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* FreakOut: Ralphie had a bad enough day after failing to win over his teacher with his Red Rider BB Gun essay, but then he had his glasses busted by Scut Farkus. Rather than run away, as he did many times before, Ralphie snaps and starts beating the snot out of Farkus.
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Changed line(s) 65,66 (click to see context) from:
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: Everyone keeps warning Ralphie that if he gets that BB gun he'll shoot his eye out. He *does* get the BB gun for Christmas... and the first time he shoots, the pellet ricochets so that his glasses get damaged.]]
--> '''Narrator''': [[spoiler:Oh, my god! I SHOT MY EYE OUT!!]]
--> '''Narrator''': [[spoiler:Oh, my god! I SHOT MY EYE OUT!!]]
to:
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: Everyone keeps warning Ralphie that if he gets that BB gun he'll shoot his eye out. He *does* get the BB gun for Christmas... and the first time he shoots, the pellet ricochets so that back into his glasses get damaged.face.]]
--> '''Narrator''': [[spoiler:Oh, mygod! God, I SHOT MY EYE OUT!!]]shot my eye out!]]
** [[spoiler:He soon realizes that his eye is fine and that the pellet only knocked his glasses off.]]
--> '''Narrator''': [[spoiler:Oh, my
** [[spoiler:He soon realizes that his eye is fine and that the pellet only knocked his glasses off.]]
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* InnocentBlueEyes: It's kind of hard to ignore Ralphie's bright blue eyes throughout the course of the film, especially considering the narrative.
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* TheForties
to:
* TheFortiesTheForties: The time-period in which this film takes place.
* GenerationXerox: Ralphie and his father are more alike than it initially seems.
** Both employ a long list of explitives whenever they lose their tempers.
** Both are very excited when they believe they have won a particular prize.
** Ralphie is pretty cynical for a kid and it seems he gets it from his old man who can also be a bit grumpy.
* GenerationXerox: Ralphie and his father are more alike than it initially seems.
** Both employ a long list of explitives whenever they lose their tempers.
** Both are very excited when they believe they have won a particular prize.
** Ralphie is pretty cynical for a kid and it seems he gets it from his old man who can also be a bit grumpy.
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* {{Black Dude Dies First}}: When Ralphie gets his BB gun and fantasizes about shooting the villains, the black guy gets shot first.
to:
* {{Black Dude Dies First}}: BlackDudeDiesFirst: When Ralphie gets his BB gun and fantasizes about shooting the villains, the black guy gets shot first.
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* FeetFirstIntroduction: The pink bunny suit. The camera starts at Ralphie's feet, and pans up.
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* MarathonRunning
to:
* MarathonRunning MarathonRunning: Every year, TBS runs the movie for twenty - four hours solid, beginning at 8p.m. on Christmas Eve.
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** This also seems to be Mrs. Schwartz’s first language.
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This is the most acclaimed movie directed by Creator/BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas1974 what the director made before this]]...
to:
This is the most acclaimed movie directed by Creator/BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas1974 what the director made before this]]...
this]]. His [[{{Porkys}} previous]] and [[BabyGeniuses later work]] indicates this film was basically a fluke.
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* TheRedStapler: Oh, God, almost everything from the film has become a real product (if it weren't already). For example, the hideous [[http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=a+christmas+story+leg+lamp&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=4031585951&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=532671112837968134&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_933wbr5qkk_b leg lamp]].
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* TheAllegedCar: The Old Man's prewar Oldsmobile.
to:
* TheAllegedCar: The Old Man's prewar 1937 Oldsmobile.
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The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter). A DirectToVideo sequel called ''A Christmas Story 2'' will be released in October 2012. You can watch the trailer [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bed8rNx-Sw here]].
to:
The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter). A DirectToVideo sequel called ''A Christmas Story 2'' will be was released in October 2012. You can watch the trailer [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bed8rNx-Sw here]].
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Changed line(s) 114 (click to see context) from:
* ProductPlacement: A ShowWithinAShow example with the decoded message. "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine." In RealLife, the ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' radio show [[TruthInTelevision DID have sponsors for Ovaltine on its show,]] and yes, they sent out decoder rings, but the secret messages weren't Ovaltine commercials. Peter Billingsley was already famous for being the spokesperson for Ovaltine's competitor, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup (His commercials even call Ovaltine out). So this was also a bit of a meta-joke.
to:
* ProductPlacement: A ShowWithinAShow example with the decoded message. "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine." In RealLife, the ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' radio show [[TruthInTelevision DID have sponsors for Ovaltine on its show,]] and yes, they sent out decoder rings, but the secret messages weren't Ovaltine commercials. Peter Billingsley was already famous for being the spokesperson for Ovaltine's competitor, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup (His (his commercials even call Ovaltine out). So this was also a bit of a meta-joke.
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Changed line(s) 11,12 (click to see context) from:
This is the most acclaimed movie directed by Creator/BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas what the director made before this]]...
to:
This is the most acclaimed movie directed by Creator/BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas [[Film/BlackChristmas1974 what the director made before this]]...
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Cleaning up misuse and Zero Context No Example as per TRS thread.
Deleted line(s) 62,63 (click to see context) :
* EyesOfGold: Again, Scut Farkus.
--> '''Narrator''': He had yellow eyes! So help me God, ''yellow eyes!!!''
--> '''Narrator''': He had yellow eyes! So help me God, ''yellow eyes!!!''
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Changed line(s) 116,119 (click to see context) from:
* ProductPlacement: A ShowWithinAShow example with the decoded message. "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial?"
