A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) | First Time Watching | Movie Reaction

[@rlevitta]

My daughter gave me a coffee cup for Christmas that says “you used up all the glue ON PURPOSE” with a picture of “the old man” on it. 😊

[@coldflamebluedragon196]

I love the moment when Ralphie finds the hidden gift and his dad is so happy

[@estephens13]

I love this movie so much. The fact you haven't seen it makes me feel super old, back in the olden times TBS would literately play it over and over for days every Christmas. Also I always thought the kid that plays Farkus looked just like the guy from Shes All That, but for me he will always be the Shermanator from American Pie.

[@joegreene7619]

Both TNT and TBS do a 24 hour marathon of it every year at Christmas.

[@donp1964]

You're right, being a mall Santa is exhausting, physically and emotionally, but really rewarding too. I did it for a few years when I was much younger because a good friend of mine was a family portrait photographer and won the contracts for the local malls. The way they filmed this in the movie was from the perspective of the children, which is almost always terrifying and intimidating no matter how kind the elves and Santa are. 🙂

[@MattB2603]

The house used for the outside shots is still around and was bought several years ago by a fan of the movie. It was turned into a museum for the movie and the inside looks just it does in the movie.irs located in Cleveland OH.

[@christhornycroft3686]

Weren’t some scenes shot in Ohio?

[@MattB2603]

@christhornycroft3686 yes there were. The first scene at the Higbees toy display was shot at Higbees in downtown Cleveland OH, as well as the parade scene. Visiting Santa was shot inside of Higbees as well.

[@victorsixtythree]

It took me years of watching this movie before I realized that after the waiter at the Chinese restaurant lopped off the duck's head, he put it in his pocket!

[@victorsixtythree]

Adult Ralphie is voiced by Jean Shepherd who actually wrote the stories collected in the book "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" on which "A Christmas Story" is based. Shepherd makes an appearance in the movie, too - he's the guy in line at the department store that tells Ralphie to go to the end of the line.

[@victorsixtythree]

After meeting Santa in the department store on Christmas eve, Ralphie's dad asked if he told Santa what he wanted and if he told Santa that he'd been a good boy all year. Ralphie said no but his dad said, "Don't worry. He knows. He always knows." Ralphie's dad knew he wanted the Red Ryder BB gun and had already bought it for him!

[@Justin_WithThreeDots]

yeah the soap punishment was a real thing, I got raised in the 80s and my parents were still doing it (I also got paddled several times in and out of school) 🤶 anyway, happy holidays

[@zachharris3040]

I volunteered this past year for the santa stage at a local community theater. Pretty much in the center of town. I dressed as an elf. It was really heartwarming to see kids still believe. There was some crying but not as much as you'd expect. The Santa was a lot better at making the kids feel comfortable than the santa in this movie. Everytime it was a new family's turn to walk over to santa I got to say all aboard in sort of a train conductor voice (via the polar Express). So much fun.

[@cleonmagabeefy8500]

They didn't tell Melinda Dillon about the cooked duck coming out with it's head still attached, so her reactions are genuine...

[@JPDillon]

Fun FAct, the actor who played Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) is one of the elves in the Will Ferrell Chistmas movie "Elf". He work behind the camera mostly these days, producing movies, but he wrote and starred in a sequel of sorts to "The Christmas Story" last year called "A Christmas Story Christmas".

[@victorsixtythree]

It's so interesting...this movie takes place in the early 1940's (interestingly, The Wizard of Oz would have only come out a few years earlier and Wizard of Oz characters were already in the Christmas parade) and it came out in the early 1980's. I imagine in the 80's some people who watched it could remember growing up in the 40's forty years earlier. Now in the 2020's, there probably aren't all that many people who remember the 40's. But we do have a lot of older people (like me) who remember forty years ago when this movie came out...

[@swordmonkey6635]

Those leg lamps are for sale now because of this movie. People put them in their windows at Christmas time. It's a thing. lol

[@swordmonkey6635]

About the tongue incident, fun story, my old girlfriend grew up on a dairy farm. Her brother and her were playing out by the large metal milk storage tank when they were younger and she dared him to stick his tongue to the outside. There were refrigerated and slightly frosty on the outside. He did and got his tongue stuck. He started crying and freaking out and she went to the house (a ways away) to go get help. Somehow, once she got to the house, she forgot and sat down to watch TV. He was out there for a long time and eventually pulled himself free (taking the skin off his tongue). He was understandably mad at her. She claimed that even when she told me years later that she'd forgotten about him. lol Fun Fact: all you need to do is pour warm water on the area on the tongue and cold surface. It will free it painlessly. Yes, eating soap for swearing was a thing. My mom made me do it when I was little. Ivory mostly (which tastes hideous and gets stuck in your teeth), but then she stepped up to Lava soap.

