I realize this might be considered an odd choice for me, since "A Christmas Story" is most definitely not a horror, sci-fi, or action movie. But, I enjoy movies from other genres, and this is one example. No one could plausibly argue that this movie isn't a quintessential Christmas-themed film. Anyway, today we'll be discussing Bob Clark's 1983 classic, which took over a decade, and countless airings on cable television to really become popular. So let's get to it. The usual format--questions first, followed by the answers. Many SPOILERS ahead, too.
Questions:
1) What is the name of the town where Ralph lives?
2) And in what U.S. state is this town located?
3) What is the name of the street that Ralph lives on?
4) Ralph tries to put the idea for the Red Ryder air rifle in his mom's head by planting a print ad for it from one of his magazines into one of her magazines. Name the two periodicals.
5) Ralph's father mentions two Chicago White Sox players, one by a nickname, and one by a surname. Name them.
6) Ralph's dad is participating in a trivia puzzle contest. What is the grand prize?
7) What is the theme of this particular puzzle?
8) What is the name of the Lone Ranger's nephew's horse?
9) Who in the Parker family knew the answer to the previous question?
10) In another effort to trick his parents into buying him the air rifle, Ralph says someone saw a grizzly bear in town. Near where?
11) After Ralph's mom expresses doubts about buying an air rifle, Ralph asks for something else as a gift as a ruse. What is this alternate gift idea?
12) In Ralph's fantasy, who leads the gang of thugs that threaten the Parker house?
13) In the fantasy Ralph kills most of the gang. (It's not graphic--they're shown with "x's" over their eyes.) How many thugs does he kill?
14) What car company does Ralph's dad prefer?
15) What is the name of Ralph's teacher?
16) What book is Ralph's class shown learning about?
17) Daring someone to do something can have up to a 6 part sequence, starting from least intense to most. Name the proper sequence.
18) One of Ralph's classmates indicates to the teacher where Flick is, when Flick is stuck to the pole. Name them.
19) Ralph claims that bully Scut Farkus has yellow eyes. What color are they really?
20) What is the name of Scut's toady?
21) Ralph says the Bumpus family owns how many dogs? (It's an obvious exaggeration.)
22) Ralph's dad knows someone who works at the freight depot. Name them.
23) At this point, Ralph's dad mentions two other possible trivia puzzle contest prizes. Name them.
24) After receiving and setting up the leg lamp, Ralph's old man talks to a neighbor outside. What is this person's name?
25) What time does the Little Orphan Annie radio program start?
26) The Red Ryder air rifle that Ralph craves has two other built-in features, besides the shooting BB's part. Name them.
27) According to the owner, how many trees are on his Christmas tree lot?
28) While tree shopping, Ralph's dad mentions a neighbor who bought a green plastic tree. Name them.
29) What is the license plate number of the Parker family car?
30) How much time is Ralph's dad aiming to change the flat tire in, to imitate the Indy 500 pit crews?
31) And how much time does it actually take him to change it?
32) Ralph imagines 5 punishments for saying the bad "F" word in front of his dad. Name them.
33) What soap is Ralph's favorite to have put in his mouth as a punishment?
34) And what is the worst brand of soap for this?
35) How far away does Ralph's friend Schwartz live?
36) Who countersigned the letter signifying that Ralph was now a member of the Little Orphan Annie fan club? (Aside from Annie herself, clearly.)
37) How old is Ralph?
38) When Ralph first tries to decode a message from Little Orphan Annie, what combination is he instructed to set his decoder pin to?
39) According to the date inscribed on the back of the decoder pin, what year is this movie set in?
40) What present does Flick buy his dad for Christmas?
41) What grade does Ralph earn for his "What I Want for Christmas" theme?
42) According to Ralph's dad, who are the Chicago Bears playing on Sunday?
43) What is the name of the department store that the Parkers go to?
44) How late is Santa working on the night that Ralph and Randy visit him?
45) What does Santa say he hates the smell of?
46) On Santa's lap, Ralph initially forgets that he wants the Red Ryder rifle. What gift does he agree that he wants when Santa suggests it?
47) What two gifts do we see Ralph's dad open?
48) What is the name of Ralph's school?
49) According to Ralph's father, how old was he when he got an air rifle?
50) Ralph counts off 6 turkey-related dishes after their turkey is destroyed by the Bumpus' dogs. Name them.
