MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Story (1983) Discussion > The Old Man bought the Red Ryder BB Gun...

The Old Man bought the Red Ryder BB Gun because Ralphie got into a fight and he wanted to show he was proud of him

posted 5 years ago by TMC-4 (19458)
12 replies | jump to latest

https://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/a8qgrd/a_christmas_story_the_old_man_bought_the_red/

When Ralphie says the F word his Father immediately tells the mother when they get in the car, establishing that when it comes to the kids they don't hold back secrets about what they're doing no matter how bad and how shocking.

Later when Ralphie beats up Scut Farkus his mother breaks up the fight and brings him home where he's terrified his father will find out. No one seemingly says anything but this is perhaps because Ralphies mother has a little more tact and timing than to blurt out that Ralphie got into a fight.

It's likely that when she told the old man Ralphie had been in a fight and that the whole situation was handled he wasn't upset but rather proud of his son for standing up for himself. So it's likely he asked if they got Ralphie anything a little more special this Christmas and this is when the mother mentioned what Ralphie wanted.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve when Ralphie goes to see Santa, now it's very likely the entire day he was talking up how he needed to see Santa, it was important to him and the old man stood back letting Ralphie grow concerned and then instead of waiting in line with his son to see Santa, went off with his mother to buy the Red Ryder BB Gun and put it in the car.

When Ralphie gets tossed by Santa the old man asks a few telling questions and when he asks Ralphie if he's been bad or good he says that Santa always knows.

See he's proud that his son stood up for himself and handled himself like a man, so he got him the gun for Christmas.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

This interpretation robs the film of its most beautiful, anti-postmodern message: That the father is quietly paying attention the entire time and buys the gun for his son despite looking oblivious up until that point in the movie.

[–] strntz (10934) 5 years ago

Wasting your breath BJR. Too many idiots are keyboard warriors attacking with reckless abandon and without having the slightest clue what they're talking about.

I can't imagine why anyone would waste their time to re-post that inane drivel.

[–] nutsberryfarm (286) 5 years ago

great stuff! thanks.

[–] hyperjet (638) 5 years ago

Well said. I've seen this movie dozens of times and never thought of that angle. It all makes sense. The only thing to counter that would be the mother's reaction when she finds out the gift is a gun. It seemed pretty genuine.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Nope. As with my Old Man, he wanted to give his son what his father gave him for Christmas. The Old Man says that to the Mother after Ralphie gets the rifle and runs outside to try it out.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

He got him the gun because he remembered enjoying his when he was a kid. I had a blast with my BB gun as a kid and if I had a kid I'd get him/her a BB gun if they wanted one at the appropriate age.

[–] slimone (7996) 5 years ago

This is my favorite Christmas movie. I watch it every Christmas.

[–] liscarkat (16652) 4 years ago

BB guns, and for that matter real hunting rifles, weren't stigmatized in 1940 the way they are today. In the early 1960s, my dad gave me a .22 single-shot rifle for my eighth birthday, and carefully taught me how to use it safely, what it was for, and what it strictly was not for. It was a common, socially acceptable, father-son bonding thing at the time.

[–] strntz (10934) 4 years ago

Same here. I still have the Marlin .22 that I got for Christmas when I was a kid. In high school, we had a shooting club..

[–] liscarkat (16652) 3 years ago

Marlin--a nice rifle. Mine was a Remington. I killed a lot of paper targets and tin cans with that thing. A box of .22 long rifle cartridges was fifty cents.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I never owned a Red Ryder BB gun, but there were things that I wanted for Christmas that I did get as a surprise. That is why this movie rings so true for me, and I dare say, a LOT of other men. As of this writing, I am 68 years old, but the memories of those wonderful Christmases and my parents are as fresh now as they were in those years past. I miss them both.

[–] Ace_Spade (9381) 4 years ago

Fathers just want their sons to have that kind of "cool" experience. He remembers what it was like being a boy like Ralphie and wants to maximize Ralphie's experience as a little kid.