RIP: Bob Clark

I'm sure to most people the name Bob Clark doesn't ring a bell. However, if you're as big a fan of the movie "A Christmas Story" as I am, you'll immediately recognize his name as the director of the film, and other such classics as "Porky's," "Porky's II: Redneck Boogaloo," and "Karate Dog." So it came as quite a shock to me just now to get word that Clark and his son were killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver at 2:30 PST this morning. Read the story here.

As you can probably tell I'm not a fan of the Porky's movies, never have been, including during my horny, stupid teenager years. And admittedly Clark directed some crappy movies and I wouldn't put him in the same category as your DePalmas, your Sturges, your Capras, your Kurosawas. But he hit the nail square on the head, in my opinion, with "A Christmas Story." Working with Jean Shepherd's colorful stories, Clark crafted an endearing holiday film. Even if you don't like the film you can certainly relate on some level in your past, a Christmas present you so fanatically wanted that you'd run over your own mother to get it. And for me, that's the appeal of the movie--a reminder of Christmases of earlier, simpler times, when Santa was real and the real world was fiction.

First Darren McGavin, now Bob Clark. Rest in peace, Bob; you made one helluva movie. You already knew your film featuring Ralphie Parker and his quest for an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time would outlive you, but I thought you'd have more time.