51) What is the name of the Chinese restaurant that the Parkers eat Christmas dinner at?
52) Ralph, of course, sleeps with his beloved Red Ryder rifle. What present does Randy sleep with?
53) What is the full proper name of the air rifle that Ralph so covets?
54) What company manufactures this air rifle?
55) The actor who played Santa in this movie, Jeff Gillen, co-directed a very different sort of movie in real life. Name it.
Answers:
1) Hohman, which is based on author Jean Shepherd's real life hometown, Hammond.
2) Indiana. Which is the state that Hammond (see Answer to Question #1) is located in.
3) Cleveland Street. Again, Jean's real life street. He lived at #2907 on Cleveland.
4) Ralph's magazine was "Boy's Life," and his mom's "Look." Both were real magazines.
5) "Bullfrog," and Shottenhoffer. I couldn't find a real MLB player named Shottenhoffer, but there was a guy nicknamed "Bullfrog," who played for the White Sox from 1936-46. He was pitcher Bill Dietrich.
6) $50,000.
7) Great characters in American Literature.
8) Victor. Online sources said this answer was accurate, and that Victor was the son of Silver, who was the Lone Ranger's horse.
9) Ralph's mother. (Incidentally, throughout this quiz I'll have to refer to Ralph's parents as "Ralph's mom," "Ralph's dad," etc. because their real first names are not provided.)
10) Pulaski's candy store.
11) Tinker toys.
12) Black Bart.
13) 4. Black Bart survives, however, and possibly one other cohort.
14) He's an Oldsmobile man.
15) Miss Shields.
16) Silas Marner, the 1861 book written by "George Eliot" (which was Mary Ann Evans' penname).
17) It starts with a dare, than a dog dare, than a double dare, a double dog dare, a triple dare, and then the triple dog dare. (Although, as in this case, kids occasionally skip a step or two.)
18) Esther Jane.
19) It's tough to say. Scut seems to be squinting most of the time, so it's hard to see. Actor Zack Ward claims his eyes are really green, although other sources say blue. Maybe they're bluish-green? They're definitely not yellow, and no yellow contact lenses were worn by Ward, or anything like that.
20) Grover Dill.
21) 785. In reality it appears there are probably around 5-7.
22) Ernie McCloskey.
23) A Spanish adobe house in Florida, and a bowling alley.
24) Swede.
25) 6:45 pm.
26) It has a compass in the stock, and "this thing which tells time." The latter being a sundial.
27) 300.
28) Zudoc.
29) 56 498.
30) 4 minutes.
31) 8 minutes. Although it may have been quicker if Ralph hadn't accidentally dropped the lug nuts.
32) The guillotine, hanging, the chair, the rack, and Chinese water torture.
33) Lux. Which was a real brand, but was discontinued in the 1990's.
34) Lifebuoy, which is real and still made. Palmolive was the brand in between Lux and Lifebuoy in flavor.
35) 3 blocks away.
36) Pierre Andre, who was a real life radio announcer.
37) 9 years old.
38) B-2.
39) 1940. Although this isn't absolute--the filmmakers wanted the time to be vague-ish, in the late 1930's/early 1940's. Several other brands, references, and products were from years other than 1940 exactly.
40) A rose that squirts water.
41) A C+.
42) Green Bay (Packers).
43) Higbees. Which was a real store, and still exists, but it changed its name to Dillard's in 1992.
44) 9 pm.
45) Tapioca.
46) A football.
47) The blue bowling ball, and a can of Simoniz (it appears to be Simoniz's car wax).
48) The Warren G. Harding School.
49) 8 years old.
50) Turkey sandwiches, turkey salad, turkey gravy, turkey hash, turkey ala king, turkey soup.
51) The neon sign reads "Bowling Chop Suey Palace Co.", but the "w" in "Bowling" is burnt out, leaving the more appropriate-sounding "Bo Ling Chop Suey Palace Co." as the name, for a joke.
52) His toy Zeppelin.
53) The Red Ryder carbine-action 200 shot range model air rifle.
54) Daisy, which again, was a real company.
55) 1974's "Deranged," a loose adaptation of real life killer Ed Gein's exploits. See my post on June 16, 2013 for more information about this movie and about Gein himself.
Also, for a post about yet another Bob Clark movie, "Deathdream," (aka "Dead of Night") check out my post on August 17, 2019. Otherwise, Merry Christmas to all those that celebrate it, and happy holidays to everyone in general.
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