*** In RealLife, the ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' radio show [[TruthInTelevision DID have sponsors for Ovaltine on its show,]] and yes, they sent out decoder rings, but the secret messages weren't Ovaltine commercials.
*** In RealLife, Peter Billingsley was already famous for being the spokesperson for Ovaltine's competitor, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup (His commercials even call Ovaltine out). So this was also a bit of a meta-joke.
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial?"
*** In RealLife, the ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' radio show [[TruthInTelevision DID have sponsors for Ovaltine on its show,]] and yes, they sent out decoder rings, but the secret messages weren't Ovaltine commercials.
*** In RealLife, Peter Billingsley was already famous for being the spokesperson for Ovaltine's competitor, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup (His commercials even call Ovaltine out). So this was also a bit of a meta-joke.
to:
* ProductPlacement: A ShowWithinAShow example with the decoded message. "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial?"
***" In RealLife, the ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' radio show [[TruthInTelevision DID have sponsors for Ovaltine on its show,]] and yes, they sent out decoder rings, but the secret messages weren't Ovaltine commercials.
*** In RealLife,commercials. Peter Billingsley was already famous for being the spokesperson for Ovaltine's competitor, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup (His commercials even call Ovaltine out). So this was also a bit of a meta-joke.
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial?"
***
*** In RealLife,
Changed line(s) 124 (click to see context) from:
* SeriousBusiness: When Schwartz issues a "double dog dare", then skips the "triple dare" and goes straight to the "triple dog dare", to make Flick stick his tongue to a frozen pole.
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* SeriousBusiness: SeriousBusiness:
** When Schwartz issues a "double dog dare", then skips the "triple dare" and goes straight to the "triple dog dare", to make Flick stick his tongue to a frozen pole.
** When Schwartz issues a "double dog dare", then skips the "triple dare" and goes straight to the "triple dog dare", to make Flick stick his tongue to a frozen pole.
Changed line(s) 126,127 (click to see context) from:
** Be honest, Christmas time ''always is'' SeriousBusiness.
* ShoutOut: or possibly TakeThat, to ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' among others.
* ShoutOut: or possibly TakeThat, to ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' among others.
to:
* ShoutOut:
**Be honest, Christmas time ''always is'' SeriousBusiness.
* ShoutOut: orOr possibly TakeThat, to ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' among others.
**
* ShoutOut: or
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Changed line(s) 35,36 (click to see context) from:
* BuffySpeak: The "Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and ''a thing which tells time''." Amazing that Ralphie knew "compass" but not "watch", "clock", or "sundial".
** It actually ''is'' a sundial in the original short story, and he's able to say it, though it's implied there that he doesn't know how to spell it, as the theme he writes about it still has the infamous "thing that tells time".
** It actually ''is'' a sundial in the original short story, and he's able to say it, though it's implied there that he doesn't know how to spell it, as the theme he writes about it still has the infamous "thing that tells time".
to:
* BuffySpeak: The "Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and ''a thing which tells time''." Amazing that Ralphie knew "compass" but not "watch", "clock", or "sundial".
** It actually ''is'' a sundial in the original short story, and he's able to say it, though it's implied there that he doesn't know how to spell it, as the theme he writes about it still has the infamous "thing that tells time".
** It actually ''is'' a sundial in the original short story, and he's able to say it, though it's implied there that he doesn't know how to spell it, as the theme he writes about it still has the infamous "thing that tells time".
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Changed line(s) 104 (click to see context) from:
* MyNewGiftIsLame: Ralphie receives a pink bunny suit from his aunt for Christmas.
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* MyNewGiftIsLame: MyNewGiftIsLame:
** Ralphie receives a pink bunny suit from his aunt for Christmas.
** Ralphie receives a pink bunny suit from his aunt for Christmas.
Deleted line(s) 106 (click to see context) :
*** Does any kid who gets any kind of clothing (at least the practical kind)?
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Changed line(s) 11,12 (click to see context) from:
This is the most acclaimed movie directed by BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas what the director made before this]]...
to:
This is the most acclaimed movie directed by BobClark.Creator/BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas what the director made before this]]...
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Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* BerserkerTears: Ralphie during his fight with Scut Farkus(& by fight, we mean {{No-Holds-Barred Beatdown}}).
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* BerserkerTears: Ralphie during his fight with Scut Farkus(& by fight, we mean {{No-Holds-Barred {{No Holds Barred Beatdown}}).
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Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* BerserkerTears: Ralphie during his fight with Scut Farkus.
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* BerserkerTears: Ralphie during his fight with Scut Farkus.Farkus(& by fight, we mean {{No-Holds-Barred Beatdown}}).
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** ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' pops up from time to time, understandable considering the time period the film is set in as well as the fact [[MetroGoldwynMayer MGM]] is responsible for both films.
** ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarves'' also appears in the window display, as it was released a year before ''Wizard of Oz''.
** ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarves'' also appears in the window display, as it was released a year before ''Wizard of Oz''.
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Changed line(s) 9,10 (click to see context) from:
The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter). A DirectToVideo sequel called ''A Christmas Story 2'' will be released in October 2012.
to:
The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter). A DirectToVideo sequel called ''A Christmas Story 2'' will be released in October 2012.
2012. You can watch the trailer [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bed8rNx-Sw here]].
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Changed line(s) 9,10 (click to see context) from:
The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter).
to:
The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter).
latter). A DirectToVideo sequel called ''A Christmas Story 2'' will be released in October 2012.
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*** Does any kid who gets any kind of clothing (at least the practical kind)?
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Changed line(s) 122 (click to see context) from:
* TheRenfield: Grover Dill is an embryonic, non-supernatural example.
