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The year was 1990 and one of biggest box office surprises hit theaters, Home Alone. No one could have anticipated the success and market domination would come from a seasonal Christmas film, and much like the iron that hit Marv in the face, it would leave it’s mark on the film industry as it continues to grow bigger with each passing holiday. Let’s examine a few behind the scenes facts that shows what made the film an instant classic.
Joe Pesci Goes Full Method Actor
Joe Pesci wasn’t really known as a method actor, but with Home Alone he was in the mood to establish himself as a bad guy on screen, and on the set. Pesci did his best to intimidate Macaulay Culkin by giving him the cold shoulder and avoiding him on the set so that the young actor would be afraid of him. Culkin says that during one of the rehearsals for the scene where he threatens to bite his fingers off, Pesci actually bit down really hard and broke the skin.
Director Chris Columbus Elevated The Film
Hughes big on not allowing changes to his script, and though The church scene dialogue between Kevin and Marley was a planned scene, director Chris Columbus added the granddaughter aspect to the character of old man Marley, which I believe takes the story to a place that is extra special. He would also add the scene at the end of the movie when Kevin sees their reunion. Columbus considers it his proudest achievement in the movie.
“Home Alone” Becomes Industry Standards
Pesci’s stunt double for the film, Troy Brown, said that for his first fall on the icy stairs, he “just launched himself as far and as high as he could.” Now when someone does a fall where they get a lot of air, and they fall on their back, they’d call it the ‘Home Alone. Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman also admitted that the long running unexpected success of Home Alone contributed a new phrase to the Hollywood lexicon. When films suffer at the box office because of another films long and unexpected successful run, it’s been “Home Aloned”
Fast Facts
- The picture Kevin finds of Buzz’s girlfriend was a picture of a boy made up to look like a girl, because director Chris Columbus thought it would be too cruel to make fun of a girl like that.
- This movie was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Highest Box-Office Gross – Comedy,” grossing $477 million worldwide.
- Robert De Niro and John Lovitz turned down the role of Harry.
- At the end of the movie where it snows outside Kevin’s house, the snow was actually mashed potato flakes.
