Joe Pesci Bit Macaulay Culkin Filming 'Home Alone'
Image via 20th Century Studios Pesci’s casting in Home Alone was notable, as he had previously earned acclaim for playing violent characters in Martin Scorsese classics such as Raging Bull and Goodfellas. Although Home Alone is certainly aimed at a more family-friendly audience, that didn’t mean that Pesci took his role any less seriously. One of the most memorable sequences in the first film involves Harry tying Kevin to a door and threatening to bite all of his fingers off. In an appearance on The Late Show With Conan O’Brien, Culkin revealed that there was nothing inauthentic about the scene. During a rehearsal, Pesci actually bit Culkin’s finger and left him with a permanent scar.
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How to Watch ‘Home Alone’
Order a large cheese pizza and join Kevin for "a Merry Little Christmas"!
While Culkin admitted to being upset at the time, it wasn’t the only instance during filming where Pesci took extreme lengths to get into character. Pesci maintained the adversarial relationship between them during the production of the film’s 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in order to ensure that Kevin and Harry still felt like enemies. In an interview with People, Pesci revealed that he purposefully ignored Culkin on set in order to “preserve the dynamic between [the characters].” Although Pesci admitted that he remembered Culkin "as being a really sweet kid and, even at his age, very professional," he felt that limiting their interactions was important. He said that he did not "want it to come across on the screen that we were in any way friendly." It was reported that Pesci even told Culkin to “shut up” when his young co-star asked him why he never smiled.
The 'Home Alone 2' Stunt That Injured Joe Pesci
Pesci revealed to CBC’s Midday that his Home Alone role was atypical compared to the other characters that he portrayed, but that he had been attracted to the “great script.” His intention was to “play it for the kids because I never get to work for children,” and compared the film to classic Looney Tunes cartoons due to the physical comedy and mayhem. Pesci cited Bugs Bunny’s ill-tempered spirit as a major inspiration for Harry. However, that didn’t mean that director Chris Columbus took any of the Home Alone traps less than seriously. Pesci said that “in addition to the expected bumps, bruises, and general pains” he earned filming the action scenes, he "sustain[ed] serious burns" to his head filming a scene where Harry’s head is lit on fire.
While Pesci’s intensity may have made Home Alone 2: Lost In New York a difficult production, the authenticity that he brought to the character allowed the sequel to establish itself as a classic in its own right. There are very few comedy sequels that are genuinely great, but Home Alone 2: Lost In New York manages to retain the same wholesome spirit and sense of comic mischief as its predecessor. Pesci was certainly an unusual choice to play a family film antagonist, but the Home Alone franchise wouldn’t be the same without the unique dynamic between him and Culkin. It’s notable that Home Alone 3 and the other sequels without Pesci and Culkin are not regarded as classics in the same way.
Chris Columbus Was Essential to ‘Home Alone'
Culkin and Pesci are often acclaimed for their work in the original Home Alone, and rightfully so; it would be impossible to imagine the Christmas classic having the same longevity had they not given such vivid performances. That being said, the work that director Chris Columbus did on the Home Alone franchise should not be discounted, as crafting a genuine holiday adventure that appealed to audiences of all ages was not an easy task. Had Columbus made the film out to be too silly, it could have felt inaccessible to older viewers; however, a tone that was very dramatic in odd instances could have steered away children who would have related to Kevin. Columbus managed to make a film that represented the inner child in everyone, but still contained some more heartwarming themes about the importance of retaining respect for one’s family during the holiday season. There aren’t many perfectly crafted films that have such tremendous laughs, but can still inspire tears from the audience by the time that they conclude.
Columbus showed a clear mastery for making age-appropriate adventure films, and also mastered the difficult task of working with young actors. Although there will always be a market for coming-of-age films, it can be very difficult to put the entire emotional weight of a film behind younger actors that simply don’t have the experience of leading an entire narrative. Although Columbus had previously directed the cult classic teen film Adventures in Babysitting, Home Alone lacked the raunchy humor. It was evident that he created an environment in which Culkin was given the chance to succeed, and it wasn’t the last time Columbus would miraculously identify emerging talent. While not every fan of the Wizarding World would cite Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as the best installments in the franchise, the fact that Columbus got such naturalistic performances out of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Tom Felton at a young age is one of the most impressive feats of direction in the last several decades of the industry.
The task of mastering this formula has proven to be challenging, as there was a steep drop off in the quality of the Home Alone franchise after Columbus stopped directing. The third and fourth films simply didn’t work, as they lacked any inventive gags or genuinely emotional moments. Home Alone has a very unique premise, but there has been a notable decline in the quality of holiday-themed comedies in the decade since the original film’s release. Bad holiday movies like Christmas With The Kranks, Fred Claus, Surviving Christmas, and this year’s Red One are far more irritating than they are endearing, as they feel too close to what it is actually like to spend the holiday with a dysfunctional family. Home Alone does deal with the complicated familial conflicts that can arise amidst the chaotic, stressful holiday season, but it overall has a message about compassion that is quite optimistic.
Home Alone is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas eve.
Release Date November 16, 1990
Runtime 103 minutes
English (US) ·