Story writer Jean Shepherd and Hudsons

[Deleted User]

Many of us are familiar with the Holiday season move, "A Christmas Story" that was written by Jean Shepherd (actually a compilation of many of Shepherd's short stories). In that movie, keen eyed car buffs will notice a 1930's Terraplane in the background in one of the scenes taking place in an alley (where Ralphie finally "blows a fuse" and lets bully Scut Farkus really have it). There is one other Jean Shepherd story, this one made by PBS back in 1985 as a TV production, that involves a more prominent role for a Hudson. The story is, "The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski".

In this hour long narrative, a new family moves in nearby the Parker family and at first the Old Man (Ralphie's father) thinks it's the Bumpuses moving back. But, soon after, the rich aroma of stuffed cabbages catches the attention of Ralphie (now a teenager), the Old Man and Mrs. Parker who herself remarks, "that is stuffed cabbages...Polish style!" As it turns out, a family of Polish descent moves in apparently across the street from the Parkers. And also, Ralph falls in love with the teenage girl, Josephine Cosnowski, from this family.

But, without giving too much away of Ralph Parker's romantic motives, this story too is made up of Jean Shepherd's past stories. And one of them involves the Old Man himself falling in love instead with a 1952 or '53 Buick Special being sold by "Friendly Fred's" car lot. Ralph's father is driving a black over dark red 1954 Hudson Hornet sedan and wants to trade it in at Friendly Fred's for the older Buick ("it has Hydramatic!").

Well, see what happens in the fictional Indiana town of Hohman to Ralph, the Old Man, even younger brother Randy who ends up playing a reluctant turkey in the Thanksgiving school play and of course the fate of the Buick and the '54 Hornet.

Dan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gps2zKvnVa0

Browniepetersen

Watched the movie. Brought back a lot of memories of my first car--a Buick like the one pictured. This one did not really end the way I thought it would. Good flick, and he ended up with the 54 Hudson.