AlexandraSpecially Constructed Scenarios
Although part of the movie was filmed on 671 Lincoln Avenue, there were still custom-built scenarios. The first-floor rooms and the dining room were built in a soundstage. Kevin’s tree house was solely built for this movie! All these still looked great.
High School Turned Into Sound Stage
The New Trier High School, Chicago, was where most the scenes were filmed. The swimming pool turned into the flooded basement, the gym into a stunt-friendly area, and the basketball court into the business class seats on the plane. Other scenes filmed there were of the McCallister house, the police station, the O’Hare International Airport, and the Paris-Orly Airport.
It Never Snowed
It may look real but the truth is the snow seen on Home Alone is actually artificial. The prop was made of plastic and wax and was given to the Lyric Opera of Chicago afterward. They did not have to go through the same trouble for Home Alone 2 though since it actually snowed!
Fiction Based on Reality
John Hughes wrote Home Alone in nine days! This writing sprint had two main inspirations. After returning home with his family from a trip to Europe he wondered what might have happened if one of his kids were left home alone! It is also inspired by his Uncle Buck movie, that featured Culkin. On that show, the young actor interviewed a babysitter through a mail slot. Is it a coincidence that a similar scene happens between Kevin and Marv?
Yet Still Fictional
Have you ever thought there was no way that Harry and Marv would have survived all they did on Home Alone? You were not the only one! Dr. Ryan St. Clair from Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, agrees. According to him, the Wet Bandits probably would not have withstood all that! We are glad they did.
Highest Grossing Guinness Records
Did you know Home Alone was even featured in The Guinness Book of World Records? That is right. It was mentioned as the Highest-grossing Live-action Comedy in History and Highest-grossing Film of 1990.