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* TheRenfield: SycophanticServant: Grover Dill is an embryonic, non-supernatural example.
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Added Red Right Hand.
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* RedRightHand: Scut Farkus's yellow eyes; Grover Dill's green teeth.
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Blue Eyes is being split into different tropes (Creepy Blue Eyes,Innocent Blue Eyes, Occult Blue Eyes and Icy Blue Eyes) as per this thread
because it\'s not just about having that eye colour, it\'s about what traits blue eyes supposed to symbolise and blue eyes is constantly being misused for \"X has blue eyes\", so anything that doesn\'t fit the split off tropes or Zero Content Examples will be removed. This goes for most of the Common Eye Colours tropes as well
because it\'s not just about having that eye colour, it\'s about what traits blue eyes supposed to symbolise and blue eyes is constantly being misused for \"X has blue eyes\", so anything that doesn\'t fit the split off tropes or Zero Content Examples will be removed. This goes for most of the Common Eye Colours tropes as wellDeleted line(s) 35 (click to see context) :
* BlueEyes: Ralphie, which ties into his {{Cloudcuckoolander}} personality.
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* SoapPunishment: Happens to Ralphie frequently enough that he has become "quite a connoisseur of soap".
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Deleted line(s) 99,101 (click to see context) :
* {{Mondegreen}}: Some people will tell you that "The Old Man"'s name was Hal, but what the neighbor actually says while Ralphie's Dad is admiring the leg lamp from the street is "HELL, you won that?" not "HAL, you won that?"
** Admit it, tropers, for years you thought his name was "Scott" Farkus.
** "Life, boy, on the other hand..."
** Admit it, tropers, for years you thought his name was "Scott" Farkus.
** "Life, boy, on the other hand..."
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[[quoteright:301:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a-christmas-story-2.jpg]]
Based on author Jean Shepherd's short stories (including material from ''In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash'') -- and narrated by Shepherd himself -- ''A Christmas Story'' is the story of a childhood Christmas in or around WorldWarTwo-era America.
Nine-year-old Ralphie wants one thing for Christmas: a BB gun. It's not just any BB gun he wants, either; his heart is set on an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock (and [[BuffySpeak this thing which tells time]]). His parents, teachers, and even the [[MallSanta department store Santa]] tell him, in an ever-deepening refrain, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"
The film fared badly at the box office in 1983, and didn't win any [[JustForPun major awards]], but the film has since become a classic, due in part to Ted Turner acquiring the rights to the film and giving it a twenty-four-hour Christmas Eve[=/=]Day marathon on either {{TBS}} or TNT.
The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter).
This is the most acclaimed movie directed by BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas what the director made before this]]...
----
!!This movie provides examples of:
* AdultsAreUseless: Played with. While the kids are aware that their parents care for and love them, they also know there are some things you do as kids that they'd best not find out.
--> '''Ralphie (narrating)''': (responding to a teacher's attempt to guilt her class into confessing what happened to Flick) Adults loved to say things like that but kids know better. We knew darn well it was ''always better'' not to get caught.
* TheAllegedCar: The Old Man's prewar Oldsmobile.
* AluminumChristmasTrees: Sort of. There really ''are'' Red Ryder [=BB=] guns, but (as of 1983) none that match the ''exact'' description given.
** Also for some, Lifebuoy soap. While they don't advertise like they used to (they used to sponsor ads at several baseball stadiums, which tended to get vandalized), it's been continually produced since 1894.
* {{Angrish}}: The Old Man's string of profanities.
** ...or lack thereof when he gets ''really'' steamed:
---> '''Ralphie (narrating):''' The old man stood there, quivering with fury, stammering as he tried to come up with a real crusher. All he got out was...
---> '''The Old Man:''' ''NADDAFINGA!''
* AnnoyingLaugh: Scut Farkus. You'll get tired of hearing it about ten seconds into his debut scene, when that's ALL HE DOES.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Even though the film is set in Indiana, there are multiple references to Higbee's, a defunct department store chain based in Ohio. (In fact, the scenes were actually shot at Higbee's flagship in Cleveland.)
* AsianSpeekeeEngrish: Played for comedy with the kitchen staff of the Chinese restaurant. The owner of the establishment has an excellent accent, however, and gets frustrated by his employees' poor pronunciation.
* AsideGlance: Ralphie looks straight into the camera and grins after tricking his mom into believing that an icicle, rather than his BB gun, was what hit him in the face.
* AtomicFBomb: Implied during the tire changing scene.
* BehindTheBlack: Scut Farkus surprising the three by hanging upside down in the schoolyard. A little hard to see both how ''anyone'' didn't notice he was there, or what he was hanging upside-down from.
* BerserkButton: Mrs. Schwartz doesn't take too kindly to finding out about her son's supposed swearing.
* BerserkerTears: Ralphie during his fight with Scut Farkus.
* BigNo: Ralphie, after Santa pushes him down the slide upon telling him that [[RunningGag he'll shoot his eye out with a Red Ryder BB gun.]]
* {{Black Dude Dies First}}: When Ralphie gets his BB gun and fantasizes about shooting the villains, the black guy gets shot first.
* BlueEyes: Ralphie, which ties into his {{Cloudcuckoolander}} personality.
* BuffySpeak: The "Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and ''a thing which tells time''." Amazing that Ralphie knew "compass" but not "watch", "clock", or "sundial".
** It actually ''is'' a sundial in the original short story, and he's able to say it, though it's implied there that he doesn't know how to spell it, as the theme he writes about it still has the infamous "thing that tells time".
* TheBully: Scut Farkus, and to a lesser extent his toady Grover Dill.
