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Howard Langston

Poster-JingleAllTheWay

Jingle All the Way is a 1996 Christmas comedy film directed by Brian Levant and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Jake Lloyd, James Belushi, and Robert Conrad. Inspired by real-life Christmas toy sell-outs for products such as the Cabbage Patch Kids and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, it was written by Randy Kornfield, inspired by having witnessed his in-laws go to a toy store in Santa Monica to get his son a Power Rangers toy. Producer Chris Columbus of Home Alone fame, having experienced similar problems trying to find a Buzz Lightyear toy for his son, rewrote the script, adding in satirical elements about the commercialization of Christmas, and the project was picked up by 20th Century Fox. Delays on Fox's Planet of the Apes remake allowed Schwarzenegger to come on board, while Columbus opted to cast Sinbad ahead of Joe Pesci as Myron. It was set and filmed in Minneapolis-St. Paul at a variety of locations, including the Mall of America. After five weeks of filming, production moved to California where scenes such as the end parade were shot. Its swift production meant merchandising was limited to a replica of the Turbo Man action figure used in it.

Synopsis[]

Howard Langston is a hard-working employee at a mattress company, and is stuck doing extra work on the day his son, Jamie, earns a purple belt in karate. Despite his promise to make it, he runs into trouble with a traffic jam and Officer Alexander Hummel, a sadistic cop who forces him to do a sobriety test after catching him speeding on the shoulder. Because of all this, he ends up missing the karate class. In order to make it up to Jamie, he promises to get him anything he wants for Christmas. What he wants is the immensely popular "Turbo Man" doll, based on the Saturday-morning live-action TV show of the same name. Unfortunately, Howard's wife Liz had asked him to buy it two weeks earlier, and as is the habit with him, Howard had forgotten about it. To add further salt to the wound, he learns from Liz that Turbo Man dolls are the must-have gift of the season, and that they virtually impossible to find — especially this close to Christmas. 

Jingle-all-the-way-fight

Howard battling the con-men.

Desperate to not disappoint his family again, Howard sets off on a wild goose chase all over Minneapolis-St.Paul to find the doll. At the first store he gets to, he meets Myron Larabee, a post office worker whose son wants a Turbo Man doll as well. It is eventually revealed that this is going to be a "no holds barred" scavenger hunt, with lots of shoving, fighting, arguing and worse. Throughout Howard's quest, the many stores he hits and the chaos that ensues at each one ultimately results in nothing, and at one point he has another run in with Officer Hummell when he accidentally knocks over his squad motorcycle. During a stopover at the Mall of America, Howard is lured into buying a doll from a con Santa who leads a large counterfeit toy-making group. Unsurprisingly, he ends up paying $500 for a Spanish speaking doll that falls apart the moment he opens the box. Angered at being ripped off, Howard calls the gang "a bunch of sleazy conmen in red suits" and ends up in a brawl with them. The police arrive and bust the ring, and Howard manages to get out of trouble by posing as an undercover officer using a toy badge. 

Exhausted and out of fuel, Howard stops at Mickey's Diner and uses their payphone to call home, intending to tell Liz the truth. Jamie answers the phone and, instead of getting Liz, keeps reminding Howard of his promise to be home in time for the Christmas parade. Losing his patience, Howard yells at Jamie and demands that he give the phone to Liz; in turn, Jamie scolds his father for never keeping his promises, and hangs up. Howard encounters Myron at the diner and they share their woe stories over alcohol; Myron explains that he resented his father when he didn't get him a Johnny Seven OMA for Christmas when he was young. Their conversation is interrupted when the KQRS radio station advertises a Turbo Man competition, and whoever can correctly name all of Santa's reindeer wins the prize. Resuming their rivalry, Howard and Myron accidentally damage the payphone while fighting over it, forcing the two to race to the radio station on foot. They barge into the studio (prompting the freaked-out DJ to phone the police) and give the correct answer, only to discover that the prize is just a gift certificate. Enraged, Myron threatens the DJ with a package that he claims to be a mail bomb, but it turns out to be a fake. The police arrive (along with Officer Hummell) and Myron bluffs them into backing off by producing another package and claiming it to be a bomb. After Howard and Myron flee, Officer Hummell inspects the package and declares that it is harmless, only for it to explode in his face when he opens it (revealing that it actually was a bomb). 

