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Some ‘Home Alone’ pranks were very much real.
There’s no CGI trickery in Home Alone, director Chris Columbus told Chicago magazine — meaning the cast and crew had to get creative (and brave) to stage the elaborate booby traps. Actor Daniel Stern really had to put a tarantula on his face in order to play the bungling “Wet Bandit” Marv, he told the Hollywood Reporter. Luckily for his bare feet, however, the ornaments he steps on while breaking into the McCallister
2.The department store in ‘A Christmas Story’ cleaned up the script.
Director Bob Clark reportedly scouted more than 20 different cities for A Christmas Story. He ultimately picking Cleveland, Ohio, for its department store. Higbee’s was the only flagship store willing to permit filming but on one condition: The movie could not contain any profanity. This specific caveat is why The Old Man grumbles incoherently instead cursing at his clanking furnace, according to A Christmas Story House and Museum.
3.’Elf’ didn’t use any CGI except for some snowing.
Instead, the movie relies on stop-motion animation and forced perspective to create the elves’ workshop in the North Pole. “The forced perspective is where you build two sets, one smaller than the other,” director Jon Favreau told Rolling Stone. “One set is raised and closer and smaller, and one is bigger and further away … If you look closely, you can see the two sets meet because we didn’t use CGI to paint over that or blur it.” Jon even took home a cool souvenir from filming: a Louisville Slugger that’s four and a half feet long.
4.Tim Allen had stiff competition for ‘The Santa Clause’.
Bill Murray and Chevy Chase each received invitations to star, but both turned down the part of Scott Calvin. Even then, Tom Selleck, Tom Hanks and Mel Gibson also drew consideration before the Home Improvement comedian locked down the part.
5.Tom Hanks played five characters in ‘The Polar Express’.
The actor originally optioned the book hoping to play the conductor and Santa Claus. Later, director Robert Zemeckis considered having him play every role — an incredibly ambitious goal that proved too exhausting for Tom. He ultimately is credited as the hero boy’s father, conductor, hobo, Scrooge puppet, Santa Claus and the narrator.