* BumblingDad: The Old Man, played masterfully by Darren [=McGavin=]. He does strange things and is a bit detached, but you can tell he genuinely loves his family.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Ralphie, especially when Miss Shields has to snap him out of his daydreaming.
* ClusterFBomb: Averted through heavy use of [[GoshDangItToHeck euphemisms]], but repeatedly implied.
-->'''Ralphie (narrating)''': In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.
* CompetitionCouponMadness: In order to get the coveted Little Orphan Annie decoder ring -- which is required to decode the show's secret message -- Ralphie must send in an ungodly number of Ovaltine labels. He collects these labels religiously, drinking Ovaltine far past the point where he's come to hate the stuff, until finally he's collected enough and sends away for the decoder ring. When the ring arrives in the mail, he uses it to decode the secret message, which reads: [[spoiler: Be sure to drink your Ovaltine]].
** [[PrecisionFStrike Son of a bitch.]]
* CreatorCameo: The man who directs Ralphie and Randy to the back of the line to see Santa is Jean Shepherd.
-->'''Man in Line for Santa:''' Young man. Hey, kid! Just where do you think you're going?
-->'''Ralphie:''' Going up to see Santa.
-->'''Man in Line for Santa:''' The line ENDS here. It begins THERE.
** Also, director Bob Clark as Swede.
--->'''Swede:''' Hey, Parker, what is that?
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' Don't bother me now, Swede, can't you see I'm busy?
--->'''Swede:''' Yeah, but what is that?
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' I-i-i-it-uh-It's a Major Award!
--->'''Swede:''' A Major Award? Shucks, I wouldn'ta knowed that. It looks like a lamp.
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' It IS a lamp, you nincompoop. But it's a Major Award. I won it!
--->'''Swede:''' Damn, hell, you say won it?
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' Yeah, mind power, Swede; mind power.
* CurbStompBattle: Ralphie finally snaps and beats the hell out of Farkus while [[ClusterFBomb unleashing a string of profanities.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: When the [[MallSanta department store Santa]] tells Ralphie that he can't give him a Red Ryder [=BB=] Gun because "He'll shoot his eye out" and then kicks him down the slide.
* DroppedGlasses: When Ralphie manages to [[spoiler:shoot himself with the Red Ryder.]]
* EightiesHair: Ralphie's mom.
* EnforcedMethodActing: Apparently no one told Melinda Dillon that the waiters in the Chinese restaurant were going to bring in a cooked duck with the head still attached. Or chop its head off moments later. Her reactions to both of those occurrences are genuine.
* EvilLaugh: Scut Farkus, the bully.
* EyesOfGold: Again, Scut Farkus.
--> '''Narrator''': He had yellow eyes! So help me God, ''yellow eyes!!!''
* FeudingFamilies: The Old Man vs. The Bumpuses. Escalates in ''It Runs in the Family''.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: Everyone keeps warning Ralphie that if he gets that BB gun he'll shoot his eye out. He *does* get the BB gun for Christmas... and the first time he shoots, the pellet ricochets so that his glasses get damaged.]]
--> '''Narrator''': [[spoiler:Oh, my god! I SHOT MY EYE OUT!!]]
** When the workmen bring the crate into the house and set it upright, the Old Man warns them to be careful. "Watch the lady!" Interesting considering they were delivering the only conflict that the couple has to handle between them during the film.
* TheForties
* GoshDangItToHeck: Played with, when the dad clearly ''wants'' to curse, but has to {{Bowdlerise}} ''himself''. Played straight when the family hears him trying to start the furnace.
** Rumors state that originally, the actor that played the Old Man was really cursing in the scenes where he's speaking {{Angrish}}. When the producers got back a rating from the MPAA, they quickly re-dubbed those scenes with harmless euphemisms or gibberish. In fact, right before the tire blows out, the Old man says "dad gummit," but those who can read lips can see him say "goddammit."
** Later {{lampshade}}d in the scene in which Ralphie helps his father change a flat tire. After the nuts get knocked out of the hubcap he was holding, he shouts out "Oh, fudge!!!" Only, as he points out [[{{Narrator}} himself]], he didn't actually say "fudge".
--->"It was ''the'' word! The big one! The queen mother of dirty words... The "[[ClusterFBomb F]]-[[SymbolSwearing dash-dash-dash]]" word!"
* HappilyMarried: Not even the "Legendary Battle of the Lamp" can permanently derail Ralphie's parents.
* HairOfTheDog: On Christmas morning the Old Man is rubbing his head and grimacing as if he has a hangover. Apparently a morning bottle of wine is a Christmas tradition at Ralphie's house. After a glass of wine he is back to his usual self.
* HeroicBSOD: After Santa Claus, Ralphie's final hope at getting a Red Ryder BB gun, tells him he'll shoot his eye out Ralphie is left staring blankly up at the ceiling until his parents come find him.
* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: Not technically a sweater, but Ralphie's homemade bunny outfit counts.
* ImagineSpot: Many.
* IrisOut
* [[ItIsPronouncedTropay It Is Pronounced Tro-PAY]]: Inverted when Dad reads the outside of the crate containing his newly-arrived Major Award.
--> '''Dad:''' Ah. "Fra-gee-lay"...that must be Italian.
--> '''Mom:''' I think that says "fragile", honey.
* {{Jerkass}}: Scut Farkus.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: The Old Man.
* LargeHam: Again, the Old Man.
