A Christmas Story: Behind-the-Scenes Facts That Make It Even More Magical
It’s Based on (Sort of) True Stories A Christmas Story draws from the semi-autobiographical tales of Jean Shepherd, who grew up in Hammond, Indiana. The film is adapted from his book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash and his collection Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters. Many iconic moments, like the Red Ryder BB gun wish, Flick’s flagpole mishap, and the chaos with the Bumpus hounds, are inspired by Shepherd’s childhood and his radio broadcasts. The film captures the nostalgic spirit of a 1930s Christmas, blending fact with comic exaggeration.
Peter Billingsley’s Real Reaction to the Pink Bunny Suit When Ralphie is forced to wear the infamous pink bunny pajamas, Peter Billingsley wasn’t acting—he really was embarrassed and uncomfortable. The actor recalled that it was “hot” and “nasty,” and as a 13-year-old, he found it particularly mortifying to wear in front of the crew. Despite the discomfort, Billingsley kept the suit, storing it in his mother’s attic for years.
A Lost Flash Gordon Fantasy Sequence A fantasy sequence involving Ralphie saving Flash Gordon from Ming the Merciless was filmed but ultimately cut from the movie. The elaborate set and costumes made it one of the more expensive scenes, but director Bob Clark felt it was too over-the-top and strayed from the film’s tone. As a result, it never made it to the final version, though stories of the lost footage have become part of the film’s legend.
Flick Was Actually Left on the Flagpole The unforgettable moment when Flick gets his tongue stuck to the flagpole after a triple-dog-dare was a challenge to film. The effect was created using a vacuum tube, but behind the scenes, actor Scot Schwartz was left attached to the pole when the crew broke for lunch—mirroring the way his classmates abandoned him in the movie. Schwartz’s on-set antics had reportedly annoyed the crew, who decided to play a little prank on him.
They Had to Shoot the Flagpole Scene Twice A technical mishap required the flagpole scene to be filmed a second time. The original film was underdeveloped by a Toronto lab, forcing the cast and crew to reshoot the sequence. The reshoot meant extra days on set for Scot Schwartz, who played Flick.
Jean Shepherd’s Cameo Jean Shepherd, the humorist and writer who inspired the entire story, makes a cameo in the film as the cranky man in the department store who points out to Ralphie and his mother where the Santa line begins. Shepherd insisted on the cameo, giving a nod to his longtime radio audience.
The Duck Dinner Surprise Was Real In the scene where the family is served a whole duck at a Chinese restaurant after their Christmas turkey is ruined, Melinda Dillon’s (Mrs. Parker) shock was genuine. The script she received didn’t mention the duck would be served with its head intact, so her startled reaction and shriek were unscripted and real. The filmmakers loved her reaction so much, it was kept in the final cut.
These behind-the-scenes stories add new layers of appreciation for the classic holiday film, giving fans even more to enjoy during their annual rewatch.