, there's not much new here, compared with earlier DVD releases--just a commentary track, a few trailers and recycled special features from the 20th anniversary (2003) DVD release (still in standard definition). The main feature is a mediocre transfer with way more digital artifacts than should be present in an HD Blu-ray release. Still, I doubt that most viewers would notice or care--it's a nostalgia-soaked holiday feel-good movie, after all. The leg lamp lights are actually pretty well done--ten mini leg lamps about 3-3/4" tall that stretch out to nearly ten feet. Best of all, the legs themselves radiate "the soft glow of electric sex" as Jean Shepherd would have wanted. As for the tin, it's a functional canister which can hold things, such as holiday baked goodies; but would it have killed them to print some images from the movie on the sides and back? (The decorative borders wrap around, but frame nothing--just more green metal.) I'm withholding one star for the shamelessly "half-fast" execution, but of course, the movie itself rates a big five. Note: Recently this set has been offered for much less than standalone sets of leg lamp lights on amazon, so you could buy it for the lights and get the movie & tin as a bonus. Ho, ho, ho!

With all of the fondness I've read for this movie I was surprised that it's mainly an American thing. I've never seen A Christmas Story on TV or in stores in the UK. I doubt many people outside of the US know who Jean Shepherd is, or of his popular Ralphie Parker character. In fact, most people in general won't know that this movie is actually the fourth of (currently) seven featuring Ralphie.Adapted from the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, a collection of mostly Christmas-themed short stories, it remind me a lot of Christmas Vacation (adapted by John Hughes from his own Christmas '59 short story) in that it seems semi-autobiographic. But the adaptation of several stories gives the movie a sketchy feel, with a few that failed to resonate with me.The main story has little Ralphie Parker (brilliantly played by Peter Billingsly), a kid with imagination and cynicism beyond his years, beg his parents, and Santa, for a BB gun while dealing with a series of eccentric events in 1940s Indiana. It made me laugh quite a lot, but mainly in the second half. The cosy Xmas atmosphere is lovely, and there's not a shred of anything unwholesome. But I just can't see myself making this an annual tradition.I am sure many will disagree, but it does make me curious about checking out the other Ralphie Parker movies.The Blu-ray features a fine 1.78:1 1080p picture which accurately exhibits the film's retro color pallet and style. The sound is non-HD Dolby Mono, but it too matches the period setting. There are plenty of decent extras too. This Collector's Edition comes in a big tin box with a string of Xmas lights inside. The DVD counterpart contained an apron, cookie cutters, and a 50-page recipe book. I would much rather have had that than Xmas lights.

Great product. Shipped quickly!

I first watched this film at the cinema, it captivated me as a child, and now I am an adult it still touches the child within me every single time I watch it. It is full of emotion, humour, acceptance and the dynamics of a fully functioning family. You feel part of their family, sitting on their bed or at the dinner table watching the hilarious and sometimes touching scenes unfold. The little arguements, the white lies we all tell from time to time and the differences of each personality. It reminds me of the beauty of being less than perfect and the enjoyment that can bring. It reminds me of the child I used to be. You must buy this film, and enjoy it every year at Christmastime. It is a classic.

I knew nothing about this film, I just bought it for the family because it had a Christmas theme. A few of the other better known Yule Tide films I purchased were complete turkeys - NOT THIS ONE!It's a wonderful evocation of Christmas from a childs point of view. Also, it's American with no schmaltz, which is quite surprising. I guarantee everybody will love this film, trust me.One of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed on film concerns the youngest son playing with his food. I laughed so loud it hurt and I giggled for a week.Buy it, play it every year and add extra warmth to your festive celebrations.MERRY CHRISTMAS.

A very different kind of story and I loved it

Christmas through a young boys eyes .A Christmas classic

This has to be the best film to watch as a family (and there a very few of these) my children all watched this when they were small and are now adults and still all watch it when they come home for christmas. It is a gem - please make another.