After returning to the diner to find that his car has been vandalized, Howard decides to give up the search and returns home to explain everything to Liz, only to discover his next-door neighbor, Ted (who always seems to be homing in on Liz when he is not around), in his house putting his star on his tree! His blood boiling with anger, Howard exacts revenge by breaking into Ted's house and stealing the Turbo Man doll he bought for his son, Johnny. However, he has a change of heart at the last minute as he could not see himself stealing from a child. Before he has a chance to replace it and escape, he is confronted by Ted's pet reindeer and he unintentionally sets some stuff on fire in the ensuing chaos. This causes him to be caught by Ted and a distraught Liz, who both leave to attend the Holiday Wintertainment Parade with Jamie and Johnny.

Broken, Howard decides to to keep the one promise he can, by making his way to the parade to be with his family. Meanwhile, Ted attempts to make a pass at Liz, only to be hit with a thermos of eggnog after she sees who he really is. Upon arriving at the parade, Howard runs into a bandaged Officer Hummell and accidentally drenches him with hot chocolate. In the ensuing chase, Howard escapes into a preparations room for the parade where he is mistaken for a replacement for the actor who will play Turbo Man on the so-themed float, where he gets the opportunity to pick a child to present a coveted limited-edition Turbo Man doll! Naturally, he picks Jamie, but before Jamie recognizes him, Myron shows up dressed as Turbo Man's archenemy, Dementor (having bound and gagged the real actor), and chases Jamie all around the street, with the crowd thinking that this is part of the act. Howard does his best to keep up, but has little skill in controlling the Turbo Man suit. In the end, he defeats Myron and saves both Jamie and the doll. Jamie is sad that his dad wasn't there to see it… until Howard removes his helmet to reveal his true identity!

Meanwhile, Myron is being hauled off by the police, dismayed by his ultimate failure to retrieve the doll and give it to his son for Christmas. Touched by his words, Jamie gives it to him, saying that he no longer needs it, saying his father is the real Turbo Man. Myron and Howard apologize and become friends, and Howard apologizes to a shocked Officer Hummell for everything. He is declared a hero and is crowd-surfed away, as Jamie, Myron and Liz look on, smiling.

At home, Christmas Eve is finally spent right, as the star is mounted on the tree, and everyone's happy. Liz is so happy, saying everything Howard went through in his quest to get a present for Jamie showed how much he loved Jamie. She then adds that since he was willing to go through all of that for Jamie just for a present, it has her wondering what he got for her; however, the shocked expression on Howard's face tells the whole story, as he'd forgotten to get Liz a gift.

Songs[]

Soundtrack[]

TVT Records released the film's soundtrack album on CD on November 26, 1996. It included only two of composer David Newman's pieces from the film score, but also featured many of the songs in the film. The track listing is as follows:

# Song title Artist(s) Length
1 "Jingle Bells" The Brian Setzer Orchestra 2:18
2 "So They Say It's Christmas" Lou Rawls and the Brian Setzer Orchestra 4:05
3 "Sleigh Ride" Darlene Love and the Brian Setzer Orchestra 2:36
4 "Run Rudolph Run Chuck Berry 2:44
5 "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" Johnny Mathis 2:47
6 "Merry Christmas Baby" Charles Brown 4:47
7 "Back Door Santa" Clarence Carter 2:09
8 "The Christmas Song" Nat King Cole 3:10
9 "Jingle Bell Rock" Bobby Helms 2:12
10 "Father and Son" David Newman (composer/conductor) 3:00
11 "Finale" 4:02
12 "Deep in the Heart of Christmas" The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Darlene Love 2:52

Of the songs featured on the soundtrack album, "Deep in the Heart of Christmas" does not actually appear in the film. Conversely, the soundtrack album does not include the Turbo Man theme, "Christmas All Over Again" (performed by Tom Petty) or "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" (performed by Jim Belushi and the Santa chorus), the last of which appears only in the extended cut.

Score album[]

On November 3, 2008, Intrada Records released a CD of David Newman's full score for the film, as the 80th volume of the Intrada Special Collection album series. It was a limited edition of 10,000 units. Prior to this release, only "Howard & Jamie" and "Rescue Jamie and Finale" had appeared on the soundtrack album, titled "Father and Son" and "Finale", respectively.

