"A Christmas Story" is a marvelous adaptation of several of Jean Shepard's short stories. Jean Shepard was one of America's leading humorists and these short stories were originally published in Playboy magazine during the 60's and early 70's.
The framework of "A Christmas Story" a built around Shepard's "Duel in the Snow, or Red Ryder Nails the Cleveland Street Kid". A story about the protaganist Ralph's endevours to obtain as a Christmas gift a "Red Ryder" air rifle (BB gun, I have a 50th anniversary model sitting in the other room
).
The viewer is treated to a delightful examination of boyhood adventures in pre-war middle America during the Depression. One cannot help sharing a smile and a feeling of warmth or a tear or two as this movie provokes memories of childhood Christmas mornings. Mornings that were shared with the family and joys and perhaps disappointments of the gifts given and received or not received.
Few films are able to touch at the essence of childhood adventure with humor as "A Christmas Story" does.