A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story. 1983 MGM/Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Peter Billingsley, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, Zack Ward
Narrator: Jean Shepherd
Director: Bob Clark
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Nine year old Ralphie Parker (Billingsley) wants only one thing for Christmas: an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock, and this thing [a sundial!] which tells time.

The stock response from any adult hearing Ralphie's wishes? "You'll shoot your eye out." Ralphie gets it from his parents, his teacher, and even an obnoxious department store Santa Claus, right before sending Ralphie straight down the chute.

Ralphie does get the toy that every kid wants, but still manages to nearly prove every adult right, after a shot he takes ricochets off a traffic sign, and hits him just below the eye, knocking his glasses off.

We really shouldn't neglect to mention the "triple dog dare" for Flick (Schwartz) to stick his tongue to a cold metal pole, which as everyone now knows, he gets stuck to.

Yes, this is a new Christmas classic, and believe it or not, today was the first time I ever sat down to watch it from beginning to end. I know, I'm horrible. Highly recommended if you haven't seen it before, or if you've already watched it every year since it started airing on television every holiday season (on Fox, WGN America, TBS, TCM, TNT, etc.) for the past twenty years.

Don't forget: TBS starts airing the movie for 24 straight hours on Christmas Eve, starting at 8 PM Eastern time. Be there! We double dog dare you.