Why Flash Gordon's Name Is Included In A Christmas Story's Credits

Eagle-eyed fans of A Christmas Story will notice one peculiar name in the credits – Flash Gordon. The 1983 movie has created a massive legacy, going down in history as one of the best Christmas movies of all time. Between the leg lamp and the iconic quotes, there are so many reasons to enjoy the story. Some of the most entertaining moments are Ralphie's daydreams, which offer excitement into an otherwise straightforward story.

Some examples of Ralphie’s fantasies include him fighting bandits and Black Bart, his parents feeling guilty about poisoning him, and the teacher and class celebrating him. However, not every fantasy scene made it to the final cut. One of the most interesting bits of trivia about A Christmas Story is the fact that Flash Gordon nearly appeared in the movie, and his name even shows up in the credits.

A Christmas Story Cut A Scene That Featured Ralphie Teaming Up With Flash Gordon

Ralphie Would Have Dreamed Of Saving The Superhero

With Ralphie’s imagination, it’s no surprise that he would have fantasies that go beyond a Western-style shootout. The character originally was meant to daydream a scene with the popular comic book character Flash Gordon. The cast even filmed the scene. Sadly, no known footage remains, as the negatives were seemingly destroyed, but the scene has been described in interviews on many occasions. Peter Billingsly, who played Ralphie Parker in the movie, described the scene when speaking on his podcast, A Cinematic Christmas Journey.

2:59 Related How 1983’s A Christmas Story Compares to the Book How A Christmas Story Differs From The Book – Origins, Changes & Hidden Details You Never Knew!

The fantasy scene included Ming the Merciless pinning Flash Gordon down in outer space and threatening to destroy the Earth. Raphie appears in a space suit at the pivotal moment to save the superhero with his Red Ryder Rifle. Unfortunately, the scene in A Christmas Story was only ever seen by test audiences, so it doesn't fall into the category of Flash Gordon movies. However, curious fans can read the script for the deleted scene on The Movie Blog.

Why Bob Clark Left Flash Gordon In A Christmas Story's Credits

Billingsley Revealed The True Reason In A Q&A Attended By Screen Rant

Close

Since Bob Clark cut the Flash Gordon scene from A Christmas Story, the question naturally comes up as to why the character and actor appear in the credits section of the film and on the IMDb page. Billingsley is on tour, hosting screenings of the movie and a subsequent moderated question-and-answer session. He explained the decision during a Q&A event on December 4th, for which a member of the Screen Rant team was in attendance.

This decision shows the appreciation and respect Clark had for the actors on his project.

The director kept their names in the credits because he wanted to ensure the actors Paul Hubbard and Colin Fox – who played Flash Gordon and Ming the Merciless in the scene, respectively – received residual checks for their work, even if they didn’t appear in the final version of A Christmas Story. This decision shows the appreciation and respect Clark had for the actors on his project.