A Christmas Story

Trivia: Director Bob Clark has a cameo appearance in this movie. He portrays Swede, Mr. Parker's neighbor.

Trivia: During the scene in the department store where Ralphie and Randy are standing in line, awaiting their turn to tell Santa what they want for Christmas, there is a boy in front of them wearing some sort of fighter pilot goggles. This boy was never hired to be in the movie; he was a local at the department store. Director Bob Clark kept him because he thought he had the right look for the scene.

Trivia: When Ralphie comes down the stairs in the pink bunny outfit, the line spoken by the old man, "He looks like a deranged Easter bunny," was ad-libbed by Darren McGavin. Director Bob Clark liked it so much he kept it in. (Source: Quest Capsule).

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Trivia: When he imagines defeating Black Bart and his gang, Peter Billingsley/Ralphie is chewing real Red Man chewing tobacco. Usually black licorice is used in movies, but director Bob Clark gave him actual chew, which made him sick.

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Trivia: When The Old Man is outside directing the placement of the lamp, and he talks to Swede (director Bob Clark), Swede is wearing a Miami Dolphins snow hat. It was turned sideways to hide the logo, since the Dolphins didn't come into existence until 1965.

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Continuity mistake: When Melinda Dillon breaks the lamp, it is broken into many pieces, but when Darren McGavin is gluing it back together it is now in much fewer and bigger broken pieces. Obviously different broken lamps were used.

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

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.

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More questions & answers from A Christmas Story

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