** '''NADDAFINGA!!'''
** '''SHADDAP''' RALPHIE!
** DON'T A-NY-BO-DY MOVE! A '''FUSE''' IS '''OUT'''.
** SONSABITCHES!! '''BUMPUSES!!!!'''
*** I can't be the only one that thinks [[TheBully Farkus]]'s EvilLaugh made him a hammy bully.
** EVERYBODY during Ralphie's fantasy daydreams. Ms. Shields is a particular standout ("A Plus-Plus-Plus-Plus...!"), as are the parents' [[TearsOfRemorse reactions]] to "Soap poisoning".
* {{Leitmotif}}: The Bumpus Hounds, with "Chicken Reel" of all things.
** And Scut Farkus with the Wolf's theme from ''{{Peter and the Wolf}}''. (Interesting side note: "Farkus" comes from the Hungarian word for wolf.)
** Ralphie's ImagineSpot of rescuing his family from Black Bart finds him accompanied by "On the Trail" from Grofé's ''Grand Canyon Suite''.
* MallSanta: Technically, a pre-mall department store Santa, on a mountain-size display that would take up ''gargantuan'' amounts of warehouse space 11 months a year.
* MarathonRunning
* MoeGreeneSpecial: The reason everyone's afraid to buy Ralphie the BB gun he wants.
* {{Mondegreen}}: Some people will tell you that "The Old Man"'s name was Hal, but what the neighbor actually says while Ralphie's Dad is admiring the leg lamp from the street is "HELL, you won that?" not "HAL, you won that?"
** Admit it, tropers, for years you thought his name was "Scott" Farkus.
** "Life, boy, on the other hand..."
* MrImagination: Ralphie.
* MyBelovedSmother: Ralphie's mother at times, particularly in regards to his little brother.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After having his mouth washed out with soap, Ralphie has a daydream where he's blinded from soap poisoning. When he reveals the cause of his blindness to his parents, they amply [[TearsOfRemorse break down and cry]].
-->'''The Old Man:''' I told you not to use Lifebuoy!
* MyLittlePanzer: "You'll shoot your eye out!"; although, at [[TheEighties the time the movie was made]], ''Boys' Life'' magazine was ''still'' running ads for BB guns in every issue.
** In-universe, remember that in TheForties there were still people around who remembered the CivilWar era. The idea of keeping a gun around the house in those time periods was pretty standard, though starting to fade a bit with some folks.
* MyNewGiftIsLame: Ralphie receives a pink bunny suit from his aunt for Christmas.
** Ralph and Randy also don't care for socks.
* {{Narm}}: Done intentionally during Ralphie's imagination sequences. [[invoked]]
* NoodleImplements: Admittedly minor, but it's a "Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a '''thing that tells time'''". What kind of ''thing''? Is it a clock or a sundial? There aren't that many "things" that can tell time, so why not call it a clock? We'll never know.
** If The Thing That Tells Time was advertised as a "chronometer"[[hottip:*:technically a very accurate clock]], it's entirely possible that 10-year-old Ralphie couldn't pronounce the word.
* NoPeripheralVision: When the teacher asks where Flick is after he stuck his tongue to the pole. The camera shot over her shoulder reveals that Flick was right there, out the window, right within her range of vision.
* NostalgicNarrator: Voiced by Jean Shepherd himself.
* OpinionMyopia: If you didn't [[NostalgiaFilter grow up with]] this movie, and even remotely ''imply'' you don't like it, expect 1.) the fan's heads to explode at the mere thought of someone not adoring this classic, and 2.) rip you to shreds for it.
* PekingDuckChristmas: After the neighbors' dogs eat Mrs. Parker's turkey, Mr. Parker takes them to a Chinese restaurant, where they eat Peking Duck (though Ralphie calls it "Chinese Turkey") and sing carols with the owners.
* PhraseCatcher: Everybody all together now, '''[[color:red: "YOU'LL]] [[color:green: SHOOT]] [[color:red: YOUR]] [[color:green: EYE]] [[color:red: OUT]] [[color:green: !!!"]]'''
* PrecisionFStrike: Oh fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge. (Aversion/Lampshading, see "ClusterFBomb" above.)
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a ''bitch!''"
* ProductPlacement: A ShowWithinAShow example with the decoded message. "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial?"
*** In RealLife, the ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' radio show [[TruthInTelevision DID have sponsors for Ovaltine on its show,]] and yes, they sent out decoder rings, but the secret messages weren't Ovaltine commercials.
*** In RealLife, Peter Billingsley was already famous for being the spokesperson for Ovaltine's competitor, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup (His commercials even call Ovaltine out). So this was also a bit of a meta-joke.
* RedheadedBully: Scut Farkus is one of the most well known examples.
* TheRenfield: Grover Dill is an embryonic, non-supernatural example.
* SafetyWorst: Ralphie's mom overdresses his little brother to the point that he can't move his arms, just to protect him from catching a cold.
* SeriousBusiness: When Schwartz issues a "double dog dare", then skips the "triple dare" and goes straight to the "triple dog dare", to make Flick stick his tongue to a frozen pole.
** Ralphie decoding Annie's secret message, and really his whole obsession with the [[NumberOneDime Red Ryder BB gun]].
** Be honest, Christmas time ''always is'' SeriousBusiness.
* ShoutOut: or possibly TakeThat, to ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' among others.
* StopBeingStereotypical: The manager of the Chinese restaurant is fairly embarrassed and annoyed when his employees try to sing Christmas Carols and [[JapaneseRanguage have a little trouble with the "Ls"]].
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: see PhraseCatcher above.
* TearsOfRemorse: See MyGodWhatHaveIDone.
* TongueOnTheFlagpole: One of the most famous examples.
* TWordEuphemism: "It was ''the'' word! The big one! The queen mother of dirty words! The "F [[SymbolSwearing dash dash dash]]" word!
