CLEVELAND (AP) — Even after three decades, the triple-dog dare doesn’t get old.

The film “A Christmas Story” opened 30 years ago to mixed reviews but has shown its staying power as a holiday family favorite. Cleveland, where parts of the movie were filmed and hard-luck Ralphie dreamed big, is celebrating the anniversary with iconic leg lamps, holiday store windows like the ones that drew Ralphie’s wide-eyed stares and stage and musical versions of “A Christmas Story.”

Bing: ‘A Christmas Story’ musical

“It becomes part of your fabric for your whole life,” said Kevin Moore, managing director of the Cleveland Play House, where the stage version of the story has become a holiday staple.

In the film, starring Darren McGavin as the father, 9-year-old Ralphie was transfixed by the brightly decorated storefront windows. And he dreamed of getting an air rifle as a Christmas gift, despite warnings that he might shoot his eye out.

The plot follows his determined gift-begging, his encounters with bullies and his family’s daily hopes and dreams — including a lamp in the form of a shapely leg.

The Cleveland house where Ralphie’s film family lived will highlight the anniversary Friday and Saturday with appearances by original cast members and a BB gun range in the backyard.

The movie wasn’t widely acclaimed when it debuted, with favorable reviews barely outnumbering bad mentions like the one that grumped, “Bah, humbug” in the headline. But its quirky humor and love-in-family message struck a chord with audiences.

Like any holiday favorite, a sense of wonder is needed for “A Christmas Story” and 8-year-old Colin Wheeler thinks he has one to match Ralphie’s.

“We both have really big imaginations,” boasted Colin, who plays Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” musical at Cleveland’s Near West Theater.

It’s not easy playing Ralphie in that ill-fitting pink bunny suit, Colin said.

“I’ll tell you one thing that’s hard: it’s really hard not to laugh” while wearing that suit, Colin said.

Across town, the Cleveland Play House production of “A Christmas Story” attracts multigenerational audiences of children, parents and grandparents, Moore said.

The appeal in Ralphie’s blue-collar hometown is simple, Moore said. “It’s just a really quirky and yet incredibly sweet story and that resonates with Cleveland,” he said.

The Horseshoe Casino Cleveland has been decorated for the season to highlight the film’s roots in the department store now housing the casino, with leg lamps atop some of the slot machines.

Sheryl Peet, emerging from the casino, said she appreciates the movie and its humor, without regard to its Cleveland connections. “I like it. It’s got comedy, fun, Ralphie,” she said.

At “A Christmas Story” house overlooking humming steel mills, visitors can re-enact movie scenes including ducking under the 1940s-style kitchen sink or looking out the back door where Ralphie trudged through the faux snow.

The movie “snow” was actually mostly firefighting foam, pressed into service amid a cold but rare snowless stretch during filming in winter-hardy Cleveland.

Jim Moralevitz, now 73, lives down the street from “A Christmas Story” house and landed a cameo role in the film helping deliver the crate carrying the leg lamp.

The entrepreneur who developed the house as a tourist attraction, Brian Jones, gave Moralevitz a leg lamp seven years ago and it’s mounted in a 6-foot outdoor Plexiglas box near the peak of the front roof. People sometimes mistake it for “A Christmas Story” house and stop to visit.

In the neighborhood, “I’m known for the most drive-by shootings (filming),” said Moralevitz, a retired tour guide stepping back into his old role for comic effect.

Like many of the best holiday classics, the risky business turns cheerful at the end. Now families get together at holiday gatherings to watch the movie or crowd theater performances.

“It fills up the seats because it’s a family experience,” Moore said.

The anniversary of the movie will be marked beyond Cleveland, with versions on stage from Boston to California. The musical has returned to Broadway for another run.

A new bronze statue of the “triple-dog dare” tongue-grabbing flagpole scene is on display in time for the holidays in Hammond, Ind., hometown of Jean Shepherd, whose stories inspired the 1983 movie. One of the boys in the movie takes the dare and gets his tongue stuck on the icy pole. The Hammond reproduction has become a big hit since it was dedicated in October, with families stopping by to take their Christmas card photos.

But mimicking Hollywood might be risky, according to Nicki Mackowski with the tourist agency in Hammond.

“We’re working on putting up signs as the cold weather gets here. You know: ‘Lick at your own risk’ kind of thing,” she said.

By Todd Cunningham
TheWrap

“Anchorman: The Legend Continues,” previously scheduled to open on Friday, Dec. 20, will open two days earlier, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, paramount said Tuesday.

The studio also said that it will open “Friday the 13th” on March 13, 2015.

