| | | | Christine
(1983) |
ome people truly love their cars. They'll give so much love and attention to their vehicles that they have none left for their families or friends. This movie is an example of an extreme case of car worship.
Arnie Cunningham (Gordon) is your average teenager. He's a nerd, constantly pressured by his parents into doing things he doesn't want to do. He's also bullied mercilessly by school thugs with switchblades. He can't stand up for himself... An average spineless wimp. His life sucks royally. The one person who likes him is his football-playing best friend Dennis Guilder (Stockwell). They hang out together and talk about a common interest... CARS.
After a particularly harsh day of high school, Cunningham spots a car that interests him to no end. It's a Plymouth Fury that's in a real P-O-S condition, but that won't stop Arnie from getting his hands on it. Guilder tries to talk him out of it, but after Cunningham ingratiates himself with the old man who owns it, he gets it for 250 dollars (down from 300). The Fury's name is Christine, and her old owner was so obsessed with it, he would die for it... and he did, literally, choking on gas fumes in his car. Arnie knows nothing of this, though... He's determined to turn her into a beauty, but a beast will emerge instead.
Cunningham's mother is furious with him for buying the car, and she gives him and Dennis a double ration of you-know-what over the entire ordeal. After a bustingly verbal argument with his parents, young Arnie takes Christine to a parking garage owned by Will Darnell (Prosky). A gruff-voiced, foul-mouthed individual, he shows a bitter attitude towards Arnie, but eventually takes him under his wing.
Working on Christine gives Cunningham confidence and swagger. These are qualities that make him seem appealing to a beautiful girl named Leigh Cabot (Paul). A brain with a body, if you catch my drift, she's a seemingly impossible catch, but she goes crazy for Arnie and his car. When they make out at a football game Dennis is playing in, it's enough to stun Guilder into paralyzation via attack on the field. Laid up in the hospital, Dennis will never play football again, and he and Arnie drift apart. Dennis will be back, though.
Anyway, while Cunningham and Cabot are sucking face at the drive-in, Christine is just parked. Unfortunately, Leigh feels uncomfortable in the car, so she bolts to the refreshment stand and explains to Arnie her jealousy vis a vis Christine. After brief incomprehension, the two head back to the car. Cunningham notices something wrong with the windshield, so he steps outside to work on that. That's when Christine makes her move. She turns on on her own, bright lights flashing, doors locking, 50s rock and roll blaring, front end tipping to make Cabot choke on her hamburger. With much effort, Leigh is freed from the car and given the Heimlich maneuever. Arnie mistakes that for assaulting her, so he throttles the guy helping Cabot, but only after the food is dislodged. After a night like that, you would think Leigh wouldn't give Cunningham the time of day, much less a second chance. Still, she does...More on that in a paragraph.
The bullies who were threatening Arnie earlier in the movie break into the parking garage and damage Christine with all manner of weaponry they can carry. When Cabot and Arnie visit the next day, they see the car smashed beyond belief. Cunningham, blind in his devotion to this car, assumes Leigh was the one who did the damage, so he curses at her and slaps her. No longer a nice guy, he is now 110 percent certified bad man.
Christine is now getting into gear (no pun intended) for a killing spree. First, she crushes the bullies in assorted manner, from a slicing in a docking bay to a gas station blow-up, all to the sound of the greatest rock and roll hits of the 50s. It then crushes Darnell with the seat, 50s rock and roll blaring again. This car is indestructible..It'll even survive a gasoline fire to mow down another victim. It can re-build itself...It can't be eliminated...It's like it's haunted.
This draws the attention of Police Officer Rudolph Junkins (Stanton). He feels like Arnie is the man behind the killings, although he won't say so. Keeping his eye on Cunningham is tough, because the maniacs are always hard to follow.
Dennis, out of the hospital, is trying to get through to Arnie and tell him that there are people who love him and care for him. Cunningham can't see that...He's past the point of madness by now, guzzling beers while driving Christine (or more accurately, Christine driving them) against traffic.
