6 minute read
Top 10
Advertisement
‘A Christmas Story’ makes an early seasonal appearance
BY JAY BOBBIN
Whether you’re a holiday-movie connoisseur or just a casual viewer, you likely know where that line comes from and who (time and again) it’s directed toward. Fans of “A Christmas Story” needn’t worry – it still will get its traditional 24-hour marathon starting on Christmas Eve on TBS and TNT – but the richly nostalgic 1983 comedy classic also makes an earlier TNT appearance this year on Monday, Dec. 6.
Based on the writings of humorist Jean Shepherd, who narrates the picture, the Bob Clark-directed tale follows eager young Ralphie (a perfectly cast Peter Billingsley) through a long-ago Christmas season when he has his heart set on one very particular gift: a Red Ryder BB gun, which everyone from his mother (Melinda Dillon) to his teacher (Tedde Moore) to a department-store Santa Claus (Jeff Gillen) warns him about. For the specific warning, check the first sentence of this article again.
However, there’s plenty else competing for Ralphie’s attention during the holidays. Take his younger brother Randy’s (Ian Petrella) unique way of eating a meal. Or the never-ending battle that their gruff father (Darren McGavin) wages against the household furnace. Or school pal Flick (Scott Schwartz), who accepts a “triple dog dare” and ends up getting his tongue stuck to a frozen pole. Or the decoder ring that has a disappointing result for Ralphie when he deciphers the secret message conveyed by the “Little Orphan Annie” radio program.
Such are the wonderful touches laced throughout “A Christmas Story,” and we haven’t even gotten to the turkey-dinner disaster or Ralphie literally getting his mouth washed out with soap. What really makes “A Christmas Story” endure so warmly for so many devotees, though, is the strong dose of heart it has along with the many laughs it goes for.
Much of the credit for that goes to Dillon and McGavin as two of the very few adults the movie pays attention to – which makes sense, since “ A Christmas Story” really is Ralphie’s story told from a youthful perspective. Dillon has a particularly wonderful scene when she retrieves Ralphie from a schoolyard fight he atypically gets the upper hand in, while McGavin is more sly in playing his sentimental hand, which he does toward the end in the film’s big payoff scene. (We won’t spoil it here.)
It’s no surprise that many of the “A Christmas Story” faithful watch the film multiple times during its yearly marathons, since the movie captures the feel of the holiday ideally. Plus, by now, so many of its elements are iconic that it would feel like something was amiss without at least one viewing of it every December. Happily enough, that time has come again.
Santa Claus’ Top 10 Movies
BY JAY BOBBIN
“The Polar Express” (2004): Motion-capture animation enables Tom Hanks to play multiple roles, including Santa, in this captivating adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s book.
“Bad Santa” (2003): It often seems this movie has many detractors as fans, but if you want a Santa far-removed from the traditional image, this is the film for you. Billy Bob Thornton (and that should tell you a lot right there) plays a department-store Santa who schemes to rob the sites where he’s seasonally employed.
“The Santa Clause” (1994): Morphing into the new Santa proves complicated for a divorced dad (Tim Allen) whose belief in Kriss Kringle has a payoff he never expected. Two sequels followed.
“Home Alone” (1990): Given what he goes through when his vacationing family accidentally leaves him behind with thieves, resourceful young Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) deserves a session with Santa (who appears in the persona of Ken Hudson Campbell).
“Santa Claus” (1985): Also featuring Dudley Moore as an elf, this fantasy wasn’t a success at the box office, but veteran character actor David Huddleston was ideal casting as Father Christmas.
“The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t”
(1966): While Santa’s meaning to youngsters is the same in any language, English remained the predominant language as director and star Rossano Brazzi made this fantasy in Italy ... which goes a long way toward explaining why Alberto Rabagliati has the part of Santa.
(1964): Even when spirited away by aliens – with a young Pia Zadora among them – Santa (John Call) keeps an upbeat demeanor in this cult classic.
“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947): Arguably the ultimate screen Santa – who has a tough time proving to a highly skeptical youngster (Natalie Wood) that he’s the real deal – Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar for his performance in this perennial holiday favorite.
Creative ideas for your ho-ho-holiday dinner courtesy of Food Network
BY GEORGE DICKIE
It’s three weeks before Christmas, a time when the discriminating foodie goes on the lookout for holiday baking or meal ideas.
Food Network is there to help, offering up an array of new and repeat episodes on everything from appetizers, entrees and beverages adult and otherwise to cakes, pies, cookies and all manner of pastries – from here and abroad. So check out what’s in store for the coming week.
On the subject of international foods, Giada De Laurentiis puts an Italian spin on things in her “Giada’s Holiday Handbook” on Sunday, Dec. 5, throwing a holiday party complete with a family-style meal that includes roasted fennel, creamy lobster pasta and chocolate almond cheesecake. Try to resist.
Also that morning on “Girl Meets Farm,” host Molly Yeh prepares a day’s worth of Scandinavian meals in honor of her farming family. For breakfast, she bakes a spiced cardamom wreath and for dinner, it’s a menu consisting of meatballs and lutefisk (a lye-cured fish), and a fluffy Norwegian cream cake. Expand your horizons with this exotic fare.
Kardea Brown is also in the holiday mood that morning on “Delicious Miss Brown,” which finds her in her coastal South Carolina kitchen preparing a dinner for family that consists of a brown sugar glazed ham with cloves, red rice perloo and a green bean casserole. And for dessert, it’s an apple cider cobbler. Southern fare from the heart of Low Country.
Later in the week on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 11, Ina Garten is busy at work on “Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics,” preparing a seasonal brunch of morning glory muffins, a fresh fruit platter, shakshuka with feta and a spicy bloody Mary. Sweet and savory – hard not to like this.
Then on “The Pioneer Woman,” Ree Drummond gets in a festive spirit with a menu of apple, brie and mushrooms en croute, a traditional eggnog in a ginger crumb-rimmed glass and an ugly sweater cake. She also prepares a berry basil vodka and festive marinated olives for a happy hour gift basket. A decidedly adult meal.
Also that morning, the chefs of “The Kitchen” are in the holiday spirit, highlighted by Sunny Anderson’s pesto and ricotta crostini and Geoffrey Zakarian’s tostones with tuna tartare and adobo chili. Certainly, outside-the-box ideas for your holiday table.
And on “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen,” host Trisha Yearwood does her holiday party right with a menu consisting of a holiday biscuit wreath, red and green holiday deviled eggs, a grits and greens casserole and milk and cookies fudge. Yum!
