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Few Christmas movies seem to be as frequently rewatched — and well-loved — as "A Christmas Story." Sure, "Home Alone" gives Ralphie a good run for his money, but it's hard to beat the annual 24-hour "A Christmas Story" marathons. Whether you always hunker down for the day-long ordeal or indulge your family by watching the classic movie once every few years (a situation that I can personally relate to — my dad's a big fan), "A Christmas Story" has certainly slipped its way into many people's holiday customs.

Of course, it certainly doesn't hurt that the movie is an ode to family, childhood innocence, and nostalgic traditions. If the holiday season tempts us to reminisce about simpler, happier days — when Christmas was met with pure, childlike excitement, the playground was the center of the universe, and hot chocolate tasted extra-sweet — "A Christmas Story" is an indulgence that chooses nostalgic realism over rose-tinted glasses.

In this edition of Canon Of Film, we take a look at Bob Clark‘s holiday classic, ‘A Christmas Story‘. For the story behind the genesis of the Canon, you can click here.

‘A Christmas Story’ (1983)

Director: Bob Clark

Screenplay: Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown & Bob Clark based on the novel ‘In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,’ by Jean Shepherd

I know there’s a lot of people out there who regret the commercialization of ‘A Christmas Story‘ and sure, it’s totally out-of-hand. There’s a live televised version of ‘A Christmas Story‘ that happened on TV recently, which is one of the more benign examples to occur. I’d be remissed if I didn’t bring up the egregious straight-to-dvd sequel they made a couple years ago to widespread scorn; if for no other reason than the fact that there already was a sequel to ‘A Christmas Story‘ out there!

Maya Rudolph is heading to Fox!

The Saturday Night Live alum will star in Fox’s live holiday musical production of A Christmas Story, Fox announced Tuesday during the Fox portion of the summer Television Critics Association press tour.

Related: 'Rent' and 'A Christmas Story' Live Musicals Coming to Fox

Rudolph will play the mother of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker. The 45-year-old actress is no stranger to singing. She was a backup singer for several years before SNL, performed with The Rentals and is in a Prince cover band with her friend, Gretchen Lieberum.

A Christmas Story: The Musical is based on the 1983 classic film, which was written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and the 1966 novel, In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Shepherd. The musical takes place in 1940s Indiana and centers on a child named Ralphie, who wants a Red Ryder Bb Gun for Christmas.

Tony and Oscar...

Fox Broadcasting Company and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television have partnered with award-winning film, television and theater producer Marc Platt (Grease: Live, La La Land) on the live musical event A Christmas Story, inspired by the holiday classic feature A Christmas Story and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production A Christmas Story: The Musical. The three-hour live television production of A Christmas Story will air this December on Fox.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, recent Tony Award nominees for the musical Dear Evan Hansen, and lyricists of La La Land's Academy Award-winning song, "City of Stars," also scored A Christmas Story: The Musical, and will compose several new songs for the Live television event, with Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary (Grease: Live) adapting the book. Here's what David Madden, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, had to say in his statement.

"A Christmas Story is one of the most beloved...

Fox is joining the holiday season live musical derby, announcing plans to mount a live three-hour musical version of “A Christmas Story” this December.

“A Christmas Story” will become Fox’s first musical event since last year’s “Grease: Live!,” which was executive produced by Marc Platt. Platt is once again on board for “A Christmas Story,” and the news comes just days after NBC announced that Platt would help mount “Jesus Christ Superstar Live!” for the Peacock network next Easter.

Fox’s “A Christmas Story” will take elements from both the 1980s feature, which has become an annual TV staple, as well the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production “A Christmas Story: The Musical.”

Read More: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Live TV Event Comes to NBC Next Easter

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who scored “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” and will compose several new songs for the Live television event,...