Guide Note
Cult holiday classic A Christmas Story was only moderately successful in its initial release in theaters. While contemporary reviews were somewhat critical of the movie, reviews written in more recent years have been overwhelmingly positive, perhaps because of its cult status.
Fast Facts
- Director: Bob Clark
- Released: November 18, 1983
- Run Time: 94 Minutes
- Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin
- A sequel, My Summer Story, was released in 1994
A Christmas Story
Set around 1940, the nostalgic film follows 9-year-old Ralphie in his attempts to acquire a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas. It also traces the foibles of those around him, including a classmate whose tongue is frozen to a flagpole, his parents' battle over a lamp shaped like a woman's leg, and the tragedy of the family's Christmas turkey. It is based on incidents in several books by author and radio personality Jean Shepherd.
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