Bing: Ron Burgundy of ‘Anchorman’ stars in Chrysler ads

The “Anchorman” sequel is expected to be one of the holiday’s season’s bigger films. Will Ferrell reprises his role as TV newsman Ron Burgundy and co-stars Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner return as well. Adam McKay directs.

The shift gives the comedy a little more of a jump on what’s shaping up as a very crowded Christmas.

On that same Wednesday, Sony’s “American Hustle,” Disney’s “Saving Mr. Banks” and CBS Films’ “LLewyn Davis” all expand nationwide. Fox’s family adventure “Walking With Dinosaurs” opens two days later.

On Christmas Day, paramount is rolling out the Martin Scorsese-directed Leonardo DiCaprio drama “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Fox has set “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” with Ben Stiller, Universal’s debuts its Keanu Reeves’ thriller “47 Ronin” and Warner Bros. will open the Sly Stallone-Robert De Niro boxing comedy “Grudge Match.”

On that same day, the Weinstein Company’s “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” expands nationwide, as does the Justin Bieber concert documentary “Believe.” And the Meryl Streep-Julia Roberts dramedy “August: Osage County” gets a limited release.

NEW YORK (AP) — While shooting in Boston, David O. Russell found his film “American Hustle” caught up in the Boston Marathon bombing.

When the city was essentially shut down for the manhunt for suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev in April, the production — which had been shooting in the area — had to be stopped for a day. The experience, Russell says, was felt closely by the filmmaking crew and actors.

“It was hanging over us the whole time,” Russell said in a recent interview.

Bing: ‘American Hustle’ early reviews

“You just end up feeling the emotion and the strength of the community around you,” said the director. “It just makes you more human, really, because you end up having a very human connection with, literally, everyone around you. I mean, everyone, strangers on the street. Everybody was moved and pulled together by that tragedy.”

Russell, a New York native, has become increasingly identified with Massachusetts. A graduate of Amherst College, he memorably shot his Oscar-winning “The Fighter” on location in Lowell.

“American Hustle” is a fictionalized version of the Abscam sting operation conducted by the FBI in the late 1970s. The investigation was aided by a convicted con artist (played by Christian Bale in the film) and led to convictions related to bribery for a senator, six congressmen and other politicians.

Though the film largely takes place in New Jersey, Russell shot it around Massachusetts, including stops in Worcester, Medford and Salem.

“There are places there that you can’t find in the New York area that are untouched from the ’70s,” Russell said. “There are parts of Massachusetts — Medford and Worcester — that haven’t really changed since the late ’70s.”

The explosions on April 15 at the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured more than 260. Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to a 30-count federal indictment that includes charges of using a weapon of mass destruction.

Before shooting resumed for “American Hustle” in Boston, actors from the film, including Bradley Cooper, visited victims in the hospital.

“When you’re telling a story that’s full of intensity and emotion, you put it into the movie,” said Russell, who last directed the acclaimed self-renewal comedy “Silver Linings Playbook.” ”You put all that heart into it. There’s a lot of heart in Boston. I love having a lot of heart in my movies.”

“American Hustle,” which also stars Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner, opens Dec. 18.

WENN

Sandra Bullock fought to play the mother of a dead child in “Gravity” even though she knew the role would be tough because she’s a happy mom in real life.

The actress portrays a desperate doctor lost in space in the hit sci-fi movie and when director Alfonso Cuaron was creating the character she urged him to consider giving her a sad life on earth back story.

Bing: ‘Gravity’ Oscar chances

Bullock tells Entertainment Weekly she knew it was important to give her character no one to come back to.

She explains, “I said I didn’t want her going back to a child, because of course someone’s going to fight for that. So what if she had absolutely nothing to fight for — she’s lost a child, there’s nothing back home, she’s a person who’s basically a machine?

“That was my idea, and Alfonso was open to it. It was the worst possible headspace to be in … but at the end of the day, I went out into the sunshine, out to where the life force was — my son.”

By Steve Pond
TheWrap

“12 Years a Slave,” “Nebraska” and “Short Term 12” were among the top nominees for the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which on Tuesday morning announced a slate of nominees filled with films and performers who will likely be contending for Academy Awards as well.

In the top category, Best Feature, the nominees are “12 Years,” “Nebraska,” “Frances Ha,” “All Is Lost” and “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” led all films with seven nominations, including nods for feature, director and actors Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael Fassbender.

Search: Director Steve McQueen

Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” received six nominations, while “All Is Lost” received four and “Short Term 12,” “Fruitvale Station” and “Blue Jasmine” received three.

The other major award for independent film, the New York-based Gotham Awards, nominated “12 Years a Slave,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Before Midnight,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” and “Upstream Color” for their top award.

