Merry Christmas

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Movie
German title Merry Christmas
Original title A Christmas Story
Country of production United States , Canada
original language English
Publishing year 1984
length 93 minutes
Age rating FSK 6
Rod
Director Bob Clark
script Jean Parker Shepherd,
Leigh Brown ,
Bob Clark
production Bob Clark,
René Dupont
music Paul Zaza ,
Carl Zittrer
camera Reginald H. Morris
cut Stan Cole
occupation

Merry Christmas (Originally A Christmas Story ) is a comedy film directed by Bob Clark from 1983 . The film is based on a short story by Jean Parker Shepherd . It was shot in Canada and the United States . It is about the everyday life of a little boy named Ralphie in the run-up to Christmas .

In the German dubbing, Harald Juhnke lends his voice to the narrator, who clarifies Ralphie's thoughts. The film continued with A Christmas Story 2 in 2012 .

action

Ralphie, a bright little boy, lives in a suburb of Indiana around 1940 . There are only a few days until Christmas and Ralphie this time has a special request , and that he wants the air rifle Red Ryder BB rifle that has a built-in compass has. It is a heartfelt desire whose fulfillment is very important to him. He also talks about it with his teacher and in the department store he explains to Santa Claus in great detail what his Christmas present should look like. Ralphie's mother, in particular, has reservations about this gift, as she cannot be sure how great the risk of injury is.

When Ralphie's wish comes true on Christmas morning , he tries the rifle he received outside the house and everything goes well, except for the fact that his glasses break.

Background and continuation

The Parker's home in Cleveland, Ohio

The actor Jack Nicholson would have liked to take on the role of Ralphie's father, but the director Bob Clark was very pleased with his actor Darren McGavin. He also gave preference to the actor of Ralphie Peter Billingsley in the casting over, for example, Wil Wheaton . The film produced by MGM was released for the first time on November 23, 1984. While Harald Juhnke lends his voice to adult Ralphie in the German version, the actor and presenter Jean Parker Shepherd (1921–1999) takes on this task in the English version. The film is based on Shepherd's short stories, some of which are based on his own childhood.

While the film is comparatively little known in Germany, it is one of the most popular Christmas films in America due to numerous television broadcasts. In 2000, Philip Grecian wrote a stage adaptation in two acts. In 2012 a second part appeared under the title A Christmas Story 2 with Braeden Lemasters in the lead role. Ralphie is now 16 years old and this time wants a car for Christmas.

criticism

The film was initially received with caution and was withdrawn from most cinemas after a relatively short time. The New York Times wrote that you had to have the stamina of a pearl diver to enjoy the movie. It was only in the later years, especially after Shepherd's death, that the film gained great popularity in the United States. Today it is considered a classic Christmas television program there.

The lexicon of the international film judged: "A nostalgic film that criticizes consumer behavior, educational methods and role allocation in a very gentle way, not without humor and empathy for the child's imagination." The US critic portal Rotten Tomatoes has the film a positive rating of 88 %, he is described there as "warm-hearted nostalgic" and "black humor".

Awards (selection)

The film was nominated for the Genie Award in seven categories , Bob Clark was also honored for “Best Director” and the scriptwriters were each awarded a prize.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Merry Christmas moviepilot.de. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  2. ^ Grecian, Philip: A Christmas Story , 2000, ISBN 9781583420317
  3. ↑ A Christmas Story 2 filmstarts.de
  4. ↑ Chris Heller: The Largely Forgotten, Cynical Genius Behind A Christmas Story. The Atlantic, December 24, 2013, accessed March 21, 2016 .
  5. ↑ Merry Christmas (1983) zweiausendeins.de
  6. ↑ "A Christmas Story" at Rotten Tomatoes