MovieChat Forums > The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) Discussion > I think they messed up the timeline and ...

I think they messed up the timeline and other mistakes

posted 8 years ago by katesgram2000
6 replies | jump to latest

Early on in the movie before John Boy leaves the mom tells him it is 10 O'clock. She then sends him out to look for John,
He takes off on foot through the snow storm and walks to Godsey's store where he finds out Mr Sneed has been arrested. Talks to them a few minutes before taking Mr. Sneed's car. He drives for awhile until he runs it out of gas (Why did he take off with a car that was low on gas when his mom gave him $1 to buy gas?)
He arrives at the black church and goes inside and watches their Christmas program -and at that time I was wondering why they were having their program so late at night-thought perhaps it was a midnight program or something. Anyway,he sits through that,talks to the preacher about getting more gas,te preacher tells him they will go ask the Baldwin sisters for gas.

He and the preacher walk tot he Baldwin-snow storm still raging,and when they get there the preacher won't let him ask right away for the gas. They "party" for awhile with the old ladies. Dancing and telling stories etc.

Finally the preacher asks the sisters about the gas and they all end up riding the sleigh. This would require some time to hitch it up etc and they seem to ride it for quite some time.

They ride for what seems to be quite awhile until come to the tree in road and decide to turn around and take John Boy back home. Right before he gets back home Grandpa is getting ready to go to their church to ring the bell because he says "it is almost midnight". Counting for travel time in the storm I am guessing it is maybe 11:45.

So all of this story has taken place in about an hour and a half? That makes no sense .

Also just a few minutes after John Boy gets home John also arrives home saying he was walking. Why didn't John Boy and the sisters see John walking? Another screw up I think.

It would have been better had they not said it was after 10 before he left,then had him get home and the mom say something about it being after 10 at that time then have grandpa leave to ring the bell a little later then have John show up.

[–] Redart27 8 years ago

Lol, I thought so too. On first viewing, I thought the sleigh ride took place at 3 am, and John Walton came in the door just before sunrise (Livvy said something about coffee.) I think this was one of the things that appealed to me - this long, sleepless, worrisome Christmas eve that has a happy, all prayers answered ending.

It is still a Christmas classic but I always question this midnight Nativity play (Shouldn't those kids be in bed, like the Walton kids?) Maybe they could fix this and just dub John Boy saying it's 8 O'clock instead of 10.

[–] AmyJolamb 7 years ago

Midnight Christmas services are common among some churches. I've personally never been to one but I've had friends who grew up going especially some older people I know. It's tradition to them even the kids. I've never liked the idea myself. I grew up being told if I was awake Santa wouldn't come. I've asked those who go to midnight services about Santa and they said they were told Santa would leave the gifts while they were gone and they'd find them in the morning. Sounds odd to me but oh well.

[–] katesgram2000 7 years ago

The church I used to attend had an 11 p.m. service but it wasn't a children's play like this one-just the reading of scriptures and singing a couple of songs. Very solemn and relaxing service

[–] MNRebecca (750) 6 years ago

Let's try this. The service began at 10pm. John Boy walked in on the tail end of it, remember. People make trips to the store all day long so it can't be that long a journey. John Boy is only at the store a few minutes - we spend that time with him 'live.' Let's say he drives about 10 minutes before running out of gas. The church is close enough to hear in the distance so it can only be a few dozen feet away.

We know the Baldwins are relatively nearby. We know the men only spend about 10 minutes with them (again, that happens 'live.') So...

10pm JB leaves home
10:15 reaches store
10:20pm leaves store
10:30pm runs out of gas
10:35pm reaches church. Time becomes "live."
10:45 church over. Head for Baldwins.
11pm reach Baldwins. Time becomes live.
11:10pm leave for sleigh ride.
11:30pm hit the downed tree and take John Boy home.
11:45pm John Boy home.

I think what throws us off is, this movie is a series of vignettes that moves us through an ever-lasting day that gets slower and slower as waiting for the father becomes more and more anxiously painful. Remember how desperate the kids were for something to do?

Man - it would be fun to do a timeline for the entire movie.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Nice timeline. This thread is funny. I can’t wait to watch this again next year. I will pay attention to the weird timing.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Hey all I am it watching again. MNRebecca’s timeline works. 👍🏼