‘Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal’: The Old Movies in the ‘Home Alone’ Movies That Don’t Really Exist
The Home Alone movies have become a staple of Christmas viewing, with their blend of humor, adventure, and heart. However, one aspect of the films that has captured the imagination of audiences is the old black-and-white gangster flicks that Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) watches in the original Home Alone. In the film, Kevin pops in a VHS copy of Angels with Filthy Souls, which appears to be an authentic 1930s film noir at first glance.
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The old movies in the Home Alone films have become almost as iconic as the films themselves. The VHS tapes that Kevin watches are filled with grainy, black-and-white footage of gangsters, molls, and detectives. The films are full of nods to classic Hollywood cinema, from the use of shadows and lighting to the over-the-top performances.
But what's fascinating about these old movies is that they don't actually exist. The films that Kevin watches are not real movies, but rather creations of the Home Alone filmmakers. The VHS tapes are filled with footage that was shot specifically for the film, and the 'movies' that Kevin watches are actually just a series of scenes strung together.
The use of fake movies in the Home Alone films is a clever touch that adds to the film's sense of nostalgia and wonder. It's a nod to the way that we used to watch movies, when VHS tapes were the norm and we'd spend hours browsing through the local video rental store looking for something to watch.
In an interview with The New York Times, Chris Columbus, the director of the first two Home Alone films, explained the reasoning behind the use of fake movies. 'We wanted to create a sense of nostalgia and wonder,' he said. 'We wanted the audience to feel like they were watching old movies, but also to feel like they were experiencing something new and exciting.'
The use of fake movies in the Home Alone films has become a beloved aspect of the franchise. Fans of the films have spent years trying to figure out the names of the 'movies' that Kevin watches, and there are even fan-made websites dedicated to the subject.
So the next time you're watching Home Alone, take a closer look at the old movies that Kevin watches. They may not be real, but they're a fun and creative touch that adds to the film's sense of wonder and nostalgia.