Mickey Mouse in "A Christmas Story" question?

[DOOM1001]

I've seen the Christmas movie "A Christmas Story" probably hundreds of times,you know the movie, they play it for 24 hours on Christmas,"you"ll shoot your eye out kid".Well after seeing it so many times I saw something while watching it today that even though I've noticed before I never really thought too much of or asked myself why.In the Christmas parade scene when Mickey Mouse comes out he seems to be ganged up on by the Wizard of Oz characters,it's kinda strange and I'm stumped as to why.Does anyone who's seen this scene understand why?

 

[PoohsFan1]

I know exactly which part you are talking about (one of my all time favorite Christmas movies) and to tell you the truth I never really gave it much thought until now. How can anyone gang up on Mickey like that????? I wonder if it was just the actors playing around with each other since they were just extras in the movie. If anyone does know the answer, I would be very interested in knowing this as well.

 

[jelloarms]

I actually wondered how this scene was even allowed. Since Mickey is a licensed character, I would think that they would need Disney's permission to use Mickey and I doubt Disney would ever let Mickey be portrayed in such a negative light. Hmm....

 

[Robo]

Just as an aside that has nothing to do with the main question in this thread...

A Christmas Story was written by Jean Shepherd.

Mr. Sheperd was a long-time radio personality (starting in 1948 and beyond) who was famous for telling stories of his youth (similar to Garrison Keillor's stories of "Lake Wogebon" heard on NPR's Prairie Home Companion these days.)

Jean Shepherd's distinctive radio voice is also an integral part of A Christmas Story, as it is he who is heard throughout the film as the narrator.

One of the last major creations to which Mr. Shepherd contributed before his death (1999) is still running at WDW.
Mr. Shepherd's wonderful expressive voice is heard as the narrator and also voice of the main on-stage "father" characters in WDW's current version of "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" at the Magic Kingdom.

So, there is a (long after the movie was made, BTW) "Disney connection" with A Christmas Story, but one that has nothing to do with any scene with a Mickey character in the film.

Just thought it would be interesting for those here who didn't know the CoP info.

 

[GiGi30]

Just as an aside that has nothing to do with the main question in this thread...

A Christmas Story was written by Jean Shepherd.

Mr. Sheperd was a long-time radio personality (starting in 1948 and beyond) who was famous for telling stories of his youth (similar to Garrison Keillor's stories of "Lake Wogebon" heard on NPR's Prairie Home Companion these days.)

Jean Shepherd's distinctive radio voice is also an integral part of A Christmas Story, as it is he who is heard throughout the film as the narrator.

One of the last major creations to which Mr. Shepherd contributed before his death (1999) is still running at WDW.
Mr. Shepherd's wonderful expressive voice is heard as the narrator and also voice of the main on-stage "father" characters in WDW's current version of "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" at the Magic Kingdom.

So, there is a (long after the movie was made, BTW) "Disney connection" with A Christmas Story, but one that has nothing to do with any scene with a Mickey character in the film.

Just thought it would be interesting for those here who didn't know the CoP info.

My kids (3 & 5) watched the movie for the first time this weekend and both immediately recognized the voice! It was fun to see their reaction!

 

[chartle]

Finally a question that I'm sure I'm the number one authority on this topic on these boards.

Let me preface, I am a huge ACS fan. I saw it when it first came out and for years tried to get a video copy. My first copy was a poor VHS off air tape from HBO when they first showed it on TV.

I have the original and the 20th anniversary DVD with commentary. I have been to the house that they used to film the exterior scenes which is located in Cleveland. http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/

Ok back the question at hand. I have to go back to the Directors comments, but i'm pretty sure that Bob Clark addressed rights issues during this scene.

The movie was an MGM movie so they was no issue with the Wizzard of Oz but he did say he asked Disney and they said it was OK.

Remember that scene was shot in the winter of 82-83 almost 30 years ago. Wikipedia calls this era the 1972–84: Theatrical malaise and new leadership era.

It just wasn't wasn't the huge company it is now and was most likely thinking any exposure is good exposure.

