A Christmas Story

Other mistake: When the father "won" and he tells the family it was going to be sent "on tonight", he accidentally closes the door on one of the hound's ears. The dog starts moving up and down, which means the ear was thin enough to move around. If the ear was thin enough to move around, the dog could've just pulled itself out. (00:25:30 - 00:26:00)

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Suggested correction: I'm sure the dog could have pulled itself out, however, that doesn't necessarily mean it would once it felt frightened from feeling its ear caught in the door. Dogs are funny like that, especially when they get scared. Sometimes they'll freeze and do little to help themselves even though they could. For some of them that's simply their survival instinct.

Other mistake: At the end when Ralphie takes his gun outside to use for the first time the shot bounces back and hits him, knocking him off his feet. His gun comes in from the side a second later like someone tossed it into the shot. (01:40:00)

dabears51907

Other mistake: When Ralphie and Flick are walking to school for the first time, they meet up with Schwartz, coming down the steps of his house which appears to be two houses down from Ralphie's. Later, when Ralphie is lying in bed after the soap in the mouth scene, the narrator (older Ralphie), states how "Three blocks away, Schwartz was getting his."

Rob Meears

Other mistake: When Pierre Andre is giving the members of the "Secret Society" their message, listen carefully. The first number is 12. Towards the end of the message he says 12 again. Since the first letter of the first word is "B", and there are no other "B's" in the entire message, I guess this is another one that slipped by the editor. They also say to set pins to B2, so 12 can't be B.

Other mistake: When the leg lamp is set up and turned on, the entire leg lights up. Trouble is, when you first see it, you can see there is no light in it, nor a fixture. Later, after it is broken, you again see no lighting of any kind in the leg. I don't think the light from its position on top of the leg would have illuminated the leg all the way down to the shoe at the bottom.

Movie Nut

A Christmas Story mistake picture

Other mistake: In the end credits, Santa's name in the song title "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" is misspelled as "Clause."

Other mistake: When dad comes home with the telegram saying that he won a "major award", look at the car. There is snow piled up on the top of the car, the windshields, and the hood, at least an inch thick. Even then, the hot engine would make the hood warm up, and in turn, melt at least some of the snow. And the windshields look like there was enough snow removed to guide the car, instead of removing as much as possible for safety. It looks like the car was simply pushed from off camera.

Movie Nut

Other mistake: When Ralphie has the fantasy about going blind, watch the Old Man when he asks how they could do what they did. He has his hand over his mouth, and he's trying to keep from laughing.

dewinela

Other mistake: When the old man screws in the blue light bulb on the Christmas tree and the lights go out in the house, the living room remains dark while he changes the fuse. Meanwhile a fire is going in the fireplace, so the light from the fire would cast some light into the room.

Continuity mistake: When Ralphie's father is sitting in the chair reading the funnies (before the dogs ruin the turkey), there is a small gold lampshade sitting on the table next to him. In the first shot, there is a Christmas bow on it. In the following shot, the bow has disappeared.

More mistakes in A Christmas Story

Mom: Ralphie, what would you like for Christmas?
Adult Ralphie: Horrified, I heard myself blurt it out.
Ralphie: I want an official Red Ryder carbine action two hundred shot range model air rifle.
Mom: No. You'll shoot your eye out.

More quotes from A Christmas Story
More trivia for A Christmas Story

Question: I apologize for my original question, that is currently listed on MM, I was mistaken as to where in the film my question refers to, so please delete that question. That said, can someone answer this, please. Right before the lamp breaks, and right after Ralphie's mom fills her watering can in the sink, it really sounds like the "old man" yells, "You platypus nut-grabber". Is that what he's saying? I realize most of his "swearing" is actually nonsensical words and rants.

Answer: You are quite right about this. At one point, he does say "platypus nut-grabber." If you listen closely, you can hear it amongst all the ranting and raving.

wizard_of_gore

More questions & answers from A Christmas Story

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