Since the Oscar Best Picture race expanded from five to 10 nominees (and then to a variable number), the Oscars and Spirit Awards have coincided more frequently. Over the past three years, eight of the 16 Spirit Awards nominees for Best Feature went on to receive Oscar nominations for Best Picture. Dual nominees included “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “The Descendants,”  “Black Swan” and “The Artist,” which won both awards.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out on the afternoon March 1, the day before the Oscars, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Patton Oswalt will host.

The nominations:

Best Feature:
“12 Years a Slave”
“All Is Lost”
“Frances Ha”
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Nebraska”

Best Director:
Shane Carruth, “Upstream Color”
J.C. Chandor, “All is Lost”
Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”
Jeff Nichols, “Mud”
Alexander Payne, “Nebraska”

Best Screenplay:
Woody Allen, “Blue Jasmine”
Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater, “Before Midnight”
Nicole Holofcener, “Enough Said”
Scott Neustadter Michael H. Weber, “The Spectacular Now”
John Ridley, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Female Lead:
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”
Gaby Hoffman, “Crystal Fairy”
Brie Larson, “Short Term 12”
Shailene Woodley, “The Spectacular Now”

Best Male Lead:
Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”
Oscar Isaac, “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Michael B. Jordan, “Fruitvale Station”
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Robert Redford, “All Is Lost”

Best Supporting Female:
Melonie Diaz, “Fruitvale Station”
Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Yolonda Ross, “Go for Sisters”
June Squibb, “Nebraska”

Best Supporting Male:
Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
Will Forte, “Nebraska”
James Gandolfini, “Enough Said”
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Keith Stanfield, “Short Term 12”

Best First Feature:
“Blue Caprice”
“Concussion”
“Fruitvale Station”
“Una Noche”
“Wadjda”

Best First Screenplay:
“In a World,” Lake Bell
“Don Jon,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt
“Nebraska,” Bob Nelson
“Afternoon Delight,” Jill Soloway
“The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,” Michael Starrbury

John Cassavetes Award:
“Computer Chess”
“Crystal Fairy”
“Museum Hours”
“Pit Stop”
“This Is Martin Bonner”

Best Cinematography:
Sean Bobbit, “12 Years a Slave”
Benoit Debie, “Spring Breakers”
Bruno Delbonnel, “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Frank G. DeMarco, “All Is Lost”
Matthias Grunsky, “Computer Chess”

Best Editing:
Shane Carruth David Lowery, “Upstream Color”
Jem Cohen Marc Vives, “Museum Hours”
Jennifer Lame, “Frances Ha”
Cindy Lee, “Una Noche”
Nat Sanders, “Short Term 12”

Best Documentary:
“20 Feet From Stardom”
“After Tiller”
“Gideon’s Army”
“The Act of Killing”
“The Square”

Best International Film:
“A Touch of Sin”
“Blue Is the Warmest Color”
“Gloria”
“The Great Beauty”
“The Hunt”

Robert Altman Award (given to a film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
“Mud”

Piaget Producers Award:
Toby Halbrooks James M. Johnston
Jacob Jaffke
Andrea Roa
Frederick Thornton

Someone to Watch Award:
“My Sister’s Quinceanera,” Aaron Douglas Johnston
“Newlyweeds,” Shake King
“The Foxy Merkins,” Madeline Olnek

Truer Than Fiction Award:
“A River Changes Course,” Kalvanee Mam
“Let the Fire Burn,” Jason Osder
“Manakamana,” Stephanie Spray Pacho Velez

Related stories from TheWrap:

’12 Years a Slave’ Leads Gotham Awards Nominations

GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) — President Obama has toured many a factory floor and high-tech plant during his presidency. It’s part of the job. But until Tuesday, he had never quite met the likes of Oh and Capt. Smek.

In what qualifies as one of those special perks of governing, Obama toured the DreamWorks Animation studio of one of his top political benefactors, Jeffrey Katzenberg. All other tours must have paled by comparison.

He saw motion capture technology on display and he shook hands — well, bumped elbows — with Steve Martin before the actor-comedian-banjo player transformed himself into the villainous Capt. Smek from the upcoming movie “Home.”

But nothing could beat the short clip of another character in the film, Oh, intoning in the familiar cadences of Obama’s voice: “Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Welcome to the White House.”

Bing: Kanye says he’s ‘past’ Obama

“That’ll impress the girls,” Obama, thinking of his daughters, said delightedly.

Martin and actor Jim Parsons of “Big Bang Theory” were there to demonstrate voice recordings for the DreamWorks movie “Home” about a civilization of aliens called “Boovs.” It’s scheduled for release in November of 2014.

Speaking to a few thousand staff and others gathered on DreamWorks’ campus, Obama praised the entertainment industry for helping transmit values of tolerance and diversity and overcoming adversity, calling it part of American diplomacy.

