An iconic scene from Home Alone features young Kevin enjoying ice cream while watching a fictional gangster film, ‘Angels with Filthy Souls,’ created specifically for the movie. The scene, shot in one day, showcases a tense exchange between characters Danny and Snakes. With a focus on achieving a film noir aesthetic, the production faced challenges, leading director Chris Columbus to move from Warner Bros. to Twentieth Century Fox, resulting in the film’s remarkable box office success in 1991.
Remembering an Iconic Scene from Home Alone
Who can forget the unforgettable moment in Home Alone when young Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) indulges in ice cream while watching a fictional gangster movie, hoping his antics will draw his parents out of hiding? This fictional film, however, was crafted entirely for the movie, showcasing the team’s creative dedication.
The Birth of a Fictional Gangster Film
Interestingly, this scene was the first to be filmed, likely due to the absence of the main cast, serving as a sort of warm-up for the production. Initially shot without a title, it became apparent during filming that a name was required for the VHS tape Kevin inserted into the VCR. Thus, the title ‘Angels with Filthy Souls’ was born, inspired by the classic ‘Angels with Dirty Faces.’ Director of photography Julio Macat shared, “We aimed to honor classic gangster films but didn’t rely heavily on them for reference; we simply wanted to capture their essence.”
A Day’s Work for a Brief Scene
Reflecting on the filming process, Macat noted, “Being in Chicago was advantageous for us; we had actors from the theater.” He quickly recognized the theatrical background of Ralph Foody, who portrayed Danny (Johnny in the original), as Foody brought an extraordinary presence to the role. The entire scene was shot in a single day, efficiently and swiftly.
In this brief 1 minute and 20 seconds segment, Snakes, played by Michael Guido, is shown delivering goods to Danny, who instructs him to leave them on the doorstep and disappear. However, Snakes insists on collecting the money Danny owes him, demanding “20% in cash.” In a dramatic turn, Danny brandishes a machine gun, forcing Snakes to flee, but not before shooting him. This shocking moment sends young Kevin into a panic, prompting him to hit pause and call his mother.
Creating the Noir Atmosphere
To authentically recreate the film noir aesthetic, significant effort was invested, as Macat explained: “I sourced black and white film stock from Kodak ASA, which required intense lighting for proper exposure. We needed three to four times more light than usual, using strong backlighting to create the foggy ambiance typical of noir films. I employed double anti-fog filters along with camera lenses to soften the highlights further.”
The meticulous attention to detail illustrates the commitment of the team, even for a brief sequence that seemingly had little narrative weight. Achieving this level of authenticity required considerable resources that were challenging to secure.
A Shift in Production Strategy
As the production progressed, Warner Bros. began to take issue with the escalating costs of the film, projected at around $10 million for a modest Christmas movie. Realizing he might not be able to achieve his vision under Warner’s constraints, director Chris Columbus moved the project to Twentieth Century Fox, where he received the necessary support.
The outcome was remarkable: Home Alone soared to become the third highest-grossing film of 1991 at the U.S. box office, standing tall against major hits like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Warner) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (TriStar). This shift proved to be a significant misstep for Warner, which missed the chance to dominate the top box office rankings that year, struggling to release other successful films.