* {{Undercrank}}: In the ImagineSpot with Ralphie shooting the bad guys, they are in fast-motion. Also, the scene where Ralphie turns in his paper begins and ends with fast-motion scenes of the boys running to and from school, complete with chipmunk voices.
* UnfortunateNames: With a name like "Scut Farkus", ''you'' might have become a bully, too!
* UnnamedParent: Neither of Ralphie's parents are named; they're referred to as "my mother" and "my old man" throughout.
* UnstoppableRage: Ralphie, when he finally snaps on Scut Farkus.
* TheWindyCity: Or more specifically, its suburbs in northwest Indiana.
----
Based on author Jean Shepherd's short stories (including material from ''In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash'') -- and narrated by Shepherd himself -- ''A Christmas Story'' is the story of a childhood Christmas in or around WorldWarTwo-era America.
Nine-year-old Ralphie wants one thing for Christmas: a BB gun. It's not just any BB gun he wants, either; his heart is set on an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock (and [[BuffySpeak this thing which tells time]]). His parents, teachers, and even the [[MallSanta department store Santa]] tell him, in an ever-deepening refrain, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"
The film fared badly at the box office in 1983, and didn't win any [[JustForPun major awards]], but the film has since become a classic, due in part to Ted Turner acquiring the rights to the film and giving it a twenty-four-hour Christmas Eve[=/=]Day marathon on either {{TBS}} or TNT.
The film spawned a play, as well as two "sequels": the made-for-TV ''Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss'' and 1994's ''Film/ItRunsInTheFamily'' (aka "My Summer Story"), both of which are notable in that none of the original film's cast members are in either of the others (save actress Tedde Moore [Miss Shields], who appears in the latter).
This is the most acclaimed movie directed by BobClark. If Ralphie's encounter with Santa Claus seemed kinda scary to you when you were a kid, you shouldn't be surprised to learn [[Film/BlackChristmas what the director made before this]]...
----
!!This movie provides examples of:
* AdultsAreUseless: Played with. While the kids are aware that their parents care for and love them, they also know there are some things you do as kids that they'd best not find out.
--> '''Ralphie (narrating)''': (responding to a teacher's attempt to guilt her class into confessing what happened to Flick) Adults loved to say things like that but kids know better. We knew darn well it was ''always better'' not to get caught.
* TheAllegedCar: The Old Man's prewar Oldsmobile.
* AluminumChristmasTrees: Sort of. There really ''are'' Red Ryder [=BB=] guns, but (as of 1983) none that match the ''exact'' description given.
** Also for some, Lifebuoy soap. While they don't advertise like they used to (they used to sponsor ads at several baseball stadiums, which tended to get vandalized), it's been continually produced since 1894.
* {{Angrish}}: The Old Man's string of profanities.
** ...or lack thereof when he gets ''really'' steamed:
---> '''Ralphie (narrating):''' The old man stood there, quivering with fury, stammering as he tried to come up with a real crusher. All he got out was...
---> '''The Old Man:''' ''NADDAFINGA!''
* AnnoyingLaugh: Scut Farkus. You'll get tired of hearing it about ten seconds into his debut scene, when that's ALL HE DOES.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Even though the film is set in Indiana, there are multiple references to Higbee's, a defunct department store chain based in Ohio. (In fact, the scenes were actually shot at Higbee's flagship in Cleveland.)
* AsianSpeekeeEngrish: Played for comedy with the kitchen staff of the Chinese restaurant. The owner of the establishment has an excellent accent, however, and gets frustrated by his employees' poor pronunciation.
* AsideGlance: Ralphie looks straight into the camera and grins after tricking his mom into believing that an icicle, rather than his BB gun, was what hit him in the face.
* AtomicFBomb: Implied during the tire changing scene.
* BehindTheBlack: Scut Farkus surprising the three by hanging upside down in the schoolyard. A little hard to see both how ''anyone'' didn't notice he was there, or what he was hanging upside-down from.
* BerserkButton: Mrs. Schwartz doesn't take too kindly to finding out about her son's supposed swearing.
* BerserkerTears: Ralphie during his fight with Scut Farkus.
* BigNo: Ralphie, after Santa pushes him down the slide upon telling him that [[RunningGag he'll shoot his eye out with a Red Ryder BB gun.]]
* {{Black Dude Dies First}}: When Ralphie gets his BB gun and fantasizes about shooting the villains, the black guy gets shot first.
* BlueEyes: Ralphie, which ties into his {{Cloudcuckoolander}} personality.
* BuffySpeak: The "Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and ''a thing which tells time''." Amazing that Ralphie knew "compass" but not "watch", "clock", or "sundial".
** It actually ''is'' a sundial in the original short story, and he's able to say it, though it's implied there that he doesn't know how to spell it, as the theme he writes about it still has the infamous "thing that tells time".
* TheBully: Scut Farkus, and to a lesser extent his toady Grover Dill.
* BumblingDad: The Old Man, played masterfully by Darren [=McGavin=]. He does strange things and is a bit detached, but you can tell he genuinely loves his family.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Ralphie, especially when Miss Shields has to snap him out of his daydreaming.
* ClusterFBomb: Averted through heavy use of [[GoshDangItToHeck euphemisms]], but repeatedly implied.
-->'''Ralphie (narrating)''': In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.
* CompetitionCouponMadness: In order to get the coveted Little Orphan Annie decoder ring -- which is required to decode the show's secret message -- Ralphie must send in an ungodly number of Ovaltine labels. He collects these labels religiously, drinking Ovaltine far past the point where he's come to hate the stuff, until finally he's collected enough and sends away for the decoder ring. When the ring arrives in the mail, he uses it to decode the secret message, which reads: [[spoiler: Be sure to drink your Ovaltine]].