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

They did it in the movie by drilling a hole in the hollow pole and using a vacuum to make the tongue stick.

[@shaitanlavey]

Chris Owen was the guy in She's All That. He's best known for his role as the Sherminator in the American Pie movies. Scut Farkus was played by Zack Ward.

[@mr.garlicman3134]

I am going to meet Peter Billingsley in December at a meet and greet.

[@randyronny7735]

Back in the early part of the 20th century, homes would have only one outlet in each room. Many homes only used built in lights and there weren't things like stereos and TV. They would have the need for a stand light and radio (of course the Christmas Tree).

[@slongf15]

This movie played every year during the 90s and early 2000s for like a month leading up to Christmas. We always loved watching it. You have very pretty eyes and a beautiful smile by the way.

[@EndymionDeVere]

Back in 19th century and early decades of the 20th, Christmas Eve was the traditional night for decorating a tree. In many households the kids would go to sleep with the tree still bare and wake up Christmas morning to the miracle of Santa Claus having decorated the tree and left presents. small presents were often left hanging upon the tree among the decorations. Commercialisation has sort of reversed how the holiday works. Old School celebrations started Christmas Eve (first night) and lasted through Twelfth Night (the Night of January Fifth, i.e., the Eve of Epiphany, when Italians and Latin Americans still get visited by Befana the Witch or by the 3 Kings bringing gifts), and January 6th ended the Christmas holidays. Many people believe the Tree must come down before Epiphany begins and so dismantle the tree on the 5th of January (or Twelfth Night )

[@MPascolin]

I’m happy Befana never really immigrated to “America” it’s kinda spooky but not much more preposterous than Santa.

[@EndymionDeVere]

@@MPascolin i do love Befana’s backstory and name (Befana is Epiphania, Epiphany). The Wise Men were travelling g to Bethlehem, following that star, and stopped by her house to ask directions. They invited her to come with them to see the newborn son of God, but she turns them down without thinking. They interrupted her chores and she had to get her housework done. They depart and she realises what had happened when it is too late to change her mind. So she throws a leg over her broom and flies off in search of the kings and the child in the manger. But she didn’t succeed that night. Ever since she flies around the world on the Eve of Epiphany giving good children sweets and presents in hope of one being the Christ child. It’s just such an unusual explanation for a holiday mascot and gift giver.

[@MPascolin]

@@EndymionDeVerewow thanks for the extended knowledge about Befana!

[@lethaldose2000]

Steph, your unbridled joy for, " A Christmas Story" was so infectious. ------- Ralphie and his little brother won your heart faster than Rom Com heart throb. ------- I especially loved your reaction to the soap poisoning dream by Ralphie.

[@Chris-filosifer64]

Kolchak: The Night Stalker is an American television series that aired on ABC during the 1974-1975 season. It featured a fictional Chicago wire service reporter-Carl Kolchak, played by Darren McGavin-who investigated mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those that law enforcement authorities would not follow up. These often involved the supernatural or science fiction, including fantastic creatures.

[@otisroseboro5613]

One Of My All Time Favorite Movie's,Nice Reaction Sweetheart ❤ & Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

[@Grant_Wolfman]

28:00 Which is worse, losing/breaking your glasses, or TELLING YOUR PARENTS that you lost/broke your glasses? Great reaction as always, I love this movie!

[@mr.garlicman3134]

Yes an Air Riffle is a BB Gun

[@johnniekight1879]

This is the fourth in a series of seven movies on this family. All based on short stories from Jean Shepherds radio program. All the child actors are back in last years "A Christmas Story Christmas"

[@vincecommando7575]

This is one of those holiday classic films that most people absolutely love. I myself do enjoy seeing this movie around Christmas time. Also rest in peace to Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, Bob Clark, Jean Shepherd, Jeff Gillen, Les Carlson, Leigh Brown, Court Benson and Fred Lee.

[@supatiltgaming]

This was my favorite christmas movie growing up. Surprisingly this came 4 years after the first 'Vacation' movie, but they were going for an earlier time and a classic look. That's why you might think it came out way earlier than it did.

