“Home Alone” holds a special place in the hearts of many. Fans who grew up watching the classic film watch every December during the Holiday season, it’s become a yearly tradition. Viewing the film during the Holiday season is as synonymous gingerbread cookies, hot chocolate, and receiving presents.
Home Alone came out in 1990 and stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister. For those unfamiliar with the story of Home Alone – first of all, how are you not? The story revolves around Kevin McCallister, the youngest son of his family, waking up one morning realizing that family has left him behind in their mad dash to catch a flight headed for their holiday trip to Paris. Two burglars, who called themselves “the wet bandits,” go on a burglarizing spree in Kevin’s neighborhood and stumble across his house as Kevin is home alone. Kevin must protect his home while his family is away for Christmas. But the making of Home Alone wasn’t always easy. It came along with some trials and errors, but also some happy accidents and movie magic that hasn’t been replicated. Here’s some interesting facts on the making of this Christmas classic.
John Hughes, writer and producer, conceived of “Home Alone” while get readying to go on vacation. He said: “I was going away on vacation and making a list of everything I didn’t want to forget. I thought, ‘Well, I’d better not forget my kids.’ Then I thought, ‘What if I left my 10-year-old son at home? What would he do?’” Hughes wrote pages of notes that soon became into a screenplay.
The main filming location took place in a single-family house located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, where many of Hughes’ earlier films were also filmed, but at different houses. The only interiors of the house that were used for the film were the main staircase, attic, and the first-floor, while all the other interiors of the house were duplicated on a sound stage to allow more room for equipment and crew. The sets that were built in a then-disused gym of New Trier High School, were previously used by Hughes for his other films like Uncle Buck and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
The most iconic image of Home Alone is Macaulay Culkin screaming with his hands on his cheeks. It was featured on the main poster and marketing materials. The scream was not intended to be as prominent as it became. Director Chris Columbus told Entertainment Weekly that Culkin was to merely slap on some cologne and scream. Instead, he kept his hands on his face the entire time he screamed, it resembled the famous Edvard Munch painting “The Scream.” Culkin’s idea was so perfect, it stayed in the film.
Macaulay Culkin is front and center in Home Alone movie. He is virtually in every scene, and the whole thing revolves around his character. What many people miss or didn’t realize is that he’s not the only Culkin family member to appear in the movie. His younger brother Kieran plays Kevin’s cousin, Fuller McCallister. Kieran is the one with the big glasses and the huge urge for Pepsi. This was Kieran’s Culkin’s screen debut. He went on to have supporting roles in other notable films that include She’s All That, Father of the Bride, The Cider House Rules, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Most recently, Kieran’s other big role was in the hit HBO tv series “Succession.”
Watching this classic film every year with company is a tradition that will never stop. Its magic in capturing the Holiday spirt and a mad dash of fun is something that sequels fail to capture time and time again. No matter what your age is, everyone loves a Christmas family film that old and young will want to watch it every Holiday season. Happy Holidays CCM readers!