# Title Length
1 Main Title 1:58
2 Traffic 1:48
3 Howard & Hummel 1:34
4 Turbo Man Commercial 0:32
5 Howard & Jamie 3:07
6 Abusing the Help 2:08
7 Late Delivery 0:47
8 Nutcracker Mall 2:09
9 Riot in the Workshop 5:27
10 Here's To You Dad 2:53
11 Music Box Bomb 2:01
12 Bomb #2 1:24
13 Breaking & Entering 2:57
14 Drinking With Reindeer 1:48
15 Howard in the Taxi 1:40
16 Show Time 1:33
17 Turbo Tom Marching Band #1 2:05
18 Turbo Tom Marching Band #2 2:10
19 Dementor Arrives 1:31
20 Howard Saves the Day 5:01
21 Rescue Jamie and Finale [Original Version] 4:01
Bonus tracks
22 Turbo Tom Marching Band #1 [With Guitar] 2:05
23 Rescue Jamie and Finale [Revised] 3:59

Home media releases[]

Notes[]

Cast[]

Actor(s)/actress(es) Character(s)
Arnold Schwarzenegger Howard Langston
Sinbad Myron Larabee
Phil Hartman Ted Maltin
Rita Wilson Liz Langston
Robert Conrad Officer Hummel
Martin Mull D.J.
Jake Lloyd Jamie Langston
James Belushi Mall Santa
E.J. de la Pena Johnny
Laraine Newman First Lady
Justin Chapman Billy
Harvey Korman President
Richard Moll Dementor (TV)
Daniel Riordan Turbo Man (TV)
Jeff Deist Booster (TV)/Puppeteer
Nada Despotovich Margaret
Ruth Hjelmgren Judy (Single Mother)
Caroline Kaiser Mary (Single Mother)
Samuel Morris Sensei
Shawn Hamilton Sensei's Assistant
Lewis Dauber Toy Store Manager
Bill Schoppert Father at Toy Store
Courtney Goodell Little Girl at Toy Store
George Fisher Daring Shopper
Chris Parnell Toy Store Sales Clerk
Patrick Richwood Toy Store Co-Worker
Kate McGregor-Stewart Toy Store Customer
Marcus Toji Little Boy with Car Remote
Steve Hendrickson
Peter Syvertsen
Fathers on Phone
Mo Collins Mother on Phone
John Rothman Mall Toy Store Manager
Christopher Slater
Robert Southgate
Mall Toy Store Employees
Allison & Hayley Benner Toddlers
Sandra Horner Toddler's Angry Mom
Phyllis Wright
Marvette Knight
Angry Moms
Danny Woodburn Tony the Elf
Bruce Bohne Santa at Warehouse Door
Paul 'The Giant' Wight Huge Santa
Ron Browne
Robert Clark
James Riddle
Bill Wilson
Santas in warehouse
Alan Blumenfeld Cop at Santa's warehouse
Traci Christofore Little Girl (Petting Reindeer)
Sandy Thomas Mother in neighborhood
Martin Ruben Father in neighborhood
Nick La Tour Counterman
Peter Breitmayer Sparky
Phil Morris Gale Force
Marianne Muellerleile Tow Truck Driver
Amy Pietz Liza Tisch
Judy Sladky Snoopy
Walter von Huene Taxi driver
Steve Van Wormer Turbo Man float parade worker
Curtis Armstrong Chain-smoking Booster
Jim Meskimen Police officer at parade
Martin Valinsky Police officer escorting Myron
Rochelle Vallese Girl at parade
Deena Driskill Barbie
Spencer Klein
Danny Pritchett
Kids in Turbo Man commercial
Rick Johnson Kareem
Uncredited
Marc Ambrose Balloon wrangler
Greg Bronson Toy store shopper
Sarah Cameron
Anthony Fitzgerald
Brian Johnson
David Nash
Jane Plank
Heidi Tungseth
Christmas carolers
Susan Chambers Frantic shopper
Clint Childers Shopper
Kevin Deon Crazy Shopper
Matthew Feeney Curious man
Trish Gates Store clerk
Dan Griffin Spectator
Tracy Lines Turbo shopper
John Murray Video camera dad
Phaedra Neitzel Santa's helper
Lori J. Ness Nun
Maridean Shepard Grandstand parade watcher
Yeardley Smith Woman flirting with Howie
Bobby Sussman
Carl Washington
Parade watchers
Joel Thingvall Toy store shopper
Verne Troyer Mini Santa
Ryan Wotherspoon Playground attendant

See also[]

External links[]