[@BDUBZ49]

The film is set in 1939. That's why you don't hear any mention of WWII, because the US didn't get involved until 1941. The author was actually 18 at this time, so the story is only autobiographical to a certain extent. Author Jean Shepherd grew up in Hammond, IN just outside of Chicago. While there is no 'Hohman, IN', there is a Hohman Avenue that runs through the downtown section of Hammond. We hear the narrator say he lived on Cleveland Street....which is true. The Higbee's department store is a real store in Cleveland, OH where the movie was filmed. It is meant to represent the old Goldblatt's department store that was in downtown Hammond.

[@frmthefuture]

fun facts: 1] during the chinese food scene, the director only told "mother and father parker" a general outline of the scene- mainly because "father parker" had lines to react to. other than that, "mother parker" didn't know anything beforehand. so the reactions you see from everyone [to the bad singing and especially to the duck] were all 100% legit. 2] the dad should look familiar, he's clark griswald's father-in-law from "christmas vacation." 3] jack nicholson was originally supposed to play "old man parker." at this point, jack was a HUGE movie star and being in this movie would've been more of a cameo for him. jack dropped out, because he felt him being in the movie would've overshadowed the rest of the cast- plus take focus away from "ralph." this is also why "mother parker" is so much younger than "old man parker," as she had been cast to match jack's age range.

[@frogofbrass382]

My father, who grew up in the 1930s, said that his parents did setup the tree AFTER the kids went to sleep, so they would wake up to find Santa had brought both presents and a tree.

[@timothymorris157]

A Christmas Story is one of my all time favorite holiday movies along with The Muppet Christmas Carol, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, and Die Hard but it was only a few weeks ago that i recently added it to my DVD collection. It’s hard to believe for some that Bob Clark directed this and Black Christmas (1974) one of the best and darkest horror films ever although he also directed Porky’s circa 1981.

[@BigGator5]

"No, no! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!" "You'll shoot your eye out, kid. Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!" Merry Christmas! ✝️ 🙏 🎄 🎁 Fun Fact : Theatrical movie debut of Zack Ward. Historical Fact: Red Ryder was a character from comic books and radio in the 1930s/40s, akin to popular western heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and the Lone Ranger. Gun Enthusiast Fact: Due to this film's popularity, the Daisy Rifle Company has started producing Red Ryder BB Guns for sale during the Christmas season. It has become one of Daisy's best selling rifles. Movie Magic Fact: For the scene in which Flick's (Scott Schwartz) tongue sticks to the flagpole, a hidden suction tube was used to safely create the illusion that his tongue had frozen to the metal pole. Author Cameo Fact: Jean Shepherd (author of In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash (1966) which forms the basis of this movie) is not only the voice of a narrator, but is also the irate man waiting in the Santa line at the department store. The woman standing behind him is his wife, Leigh Brown. Automobile Enthusiast Fact: The people of Cleveland were incredibly cooperative during filming, donating antique vehicles from every corner of the city. These vintage vehicles helped to enhance the authenticity of the production design. During the filming in downtown Cleveland, the antique automobile club members whose cars were used were given a route to follow on Public Square. They were instructed to continue circling the square until otherwise instructed. Road salt was a major concern for the car owners and the cars were pressure-washed after each day's filming and parked underground beneath the Terminal Tower. Fixer Upper Fact: In 2005 the original home used for the exterior shots of the family home was put up for auction on eBay, and avid fan of the movie Brian Jones purchased it directly from the seller for $150K. Jones then spent the following year restoring the home to the way it looked on screen. The exterior was completely restored and the interior was renovated to match the interior of the home shown in the movie (parts of the interior were actually filmed in a Toronto studio). On November 25, 2006, the home finally opened its doors as a tourist attraction. Jones spent close to $500K in preparation for this grand opening. In addition, he also purchased a house across the street and converted it to a gift shop and museum dedicated to the film and the house.

[@CaddyJim]

Everybody misinterprets the Santa scene you just explained how the Children cry. It's from the child's point of view & they feel they're being taken away from their parents & Santa's scary

[@BDUBZ49]

The father (Darren McGavin) played Adam Sandler's dad in Billy Madison. He was in many, many tv shows in the '50s through the '70s. The actor who played Scut Farkas would have been almost 30 by the time She's All That came out. They do look alike, though.

[@Deadfistx12]

It's so awesome you watched this movie. I watch it every Christmas usually with my dad but this year I didn't but I did show it to someone who had not seen it which was awesome.

[@ZebZanko]

Yes...Getting ones mouth washed out with soap was a "thing". How do I know? I got the washing out a few times. My Mom used to rake the soap bar up into the top teeth as she pulled it out of the mouth.

