‘Christmas Story’ Quickly Achieves Classic Status

Several new theatrical and made-for-TV movies with Christmas themes have been produced in recent years. Very few appear to have the potential of becoming another holiday classic, such as “It’s A Wonderful Life” or “Miracle on 34th Street.”

There is one notable exception.

“A Christmas Story,” which airs tonight at 5:05 on cable’s TBS, already has reached classic status as far as many of its fans are concerned.

Released in time for the Christmas season of 1983, it became the top-grossing film of that holiday period. It is a wonderfully nostalgic movie that should touch anyone who remembers what life looked like through the eyes of a kid.

Based on a short story by American humorist Jean Shepherd, “A Christmas Story” takes place in Indiana in the 1940s. As the big day nears, a boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) desperately wants Santa Claus to bring him a genuine Red Ryder B-B rifle. He drops hints to his mother and to others but always hears the same response: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Although Ralphie’s desire for the rifle is the focal point of the movie, there is much more to it than that.

There is the moment when Ralphie lets “one of those four-letter words” slip from his lips to the shock of his parents. He, too, is horrified because he knows a good mouth-washing is in order with soap. There is the neighborhood bully (“with yellow eyes”) who constantly picks on Ralphie.

And then there’s the day his Little Orphan Annie decoder finally arrives. He excitedly races to his room, turns on the “Annie” radio show and awaits to translate the daily message she has for her loyal listeners.

Ralphie carefully writes each letter down.

The message? “Be Sure To Drink Your Ovaltine.” “It’s a crummy commercial,” says Ralphie.

Director Bob Clark captures the awe and fear most kids feel when they come face-to-face with the local department store Santa Claus. Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are the prefect mom-and-dad combo of the 1940s.

And don’t miss the climactic Christmas morning scene as Ralphie and his brother eagerly open all the packages under the tree. Few films capture the feel, wonder and humor of the season as does this one.

“A Christmas Story” is scheduled to air on cable again Christmas Eve (at 7:35 a.m. and 9:35 a.m. on TBS and at 10 p.m. on TNT) and Christmas Day (at 9 a.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on TNT).