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20th Century
Movies
Miracle on 34th Street (1955 remake) (1973 remake) (1994 remake) • Die HardDie Hard 2Home AloneHome Alone 2: Lost in New YorkGeorge Balanchine's The NutcrackerTrapped in ParadiseJingle All the WayHome Alone 4The Family StoneDeck the Halls12 Men of ChristmasHome Alone: The Holiday HeistJingle All the Way 2Home Sweet Home Alone
Television episodes and specials
20th Television
M*A*S*H "Dear Dad" • "Dear Sis" • "Death Takes a Holiday" • "All About Christmas Eve"
Tracey Ullman "Santa Baby" • "Kay's Gift" • "Merry Catnip"
The X Files "Christmas Carol" • "Emily" • "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas"
Malcolm in the Middle "Christmas" • "Christmas Trees" • "Pearl Harbor" • "Hal's Christmas Gift
Bones "The Man in the Fallout Shelter" • "The Santa in the Slush" • "The Goop on the Girl"
How I Met Your Mother "How Lily Stole Christmas" • "Little Minnesota" • "False Positive" • "Symphony of Illumination" • "The Over-Correction" • "The Final Page, Part 1" • "The Final Page, Part 2"
Glee "A Very Glee Christmas" • "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" • "Glee, Actually" • "Previously Unaired Christmas"
New Girl "The 23rd" • "Santa" • "LAXmas" • "Christmas Eve Eve"
The Mindy Project "Josh and Mindy's Christmas Party" • "Christmas Party Sex Trap" • "Christmas" • "When Mindy Met Danny"
Last Man Standing "Last Christmas Standing" • "Putting a Hit on Christmas" • "Elfie" • "Wedding Planning" • "Gift of the Wise Man"
Other shows "Christmas Story" • "The Worst Noel" • "Haus Arrest" • "Amends" • "Blue Christmas" • "A Christmas Story" • "Cookies for Santa" • "In God We Trust" • "Road to Tradition" • "Afternoon Delight" • "Christmas" • "The Glitch That Stole Christmas" • "Secret Santa"
20th Television Animation
The Simpsons "Simpson Christmas" • "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" • "Marge Be Not Proud" • "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace" • "Grift of the Magi" • "Skinner's Sense of Snow" • "She of Little Faith" • "'Tis the Fifteenth Season" • "Simpson Christmas Stories" • "Kill Gil, Volumes I & II" • "The Fight Before Christmas" • "Holidays of Future Passed" • "White Christmas Blues" • "I Won't Be Home for Christmas • "The Nightmare After Krustmas" • "'Tis the 30th Season" • "Bobby, It's Cold Outside" • "The Way of The Dog" • "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas" • "Manger Things" • Feliz Navidad
King of the Hill "The Unbearable Blindness of Laying" • "Pretty, Pretty Dresses" • "Hillennium" • "'Twas the Nut Before Christmas" • "The Father, the Son, and J.C." • "Livin' on Reds, Vitamin C and Propane" • "Ms. Wakefield"
Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show "A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas" • "The Best Christmas Story Never" • "The Most Adequate Christmas Ever" • "Rapture's Delight" • "A Cleveland Brown Christmas" • "Road to the North Pole" • "For Whom the Sleigh Bell Tolls" • "Murray Christmas" • "Season's Beatings" • "Die Semi-Hard" • "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" • "'Tis the Cleveland To Be Sorry" • "Minstrel Krampus" • "Christmas Guy" • "Dreaming of a White Porsche Christmas" • "The 2000-Year-Old Virgin" • "How the Griffin Stole Christmas" • "Ninety North, Zero West" • "Gifted Me Liberty" • "Don't Be a Dickens At Christmas" • "Santa, Schmanta" • "Christmas is Coming" • "Yule. Tide. Repeat." • "The First No L" • "Christmas Crime" • "The Return of the King (of Queens)"
Futurama "Xmas Story" • "A Tale of Two Santas" • "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular" • "I Know What You Did Next Xmas"
Bob's Burgers "God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins" • "Christmas in the Car" • "Father of the Bob" • "Nice-Capades" • "The Last Gingerbread House on the Left" • "The Bleakening" • "Better Off Sled" • "Have Yourself a Maily Linda Christmas" • "Yachty or Nice" • "Gene's Christmas Break" • "The Plight Before Christmas" • "The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas"
Other cartoons "Hook's Christmas" • "A Christmas Surprise for Mrs. Stillman" • Olive, the Other ReindeerIce Age: A Mammoth Christmas • "The War on Grafelnik" • "Miracle on Culpepper Slims Boulevard" • "A Very Solar Holiday Opposites Special" • "Dip the Halls Adventure" • "Xmas with The Skanks Adventure"
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