[@hbk-hotboy713]

Best Christmas movie ever IMO... I watch this flick every Christmas holiday especially after my tongue was frozen stuck to a popsicle walking home from school one day 🤦🏾😂

[@rogerherrington5725]

Have you seen A Christmas Story Christmas? While A Christmas Story was made in 1983, it's sequel, with all the returning cast (except for the actor who played the father who had died and the original mom (the actress had serious health issues). This sequel is a very good sequel and even serves as a tribute to Darren McGavin (who played the dad).

[@duanetelesha]

Great reaction, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@lethaldose2000]

Hey Steph, I've watched this movie every year for the last 30 years. ------ To see so many reactors discover this timeless gem just warms my heart. ------- So glad you had fun going thru the tales of Ralphie, Flick and the neighborhood crew. ------- To see your inner mom and child unleashed was really fun -------- Now its just to get you on board with the greatest leg lamp in the history of cinema. ------- Nothing Beats electric sex in the window. LOVE IT.

[@csgollum]

Happy New Year, Steph! My best wishes for a healthy, prosperous, and happy 2024. Oh, and also, nice decorations 😊 Thanks for this review! First time watching (or, at least, part watching) for me too. The tongue on the pole scene reminded me of 'Dumb & Dumber' starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels...

[@cinemawithsteph]

Happy new year! And thanks so much for :) I haven’t seen Dumb and Dumber but I did see the trailer - not my type of comedy but I know a lot of people that love it

[@csgollum]

@@cinemawithsteph Yep... it was a bit, umm, over the top. I did watch it in the theatre when it was first released. Having only seen Jeff Daniels in a serious role before, it was quite a surprise seeing him actually match "wits" with Jim Carrey in this slapstick comedy. I must admit I was younger and did enjoy this sort of thing quite a bit back then. 😁

[@viclagina347]

The good ol days.... it was like this through the 80s

[@CaddyJim]

He's narrating it as an adult vut the whole movie is from a child's point of view not just a dream sequences

[@glasswhisperer]

It's not Christmas until Ralphie shoots his eye out for the twelvth time

[@dedcowbowee]

Very fun reaction!

[@joshuakallenberger915]

Soap in the mouth was absolutely a real thing. It was really bad when one day we were out of bar soap and I got a mouth full of liquid soap.... which was far worse.

[@tddonahue4244]

Something tells me you've seen it, but your the perfect candidate for It's a wonderful Life. You'll love it

[@cinemawithsteph]

I actually haven’t! I meant to do it this season but somehow forgot :(

[@tddonahue4244]

​@@cinemawithsteph , ok Steph 👍 well get on it, just FYI, your warm smile just lights up your sincere reactions. Big fan.

[@thestingman2966]

@@cinemawithstephThat’s good to have something left to do for next year. And may I also recommend Anna and the Apocalypse, which is a British comedy/zombie/musical/Christmas movie.

[@lethaldose2000]

Hey Steph, did this movie resemble your Christmas hopes and dreams as a precocious little girl. ------- Excited for all the presents, food and fully stuffed stockings. ------- We all dream of the deranged Easter bunny suit for. HA

[@snafu313]

The movie came out in 1983, but was set around 1940.

[@bryandempsey3840]

As for the soap in the mouth. The one and only time I said “damn” in front of my mom, I was 11 and I was frustrated as I hung up the phone on a friend. It was a word my dad used all the time, but I was in trouble. My mouth was filled up with liquid soap. She held me down and scrubbed it it in. It was terrible and impossible to the taste out for hours.

[@guitarman8462]

If you have'nt yet try : Gremlins 1&2 - Dog Day Afternoon - Dick Tracy - And Justice For All - Sea Of Love . Just a few to get you started 👍

[@ryanandy98]

The guy with his tongue stuck to the pole was in some more adult movies

[@gromester1092]

“I thought it was gonna be a crushing defeat for him.” Well……

[@MrGruffteddybear]

Now you should watch the sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas with an adult Ralphie, his brother and friends as adults. Played by the same actors. It came out in 2022. The time period is set in the late 1960's or early 70's. Even Scut Farkus makes an appearance. Not quite as good as the original but a worthy sequel.

[@cinemawithsteph]

I watched it! It’ll be coming this month :)

[@dennislopez1272]

Great reaction, Steph. BTW, It was most definitely a thing. My first grade teacher washed my mouth out with soap. It was awful.

[@cinemawithsteph]

Your teacher?! At most I thought it would be a parent thing.