“Hundreds of millions of people may never set foot in the U.S., but thanks to you they’ve experienced a small part of what makes our country successful,” Obama said. “We have shaped a world culture through you.”

“Can’t wait to see your next movie,” Obama added with a grin.

Entering the studio earlier for his tour, Obama extended a hand to Martin, who informed him he had a slight cold. So the commander in chief and the once wild-and-crazy guy bumped elbows instead.

“How’s the banjo playing?” Obama asked

“Better than ever,” Martin replied.

Obama mentioned that Martin had played the banjo at the White House.

“The fact that I played banjo at the White House was the biggest thrill (pause) of his life,” Martin cracked.

“That’s how I felt,” Obama deadpanned. “Biggest thrill of my life. Inauguration? Nothing.”

Martin and Parsons then ran through a scene. Obama appeared thoroughly tickled as he read along from the script.

Obama also saw a demonstration of motion capture technology, known in the business as “mo-cap”

Two actors, a woman and a man, were wearing full black body suits with colored sensors applied like polka dots to their suits. Behind them a large screen showed two animated characters, a young boy, “Hiccup,” and a young girl, “Astrid, from the upcoming movie “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”

Every movement the actors performed on the studio floor was replicated on the screen by the animated characters.

Obama asked what the difference was between using that technology and actually drawing animation.

“Is the advantage here that by seeing the natural movement, that can’t be replicated in your head?” he asked.

The cinematographer told him that the technology allowed for more natural movement and more dimension and was able to take advantage of ad-libbed movement.

“So, serendipity,” Obama said.

After seeing a final clip from the movie, Obama turned to the reporters following him and offered an unfiltered DreamWorks commercial:

“Coming to a theater near you!”

Indeed, Katzenberg added: “June 13.”

By Steve Pond
TheWrap

Scarlett Johansson may have a chance to win some awards this season for her voice-only performance as the operating system in Spike Jonze’s “Her,” but a Golden Globe won’t be one of them.

Bing: Scarlett Johansson engaged

The actress’ performance as the disembodied voice with which Joaquin Phoenix’s character falls in love has won raves from many who’ve seen the film in advance screenings. But the part has fallen victim to a Hollywood Foreign Press Association rule that says voice performances are not eligible for acting awards, an HFPA source confirmed to TheWrap.

Johansson is, however, eligible for the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Oscars.

Also on TheWrap: ‘Her’ Review: She’s Virtual, But You Can’t Have Everything

The Globes have restrictive rules in other categories as well. Earlier this year, they tried to disqualify the Swiss documentary “More Than Honey” from the Best Foreign Language Film category on the grounds that it was a doc, and docs weren’t eligible for the Globes.

Only when confronted with evidence that there was no such rule in their books did they relent, and allow it to be submitted – although the HFPA also instituted a new rule that will specifically disqualify documentaries from the category in the future.

Spike Jonze Wins Over NY Film Fest With ‘Her,’ Sets Sights on Oscar

‘Her’ Review: She’s Virtual, But You Can’t Have Everything

NEW YORK (AP) — A statuette of a bird featured in the classic 1941 detective thriller “The Maltese Falcon” sold for more than $4 million at auction Monday.

The final price on the 45-pound, 12-inch-tall prop was $4,085,000, according to Bonhams auction house. That includes Bonham’s premium.

The black figurine is one of two known cast lead statuettes made for John Huston’s screen version of the film but the only one confirmed by Warner Bros. archives as having appeared in it, said Bonhams, which declined to provide a pre-sale estimate. The winning bid came over the phone.

The statuette has a Warner Bros. inventory number etched into the base and bears the name of the movie, which starred Humphrey Bogart as private eye Sam Spade.

The figure has a bent right tail feather, damage incurred during filming, Bonhams said. Actress Lee Patrick, who played Spade’s secretary, Effie, dropped it while handing it to Bogart.

The statuette’s unidentified owner bought it privately in the 1980s. It has been exhibited at the Warner Bros. Studio Museum, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

It was offered in a sale of other classic movie memorabilia.

“I brought you an orange juice”

“What’s in it?”

“Oranges!”

*Sets drink aside

There is a reason people are called Americans.  Does it matter what your ethnic background or native land is?  It shouldn’t because we call ourselves American!  If you will not die for your country, serve and protect your country, and at the very least represent this country, then you should not call yourself American!  Americans can be any color of race, of any religion, of any ethnicity, but you must be willing to live and die for your country. IF not, please do not call yourself or label yourself any type of American.

Milchan is a traitor, he is a thief, and a liar, and he has all the right to call himself an Israelite, but he will never be an American.  He should be punished as a spy and traitor.

U.S.A. all the Way!