Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? I know I do. But after watching them year after year can get a little mundane. Watch the classics with new eyes this year after checking out this sweet list of things you never knew before. {Go ahead…impress your friends with your useless knowledge.}
1. Ralphie’s house in “A Christmas Story” is in Cleveland, OH…but many locations including the iconic chop suey restaurant were shot in Ontario, Canada.
2. Vera Ellen {Judy Haynes} isn’t really singing in White Christmas. Her voice is dubbed in every song, but she was cast since her dance moves are so killer.
3. “Christmas Vacation” is based on a short story titled “Christmas ’59.” The character of Cousin Eddy is based on a real man Randy Quaid knew in Texas.
4. Natalie Wood {the little girl, Susan Walker} in “Miracle on 34th Street” actually believed that Edmund Gwenn was Santa Claus throughout filming. It wasn’t until she saw the final film in theaters that she realize he was just an actor, like her.
5. The tape that Kevin watches in “Home Alone” is not a real film. It was footage especially created for the. movie. The faux movie was titled “Angels with Filthy Souls.” In the sequel “Home Alone 2” he watches a bit of footage the crew titled “Angels with Even Filthier Souls.” Merry Christmas you filthy animal.
6. Fred Astaire’s “drunk” dance in Holiday Inn was actually filmed while he was intoxicated. He took two shots of burboun before starting to shoot the scene and one shot after every take. They used the 7th take in the film. {You do the math.} I wish I could dance like that sober!
7. Jimmy Stewart had to be convinced of playing his role in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It was his first project after serving in WWII, and he didn’t feel up to acting. In hindsight, he later said it was his favorite role of all time.
8. {Bonus!} More than 6000 gallons of fake snow was used in production of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
9. The montage of Buddy the Elf when he first arrives in New York was achieved by driving around the city and allowing Will Ferrell to randomly interact with pedestrians in character. People seen on screen were given quick cash for their role as extras. If you look closely, you’ll see genuine surprise on a lot of faces.
10. Peter Billingsley {Ralphie from “A Christmas Story“} plays the brief role Ming Ming in “Elf.” He also directed “Couple’s Retreat” in 2009.
11. The role of Scott Calvin in “The Santa Clause” was written for Bill Murray. It was also offered to Chevy Chase before going to Tim Allen. How different would that have been?
12. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was the first animated Peanuts feature. First and best in my book. Also, real children did the voice acting for the characters instead of adults acting as children.
13. In “A Muppet Christmas Carol” Kermit is voiced by Steve Whitmire. This is the first time he wasn’t voiced by Jim Henson.
Let the Christmas Movie Marathon begin!