[@dennislopez1272]

@cinemawithsteph My mom didn't give a crap. Mrs. Fernandez, on the other hand.... BTW, that was 45 years ago, and i still haven't forgotten her name.

[@mr.garlicman3134]

Well ain't you just the most cutest little tart in the bakery yes you are!

[@corralescoyote]

I liked when u laughed at Flicks tongue

[@BDUBZ49]

Prior to this movie, starting around 1979, Peter Billingsly had appeared in a series of commercials for Hershey's Syrup. They had just come out with the squeezable bottle...as an alternative to their standard tin can, that needed to be punctured in order to pour. The new bottle was much neater for pouring....ergo.. Peter played the character "Messy Marvin" to promote the product. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXLGl35pgNiZiac

[@aresee8208]

Every boy has, at some point in his life, had to deal with a bully. (I bet even bullies have to deal with bigger bullies.) But I bet most dads, certainly my dad,, would support their boy fighting back. If anything, it would be the moms who might have a hard time with it. But, I guess every kid's experience is a little different.

[@lethaldose2000]

Hey Steph, I remember the first time I cursed in front of my mom and dad. ------ I was 10, mom demanded I take the trash out in the middle of my video game and I cursed the "F" word in rage. -------- I didn't get soap in the mouth. I got touched with the leather belt several times. ------- So Ralphie I feel your pain.

[@Hyp333R]

Whats the schedule for Reacher episodes?

[@BDUBZ49]

Kudos, you're the only one that appreciates the Santa scene. Kids want to see Santa....until they see Santa. Then they freak out. What we were seeing through the camera was just a little kid's perspective, not reality. That's why it seemed so unpleasant.

[@josephsarto689]

This movie takes place in 1940 wheb baseball waa the most popular sport in America yet this film acts like all the boys would be interested in football. Ralphie says I don’t think a football is a very good Christmas present. And Santa suggests “how about a nice football”

[@ryanandy98]

Never watched TBS on Christmas?

[@JTOCIII]

Cool reaction I heard about this movie once I hoped you enjoyed it also I subscribed to your channel👍

[@TheCashcrue]

When I was a kid I got soap in my mouth at least twice a week.

[@Right-Hand_Man]

This is a great holiday movie, which is why I try to avoid it 😂. It airs every year, 24/7, relentlessly. But it’s good to revisit it every now and then 👍🏽

[@BDUBZ49]

Only on 1 channel

[@DEWwords]

It WAS a thing. Yes. Soap poisoning.

[@MFSMUG]

fra-jee-lay, must be italian

[@ronweber1402]

I don't know what it is about mothers in places where it gets cold but up until you are about 7 you get dressed up until you look like Patrick the effin' Starfish. But thankfully somewhere around that point, probably after being tired of listening to all the bitching about having to get dressed up, you are allowed to dress like a normal human. I stuck my tongue to the aluminum window frame at school once. I don't know what the heck I was thinking but I only stuck the very tip to it to the frame so I pulled it off. I lost a little skin but no one saw me and I didn't tell anyone.

[@mapegatkinson92]

In Pgh PA, a girl's dad thought it would be funny to scare her boyfriend who was in her bedroom doing homework. At close range he shot a BB gun at his head and killed him. Soooooo yeah. Problematic. to say the least.

[@Lunarbob19]

At least you realize that the dad was into the lamp because it was an award he won and not for the reasons the mother hated it. You ask why he went for his mom? Heck with how unhinged Ralphy was there he might have put that bully into the hospital if no one stopped him. Again, a reactor taking the Santa scene at face value and not seeing how its a kids POV. The fish lens should have been a good indicator. Can't believe how ppl go gaga just cuz they are dogs, ignoring the animals actions and personalities. I can recall suffering the soap in mouth at least once in my youth, don't even remember why.

[@timroebuck3458]

So, other than having a crappy name, what was Scut Farkas's problem? During the time and place I grew up, we had to learn to stand up for ourselves or they'd come after you harder the next time.

[@Roller-Ball]

NOTCE TO EDITOR...........I bet you edit the reviews with either headphones or earbuds. In doing this you make the reviewer 2-5 times louder than the movie, when you finish. I understand between music and audio in the movies. This makes it really difficult to hear the parts you post. Please go to another computer and listen to the post. You will hear the difference between them. I am not trying to be disrespectful. Reguards: Rollerball

[@cinemawithsteph]

Thanks for the input! I edit them myself, and use earbuds like you mentioned. I tried watching it on my phone as well and I don’t think it sounds that drastic between the audio of the movie and myself, but I’ll try out some different settings and see :) thanks!