“Home Alone”: secrets, mistakes and pearls you may never have noticed
Home Alone has become one of the most iconic Christmas films, winning the hearts of audiences around the world year after year. The first and second episodes are two of the most popular stalwarts of television screens, but even though many people know them almost by heart, there are still interesting facts and details that viewers may never have noticed. What secrets are hidden in this legendary comedy about a boy, Kevin, who is left home alone at Christmas and faces unexpected challenges?
Macaulay Culkin, who was just a child at the time of filming, made film industry history with his portrayal of Kevin McCallister. Even if he never made another film in his life, his roles in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York made him immortal. The story of a young boy whose family accidentally forgets him at home while he flies away on vacation was written in 1990. Yet it keeps returning to the screen, where it manages to entertain and move audiences of all generations. In the film, Kevin has to deal not only with the loneliness and responsibility of a whole house, but also with two burglars who are after his home. If you’re going to re-watch this Christmas hit, try to keep an eye out for the following tidbits that reveal behind-the-scenes footage and minor mistakes.
1) Dangerous scenes and stunt double
Many of the scenes where Kevin fights “Wet Bandits” Harry and Marv, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, involve physically demanding and dangerous stunts. However, these were not performed by actor Macaulay Culkin himself. Instead, stuntman Larry Nicholas, who was about 30 years old at the time, was hired, but his stature resembled that of a small boy. This experienced understudy had worked on other famous films such as Jurassic Park, The Truman Show and The Matrix Reloaded.
2) Tennis ball instead of an actor
Actress Catherine O’Hara, who portrayed Kevin’s mother Kate, had to play with a tennis ball during some of the night scenes. Due to strict child labor laws, Macaulay Culkin was not allowed to film after 10 p.m., so his face was replaced with a ball placed at the correct height so that Catherine would have adequate eye contact. The footage was later edited in the editing room.
3) Potato flakes as artificial snow
When Kate returns home and it is snowing romantically outside the house, the scene feels authentic. This was partly due to the real snow that covered the area around the house, but the falling flakes themselves were created artificially. The crew used snowflakes made from potatoes. While this method looked effective on camera, the potatoes began to smell unpleasant after a while.
4) Fictional film in film
The black-and-white film Angels with Dirty Souls plays a significant role in the film, which Kevin uses in his fight with the thieves. Although it pretends to be an old Hollywood gem, this film doesn’t actually exist. It was made specifically for the purpose of filming Home Alone. It stars Chicago actor Ralph Foody, who also appeared in Curly Girl and The Blues Brothers.
5) Buzz’s “girlfriend”
In one scene, Kevin holds up a photo purportedly of his brother Buzz’s girlfriend and grins in disgust. But in reality, the girl in the photo is not a girl, but the son of the film’s art director. Director Chris Columbus didn’t want to mock the real girl, so he chose this alternative.
6) Iconic scream with aftershave
One of the film’s most famous scenes, where Kevin puts aftershave on his face and then screams in fright, was actually created by mistake. Originally, the actor was supposed to move his hands away from his face after he screams, but in rehearsal he screamed earlier. The crew decided to keep this spontaneous version because it was much funnier.
7) A plate full of mysteries
In the scene where Kevin prepares his mac and cheese, his plate is meticulously prepared. Later, however, during a chase around the house, the plate shows different contents – three different kinds of food that weren’t there before.
8) Miracle pizza and phones that don’t work
The film mentions that due to the accident, the phones in the house are not working, which is one of the reasons why Kevin cannot contact his family. Yet, he later orders a pizza without mentioning that the phone lines have been fixed.
9) Time paradoxes of the flight
It is morning when the McCallister family flies from Chicago to Paris. The flight should take seven to eight hours, plus a seven-hour time delay. So the family should land in Paris at night, but it’s daylight outside when they land.
10) Christmas decorations and future forecast
Kevin’s thief traps involve Christmas decorations under the kitchen window, which a barefoot Marv later steps on. However, Kevin could not have known in advance that Marv would be barefoot – he left his shoes in the basement after he entered the house.
This list of curiosities and mistakes shows that even cult films can hide many unexpected details that are worth noting. Next time, take a closer look at Home Alone – you might discover something else!
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