A Christmas Story is my all-time favorite movie, Christmas or otherwise. I wore out the first videotape I had of it. I’m working on the second. Soon I’ll have to buy it on DVD. I watch it year round. I turn it on whenever I’m not doing anything else during the holidays. It is on most of the 24 hours that TBS airs it each Christmas…I’m not sitting there watching it, but when I’ve got a minute to stop, well, there it is. It is one of those movies I can sit and recite the dialog word for word with the actors and it never gets old. I laugh just as much now as I did the first time I saw it. All of the characters are so good, but the dad is my favorite, probably because I can see a bit of my own “old man” in him. Who can forget the epic struggles with the furnace and the tapestry of profanity that still lingers over Lake Michigan? Or the quick whiff of ozone that meant a fuse had been replaced? Or the arrival of the “major award” straight from Italy (well, the crate did say Fra-gee-lay).
Now, for the second time this weekend it’s time to say goodbye to another fine actor who’s become such a part of our culture that he feels like family.
DARREN MCGAVIN 1922-2006
I’ve never seen it! Do you still like me?
Comment by Mel — February 27, 2006 @ 1:23 pm
You must correct this great lacking in your life! Do not walk, but RUN to your nearest video store and rent ‘A Christmas Story.’ It is the funniest movie ever!
Oh yeah, I still like you….just not as much. Kidding!!
Comment by Stacy — February 27, 2006 @ 1:50 pm