** [[PrecisionFStrike Son of a bitch.]]
* CreatorCameo: The man who directs Ralphie and Randy to the back of the line to see Santa is Jean Shepherd.
-->'''Man in Line for Santa:''' Young man. Hey, kid! Just where do you think you're going?
-->'''Ralphie:''' Going up to see Santa.
-->'''Man in Line for Santa:''' The line ENDS here. It begins THERE.
** Also, director Bob Clark as Swede.
--->'''Swede:''' Hey, Parker, what is that?
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' Don't bother me now, Swede, can't you see I'm busy?
--->'''Swede:''' Yeah, but what is that?
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' I-i-i-it-uh-It's a Major Award!
--->'''Swede:''' A Major Award? Shucks, I wouldn'ta knowed that. It looks like a lamp.
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' It IS a lamp, you nincompoop. But it's a Major Award. I won it!
--->'''Swede:''' Damn, hell, you say won it?
--->'''Mr. Parker:''' Yeah, mind power, Swede; mind power.
* CurbStompBattle: Ralphie finally snaps and beats the hell out of Farkus while [[ClusterFBomb unleashing a string of profanities.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: When the [[MallSanta department store Santa]] tells Ralphie that he can't give him a Red Ryder [=BB=] Gun because "He'll shoot his eye out" and then kicks him down the slide.
* DroppedGlasses: When Ralphie manages to [[spoiler:shoot himself with the Red Ryder.]]
* EightiesHair: Ralphie's mom.
* EnforcedMethodActing: Apparently no one told Melinda Dillon that the waiters in the Chinese restaurant were going to bring in a cooked duck with the head still attached. Or chop its head off moments later. Her reactions to both of those occurrences are genuine.
* EvilLaugh: Scut Farkus, the bully.
* EyesOfGold: Again, Scut Farkus.
--> '''Narrator''': He had yellow eyes! So help me God, ''yellow eyes!!!''
* FeudingFamilies: The Old Man vs. The Bumpuses. Escalates in ''It Runs in the Family''.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler: Everyone keeps warning Ralphie that if he gets that BB gun he'll shoot his eye out. He *does* get the BB gun for Christmas... and the first time he shoots, the pellet ricochets so that his glasses get damaged.]]
--> '''Narrator''': [[spoiler:Oh, my god! I SHOT MY EYE OUT!!]]
** When the workmen bring the crate into the house and set it upright, the Old Man warns them to be careful. "Watch the lady!" Interesting considering they were delivering the only conflict that the couple has to handle between them during the film.
* TheForties
* GoshDangItToHeck: Played with, when the dad clearly ''wants'' to curse, but has to {{Bowdlerise}} ''himself''. Played straight when the family hears him trying to start the furnace.
** Rumors state that originally, the actor that played the Old Man was really cursing in the scenes where he's speaking {{Angrish}}. When the producers got back a rating from the MPAA, they quickly re-dubbed those scenes with harmless euphemisms or gibberish. In fact, right before the tire blows out, the Old man says "dad gummit," but those who can read lips can see him say "goddammit."
** Later {{lampshade}}d in the scene in which Ralphie helps his father change a flat tire. After the nuts get knocked out of the hubcap he was holding, he shouts out "Oh, fudge!!!" Only, as he points out [[{{Narrator}} himself]], he didn't actually say "fudge".
--->"It was ''the'' word! The big one! The queen mother of dirty words... The "[[ClusterFBomb F]]-[[SymbolSwearing dash-dash-dash]]" word!"
* HappilyMarried: Not even the "Legendary Battle of the Lamp" can permanently derail Ralphie's parents.
* HairOfTheDog: On Christmas morning the Old Man is rubbing his head and grimacing as if he has a hangover. Apparently a morning bottle of wine is a Christmas tradition at Ralphie's house. After a glass of wine he is back to his usual self.
* HeroicBSOD: After Santa Claus, Ralphie's final hope at getting a Red Ryder BB gun, tells him he'll shoot his eye out Ralphie is left staring blankly up at the ceiling until his parents come find him.
* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: Not technically a sweater, but Ralphie's homemade bunny outfit counts.
* ImagineSpot: Many.
* IrisOut
* [[ItIsPronouncedTropay It Is Pronounced Tro-PAY]]: Inverted when Dad reads the outside of the crate containing his newly-arrived Major Award.
--> '''Dad:''' Ah. "Fra-gee-lay"...that must be Italian.
--> '''Mom:''' I think that says "fragile", honey.
* {{Jerkass}}: Scut Farkus.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: The Old Man.
* LargeHam: Again, the Old Man.
** '''NADDAFINGA!!'''
** '''SHADDAP''' RALPHIE!
** DON'T A-NY-BO-DY MOVE! A '''FUSE''' IS '''OUT'''.
** SONSABITCHES!! '''BUMPUSES!!!!'''
*** I can't be the only one that thinks [[TheBully Farkus]]'s EvilLaugh made him a hammy bully.
** EVERYBODY during Ralphie's fantasy daydreams. Ms. Shields is a particular standout ("A Plus-Plus-Plus-Plus...!"), as are the parents' [[TearsOfRemorse reactions]] to "Soap poisoning".
* {{Leitmotif}}: The Bumpus Hounds, with "Chicken Reel" of all things.
** And Scut Farkus with the Wolf's theme from ''{{Peter and the Wolf}}''. (Interesting side note: "Farkus" comes from the Hungarian word for wolf.)