The only thing that can stop Christine is the combined forces of Guilder and Cabot, but this car won't go down without a fight. After claiming Cunningham (who was going to commit suicide for her as well), she's finally smashed by a forklift. Now safely in cube form, Dennis and Leigh can rest easy... Or can they?
"I hate rock and roll".
 Don't forget that Christine is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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This movie is a horrifying 80s chiller based on a novel by the king of horror, Stephen King.
Expertly directed by John Carpenter and acted by a good cast full of both young talent and old pros, this is a movie that'll have you thinking twice before looking at an antique car or listening to a golden oldies station.
This is easily the best Stephen King adaptation of the 80s, apparently one of his favorites and I'm including "The Shining" and "Cat's Eye" in that description.
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Christine has many cameo appearances in other movies based on King's books. For example, in Cat's Eye, the cat and dog are nearly run over by her (check out the bumper sticker saying "I am Christine").  -Thanks to Fred Burkhead
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Famous author (and fellow son-of-Maine) Stephen King actually owns one of the Christine movie cars. -Thanks to Zack
Keith Gordon has gone on to become a excellent director in his own right, with films such as "A Midnight Clear" and "Mother Night" to his credit.
The book that Dennis pulls off the shelf in the library before asking Leigh out is "Christine" by Steven King.
The actress playing Cunningham's mother is also named Christine... Christine Belford, to be exact.
I believe Alexandra Paul went on to star in "Baywatch". -Thanks to Brian Sakal
The movie playing on-screen at the drive-in is the Oscar-winning disco favorite "Thank God It's Friday".
Actor John Stockwell went on to appear in the 1985 sci-fi action/comedy 'My Science Project' alongside Dennis Hopper and Fisher Stevens. He is also the son of legendary character actor Dean Stockwell (Dune; Quantum Leap; Stargate SG-1) -Thanks to Phantom Planet
The blonde cheerleader who likes John Stockwell's character Dennis is played by Kelly Preston, who was also in 80's film "Mischief" -Thanks to Dave
There is a rumor that James Dean's prized Porsche was a real-life Christine. After the fatal wreck that killed Dean, the parts were sold. Legend has it that some people who bought the parts were later killed in automobile-related accidents. -Thanks to Megan
Christines famous license plate is different from the book to the movie. The book says on page 181 chapter 20 that Arnie Cunningham registered the car in Pennsylvania. Also the book's time frame is in the winter and mentions snow on a daily basis, where in the movie snow is never present. In the movie Dennis and Leigh use a bulldozer to battle Christine. In the book Dennis uses a pink fuel tanker named "Petunia" to destroy Christine. In the book Arnie stores his car at an airport parking lot, this is where it gets vandalized, in the movie it gets vandalized is Darnell's garage. In the book Darnell was killed in his living room not in christine at the garage. In the book Christine was bought Buckskin Beige by Rolland Lebay and he had it painted "Autum Red" not Ford Red. The movie shows Christine red from the assembly line. -Thanks to Greg
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Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Christine DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Christine or 80's Thriller classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Hitcher ..... Thief ..... WarGames ..... Against All Odds ..... Blue Velvet ..... 8 Million Ways To Die ..... To Live and Die in L.A. ..... Fear City ..... Pulse ..... No Way Out ..... Blow Out ..... Class of 1984 ..... Contraband ..... Body Double ..... Firestarter .....[More]
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As a joke, Alexandra Paul's twin sister Caroline stood in for her during some scenes, most notably the ride on the bulldozer.
According to Keith Gordon on the DVD Commentary, he kept having trouble with Christine's ignition. The 1958 Plymouth Fury has a "push button" starter meaning you turn the key and push a button to get the car to start (The button can be seen in some shots located near the steering column but is never seen being pushed in the film). He says that it would routinely take several tries to get the engine to turn over. In a few instances, filming would be delayed so that a technician could repair the starter and even then he'd still have trouble with it.
