Testimonial
How Did ‘Home Alone’ Become a Christmas Classic?
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Its Release!
“Chris knows his stuff.” –Lenny M.
No holiday movie marathon is complete without “Home Alone,” the 1990 classic featuring Kevin McCallister whose family forgets him when they go on their Christmas vacation, which forces him on a whimsical quest to defend his home against two burglars. But how did the holiday classic come to be? After the failure of his movie “Heartbreak Hotel,” director Chris Columbus looked over a couple of scripts from John Hughes. He was immediately drawn to “Home Alone,” telling Entertainment Weekly in 2015, “Christmas is a time when people are at their happiest or at the most emotionally low place in their lives.” He added that that’s what made for such a “great backdrop” for the movie. Finding the kid wasn’t any trouble because Hughes wrote the script with Macaulay Culkin specifically in mind. Columbus still auditioned hundreds of kids, but when Culkin arrived, he knew Hughes was right. He later explained to EW, “He doesn’t look like one of these Hollywood-perfect kids. His ear is bent a little bit. He had a great voice that was not annoying; it was just charming, and he was really funny.” The house in “Home Alone” — located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois — has also become famous over the years, turning it into a tourist attraction. But it took the director a while to agree to use the home in the film. It was crucial that the house fit the gags of the movie, had great stunt potential, and showed well on film. It needed to look both “warm and menacing,” said Columbus. “It’s the kind of house, if you were a kid, it would be fun to be left home alone in.” The actual shooting was a lot of fun, of course. There were plenty of notable improvisations, like the famous aftershave scream and John Candy’s hilarious story about leaving his kid at a funeral home. However, the stunts were nerve- wracking! Columbus says that the crew never laughed until they saw that the stuntpeople were “absolutely fine.” Once they got up, the crew was relaxed enough to laugh.
Nothing pulls together a salad quite like a delicious Caesar dressing. This easy vegan recipe takes just five minutes to make and keeps for 5–7 days in the fridge. Simple Vegan Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup hummus • 5 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tsp spicy mustard • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1/2 tsp lemon zest • 2 tsp capers, minced
• 3 tsp caper brining juice • 1 tbsp olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste • Hot water, as needed
“Home Alone” was released on Nov. 16, 1990, to mixed reviews by critics but was an instant hit with audiences. It broke box office records and was the highest- grossing film of the year, making over $17 million. It even earned a Guinness World Record as the highest-grossing live-action comedy. From everyone at Omaha Insurance Solutions, we hope you get to enjoy it this Christmas season! Happy holidays!
Directions
1. In a small bowl, add all ingredients and whisk to combine. 2. If needed, add a bit of hot water to thin the dressing until it will pour. 3. Serve with salad or refrigerate for later!
Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
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