Home Alone (1990)

About Home Alone

"Home Alone" is a Christmas-themed comedy film, set in the Chicago suburbs. The plot revolves around an 8-year-old boy named Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for a holiday vacation. He enjoys his newfound freedom until burglars, Harry and Marv, attempt to rob the McCallister residence. Kevin sets up a series of booby traps to stop the burglars, giving rise to comedic chaos.

Making / Production

The movie was produced and directed by John Hughes and Chris Columbus respectively. The idea for Home Alone came from a scene in another Hughes film, Uncle Buck, where a young boy was left alone and had to fend for himself. Filming took place from February to May in 1990 and the majority of the film was shot on location in Chicago.

Actors

• Macaulay Culkin (Kevin McCallister) - As the lead role, Culkin offered a memorable performance of a smart and resourceful child trying to protect his home.
• Joe Pesci (Harry) - Pesci delivered an engaging portrayal of the temperamental and aggressive burglar.
• Daniel Stern (Marv) - Stern’s portrayal of the comically idiotic burglar, balanced Pesci's character and added slapstick humor to the mix.
• Catherine O'Hara (Kate McCallister) - She played Kevin's loving and worried mother, who is desperate to get back home to her young son.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was entered into the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing live-action comedy ever domestically.
• To make the film family-friendly, Joe Pesci was asked to say "fridge" in place of the F-word.
• The iconic scene where Macaulay Culkin screams with his hands on his face, is a parody of the painting "The Scream".

Awards

"Home Alone" received two Academy Award nominations: Best Original Score (John Williams) and Best Original Song for "Somewhere in my Memory".

Quotes

• "Keep the change, ya filthy animal."
• "This is my house, I have to defend it."
• "I'm living alone! I'm living alone!"

Music, Soundtrack

• "Somewhere in my Memory" - Performed by John Williams
• "O Holy Night" - Performed by John Williams
• "Star of Bethlehem" - Performed by John Williams