When I first read this topic I though you were going to bring up this issue flagged as a Goof in th IMDB.

Anachronisms: The Mickey Mouse costume seen in the parade is the kind used in the Disney parks starting in the 1960s.

 

[Robo]

Remember that scene was shot in the winter of 82-83 almost 30 years ago. Wikipedia calls this era the 1972–84: Theatrical malaise and new leadership era.

It just wasn't wasn't the huge company it is now and was most likely thinking any exposure is good exposure.

...........Don't THINK so, Tim.

 

[chartle]

...........Don't THINK so, Tim.

So you are saying that there is no difference between the media mega giant it is today (ABC, ESPN, worldwide parks, Disney Chanel, soon to be world domination ) and the pre-Eisner company it was 30 years ago when it only had three parks and until Splash came out their biggest movie release was The Black Hole and they were a big takeover target.

As for the original question I'm queuing up the DVD as I write this to get exactly what was said by the Director.

 

[Robo]

30 years ago when it only had three parks and until Splash came out their biggest movie release was The Black Hole...

You know what they say...

When you're in a hole, stop digging.

 

[chartle]

Ok here is the story directly from the Director's mouth.

They put the Disney characters in and then asked for permission, they showed the movie to Disney and Disney was "sweet to them" and let it stay or they would have had to cut the scene. Disney also realized it was good promotion. All Bob Clark's comments.

He also commented that the Characters stayed in character and was not too far out of line.

So I guess you could call this Product Placement.

Also Jean Shepherd himself is seen in the scene as the man who tells them that the line to see Santa ends here, it begins there.

 

[disneymd33]

 

[carlyle688]

Ok here is the story directly from the Director's mouth.

They put the Disney characters in and then asked for permission, they then showed the movie to Disney and Disney was "sweet to them" and let it stay or they would have had to cut the scene. Disney realized it was good promotion. All bob Clark's comments.

He also commented that the Characters stayed in character and was not too far out of line.

So I guess you could call this Product Placement.

Also Jean Shepherd himself is seen in the scene as the man who tells them that the line to see Santa ends here, it begins there.

You find out the most interesting stuff on this board.

Here's another one -- has anyone else noticed this mouse in "March of the Wooden Soldiers"?

http://quintessenceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/MickeyMouse2.jpg

 

[dsneygirl]

My brother-in-law filmed a documentary about the making of A Christmas Story: "Road Trip for Ralphie" (roadtripforralphie.com). He mentions the other issue with this Mickey appearance is that it's a 1970s Mickey costume but the time period of the movie is the 1940s. "The Mickey Mouse costume seen in the parade is the kind used in the Disney parks starting in the 1960s."

 

[chartle]

My brother-in-law filmed a documentary about the making of A Christmas Story: "Road Trip for Ralphie" (roadtripforralphie.com). He mentions the other issue with this Mickey appearance is that it's a 1970s Mickey costume but the time period of the movie is the 1940s. "The Mickey Mouse costume seen in the parade is the kind used in the Disney parks starting in the 1960s."

I wonder if there even was a Mickey Mouse "walk around character" in this time period. 1939-40

 

[Birdman1511]

...........Don't THINK so, Tim.

 

[Robo]

I wonder if there even was a Mickey Mouse "walk around character" in this time period. 1939-40

Nope.

For the world premiere of Snow White in Los Angeles, Walt Disney had to borrow the costumes used in the Ice Capades.
(Mickey, Minnie, and the 7 Dwarves)
And, they were pretty sad-looking.

 

[mesaboy2]

I once went to see Mickey Mouse, and the line stretched all the way to Terre Haute.

 

[bradk]

the ice capades versions were even used at the opening of Disneyland in '55

and Mickey had 5 fingers.

 

[selina4disney]

I once went to see Mickey Mouse, and the line stretched all the way to Terre Haute.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Also Jean Shepherd himself is seen in the scene as the man who tells them that the line to see Santa ends here, it begins there.

That is so cool!!! Thanks for sharing