JEAN SHEPHERD
 

4 TV MOVIES COLLECTION

DVD 1

The Phantom Of The Open Hearth (1976)

Original length (76 minutes) reduced later to 60 minutes with the cut of the Prom Vomit scene

This comedy/drama was written by Jean Shepherd, who appears at the beginning and the end and narrates it through voiceover. It tells the story of several events as they occur through the eyes of Ralph, a high-school-aged boy. Ralph is anticipating the upcoming prom and is working up the courage to invite Daphne Bigelow, a beautiful and popular student who does not seem aware of his existence. Meanwhile, Ralph's father, referred to throughout as the Old Man, has just been informed that he has won a prize from a Nehi soft drink sponsored contest, which he awaits eagerly. When the prize arrives it is a tasteless lamp, which causes friction between Ralph's mother and father. Ralph's mother is seen going to recurring "Dish Nights" at the local movie theater. Those who attend receive free dishes, but week after week mistaken shipments result in multiple gravy boats, angering the patrons. Finally, Ralph invites not Daphne Bigelow, but his geekish neighbor Wanda Hickey to the prom. He and his friends go out afterwards with their dates and drink heavily. The evening culminates with them vomiting in the stalls of the men's bathroom. "Phantom of the Open Hearth" appears to take place in the 1950's or early 1960's and has a bittersweet feel to it. The anecdotal remembrances of Ralph are both humorous and nostalgic, revealing touching qualities, especially in his father.

By the same creative genius who wrote Christmas Story, this is a hysterical sendup of Ralphie's life as a teenager. James Broderick plays "the old man" in this episode. Haven't seen this since a PBS showing over 30 years ago. One scene that stands out follows: One of the Parker's neighbors orders an entire house by mail from Sears. It arrives in railroad boxcars on a siding in town. All the fathers go down with the premise of helping unload the house kit from the cars. The beer starts to flow and it becomes a drunken ballet of opening hundreds of crates of house parts. Then it begins to rain and the hapless home buyer is abandoned by his inebriated friends.

This DVD quality is acceptable but not the best.

DVD 2

The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters (1982)
 

Matt Dillon plays a young Jean Shepherd (author and narrator of A Christmas Story). Through Matt, Shep tells several humorous stories about his teen years in an Indiana steel town. In the movie, during the 'blind date' scene, Shep and his blind date Pamela, Schwartz and his date Clara Mae, are watching the movie "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing". Clara Mae says to Schwartz "This is so romantic. It's just like us." In the movie William Holden and Jennifer Jones fall in love and Holden goes off to war and never returns. In real life Schwartz goes off to war and never returns.

This DVD quality is acceptable but not the best.

DVD 3

The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski (1985)

Going to a Polish Wedding Friendly Fred's used car lot Randy plays a turkey in the school Thanksgiving Day play The boys eat at John's hamburger joint Scragging for Polish girls Dedicated to the Memory of James Broderick (1927 to 1982) who played 'The Old Man' in Great American 4th of July and the Phantom of the Open Hearth.

This DVD quality is acceptable but not the best.

DVD 4

Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss (1988)

Continuing adventures of Ralphie and family from "A Christmas Story" and "A Summer Story"...aka "It Runs in the Family." Jean Shepard is back as narrator and writer but as in all films, an original cast (they do such a good job capturing the spirit of the actors in "A Christmas Story" that you won't notice the cast change). Note: Though this film was made second, it actually falls third according to the period of the film.

This DVD quality is acceptable but not the best.

THE DVDs WILL BE DELIVERED IN 1 QUADRUPLE PLASTIC CASE AND ART WORK

FULL REFUND IF NOT SATISFIED