** Ralphie's ImagineSpot of rescuing his family from Black Bart finds him accompanied by "On the Trail" from Grofé's ''Grand Canyon Suite''.
* MallSanta: Technically, a pre-mall department store Santa, on a mountain-size display that would take up ''gargantuan'' amounts of warehouse space 11 months a year.
* MarathonRunning
* MoeGreeneSpecial: The reason everyone's afraid to buy Ralphie the BB gun he wants.
* {{Mondegreen}}: Some people will tell you that "The Old Man"'s name was Hal, but what the neighbor actually says while Ralphie's Dad is admiring the leg lamp from the street is "HELL, you won that?" not "HAL, you won that?"
** Admit it, tropers, for years you thought his name was "Scott" Farkus.
** "Life, boy, on the other hand..."
* MrImagination: Ralphie.
* MyBelovedSmother: Ralphie's mother at times, particularly in regards to his little brother.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After having his mouth washed out with soap, Ralphie has a daydream where he's blinded from soap poisoning. When he reveals the cause of his blindness to his parents, they amply [[TearsOfRemorse break down and cry]].
-->'''The Old Man:''' I told you not to use Lifebuoy!
* MyLittlePanzer: "You'll shoot your eye out!"; although, at [[TheEighties the time the movie was made]], ''Boys' Life'' magazine was ''still'' running ads for BB guns in every issue.
** In-universe, remember that in TheForties there were still people around who remembered the CivilWar era. The idea of keeping a gun around the house in those time periods was pretty standard, though starting to fade a bit with some folks.
* MyNewGiftIsLame: Ralphie receives a pink bunny suit from his aunt for Christmas.
** Ralph and Randy also don't care for socks.
* {{Narm}}: Done intentionally during Ralphie's imagination sequences. [[invoked]]
* NoodleImplements: Admittedly minor, but it's a "Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a '''thing that tells time'''". What kind of ''thing''? Is it a clock or a sundial? There aren't that many "things" that can tell time, so why not call it a clock? We'll never know.
** If The Thing That Tells Time was advertised as a "chronometer"[[hottip:*:technically a very accurate clock]], it's entirely possible that 10-year-old Ralphie couldn't pronounce the word.
* NoPeripheralVision: When the teacher asks where Flick is after he stuck his tongue to the pole. The camera shot over her shoulder reveals that Flick was right there, out the window, right within her range of vision.
* NostalgicNarrator: Voiced by Jean Shepherd himself.
* OpinionMyopia: If you didn't [[NostalgiaFilter grow up with]] this movie, and even remotely ''imply'' you don't like it, expect 1.) the fan's heads to explode at the mere thought of someone not adoring this classic, and 2.) rip you to shreds for it.
* PekingDuckChristmas: After the neighbors' dogs eat Mrs. Parker's turkey, Mr. Parker takes them to a Chinese restaurant, where they eat Peking Duck (though Ralphie calls it "Chinese Turkey") and sing carols with the owners.
* PhraseCatcher: Everybody all together now, '''[[color:red: "YOU'LL]] [[color:green: SHOOT]] [[color:red: YOUR]] [[color:green: EYE]] [[color:red: OUT]] [[color:green: !!!"]]'''
* PrecisionFStrike: Oh fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge. (Aversion/Lampshading, see "ClusterFBomb" above.)
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a ''bitch!''"
* ProductPlacement: A ShowWithinAShow example with the decoded message. "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."
** "Ovaltine? A crummy commercial?"
*** In RealLife, the ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' radio show [[TruthInTelevision DID have sponsors for Ovaltine on its show,]] and yes, they sent out decoder rings, but the secret messages weren't Ovaltine commercials.
*** In RealLife, Peter Billingsley was already famous for being the spokesperson for Ovaltine's competitor, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup (His commercials even call Ovaltine out). So this was also a bit of a meta-joke.
* RedheadedBully: Scut Farkus is one of the most well known examples.
* TheRenfield: Grover Dill is an embryonic, non-supernatural example.
* SafetyWorst: Ralphie's mom overdresses his little brother to the point that he can't move his arms, just to protect him from catching a cold.
* SeriousBusiness: When Schwartz issues a "double dog dare", then skips the "triple dare" and goes straight to the "triple dog dare", to make Flick stick his tongue to a frozen pole.
** Ralphie decoding Annie's secret message, and really his whole obsession with the [[NumberOneDime Red Ryder BB gun]].
** Be honest, Christmas time ''always is'' SeriousBusiness.
* ShoutOut: or possibly TakeThat, to ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'' among others.
* StopBeingStereotypical: The manager of the Chinese restaurant is fairly embarrassed and annoyed when his employees try to sing Christmas Carols and [[JapaneseRanguage have a little trouble with the "Ls"]].
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: see PhraseCatcher above.
* TearsOfRemorse: See MyGodWhatHaveIDone.
* TongueOnTheFlagpole: One of the most famous examples.
* TWordEuphemism: "It was ''the'' word! The big one! The queen mother of dirty words! The "F [[SymbolSwearing dash dash dash]]" word!
* {{Undercrank}}: In the ImagineSpot with Ralphie shooting the bad guys, they are in fast-motion. Also, the scene where Ralphie turns in his paper begins and ends with fast-motion scenes of the boys running to and from school, complete with chipmunk voices.
* UnfortunateNames: With a name like "Scut Farkus", ''you'' might have become a bully, too!
* UnnamedParent: Neither of Ralphie's parents are named; they're referred to as "my mother" and "my old man" throughout.
* UnstoppableRage: Ralphie, when he finally snaps on Scut Farkus.
* TheWindyCity: Or more specifically, its suburbs in northwest Indiana.
----