There were 24 cars purchased for the movie ranging from 1956 to 1958, some were Plymouth Belvederes and Furys and Savoys. Actually the "Fury" was a two door high performance trim package version of the Belvedere. All were hard tops painted buckskin beige, with gold trim. The big "V" on the grille meant it had a high performance V-8. There were only two engines available, a 318 dual quad (290hp.) and the new "B" engine the 350 dual quad (305hp.) Dodge used the same engine, but only in a single four barrel. At the auto factory Christine has a 350 dual quad, notice the front distributor as the hood slams shut on the guys hand, and later when it gets vandalized at Darnell's. They used various engines for the stunt cars like 383's, and 440's. Christine had a Torqueflight automatic with the push button controls, but some demo cars had three on the tree. Only two cars remained intact and were sold! They still exist today. The windows on demo's were painted black to conceal the driver and to add mystery of who's driving, if there was a driver.... King chose the Fury for the book because it was an oddball muscle car, that had a cool, but evil look. -Thanks to Steve
Kevin Bacon turned down the leading role of the film for a screen test of "Footloose". -Thanks to Steph
All of Christine's engine sounds in the movies were actually dubbed in; the recording was taken from a 1970 Mustang 428 SCJ owned by the actor who played "Buddy Repperton." -Thanks to Steve
In the end garage scene at Darnell's, the small white car that Christine smashes into and sends careering across the garage is on rollers...you can see if you look closely. -Thanks to Carol Spector
In the movie, when Christine smashes Buddy Repperton's Camaro, attentive viewers will note that the Camaro has no engine in that scene - even though its headlights are on and it appears to be running.
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|  |  |  | | Christine
Locations |
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 Featured Movie Location: the high school
Wanna see the real life filming location used for the high school in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at Oak Park High School, located in Agoura, S. California. [New! Show Google Map]
The scene where the garage is blown up was located at the corner of Magic Mountain Parkway and McBean Parkway in Valencia, Ca (Santa Clarita Valley). I remember someone in school talking about the filming of a car movie, and that they built and blew up a full size gas station there. It either holds condos or a mall now.
The road where Christine ran over Buddy Repperton was a little two lane road right across the street from the gas station, it has since been expanded to a four lane road. In fact the whole area is completly changed.
The part of the film where Buddy Repperton and the other guy come out of the store when Christine starts to follow him is located at the corner of Newhall Ave and Lyons Ave in Newhall (Santa Clarita Valley). [Thanks to Glen Williamson]
The shop where he works on the car was at Irwindale & Arrow Hwy. Across from a landmark Taco stand. The Junk yard looked the part in the '80's. Now it's all new buildings. I was over a friends house who used to go to the Bob Keller model shows in Buena Park. He opened the closet & it was wall to wall model kits! [Thanks to Mike Rambeau]
Can you help? Do you know any of the S. California (or any other) filming locations used for Christine, particularly the house they buy the car from, the warehouse/workshop? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[STEREO or SURROUND]](dd2.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
| Our
Comments: Special Edition |
| | | | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
| Our
Comments: Special Edition |
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Well, the score to "Christine", as composed by the versatile Carpenter, is on CD. The songs... Well, no.
Here's a listing of the songs anyway if you want to make your own CD of the soundtrack.
"Bad To The Bone" by George Thorogood And The Destroyers
"Beast Of Burden" by The Rolling Stones
"Bony Moronie" by Larry Williams
"Come On, Let's Go" by Richie Valens
"Harlem Nocturne" by The Viscounts
"I Wonder Why" by Dion And The Belmonts
"Keep A-Knockin" by Little Richard
"Little Bitty Pretty One" by Thurston Harris
"Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly
"Not Fade Away" by Tanya Tucker
"Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace
"Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay" by Danny And The Juniors
"Runaway" by Bonnie Raitt
"The Name Of The Game" by ABBA
"We Belong Together" by Robert & Johnny
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Soundtrack Available:
On CD
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