MOVIE BIOGRAPHY

Christine (titled onscreen as John Carpenter's Christine) is a 1983 American supernatural horror film directed by John Carpenter and starring Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky and Harry Dean Stanton. The film also features supporting performances from Roberts Blossom and Kelly Preston.

Written by Bill Phillips and based on Stephen King's 1983 novel of the same name, the movie follows the changes in the lives of Arnie Cunningham, his friends, his family, and his teenage enemies after Arnie buys a classic red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury (for 250 dollars) named Christine, license plate CQB 241, a car that seems to have a mind of its own and a jealous, possessive personality, which has a bad influence on Arnie.

Upon its release, the film grossed $21 million at the US box office. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and has since become a cult classic.[3] A remake is in development.

A 1958 Plymouth Fury is built on the assembly line. While a worker inspects the engine, the car injures him. During closing time, another worker is killed in the Fury when he flicks cigar ash on its upholstery. Twenty years later, Arnold Cunningham, a nerdy teen, buys the same used Fury Coupe over the objections of his friend, Dennis Guilder, who says she needs a full restoration. Arnie gets into a fight at school with Buddy Repperton, who is expelled after drawing a switchblade. Arnie begins restoring Christine in defiance of his parents at Darnell's Garage. As he spends time repairing it, he changes, shedding his glasses, dressing better, and developing a cocky arrogance.

When Dennis asks out new girl Leigh Cabot, he finds she has a date. As his best friend changes, Dennis returns to Christine's seller to ask about the car. He discovers the Fury's previous owner was obsessed with Christine despite his family's deaths in the car, and the previous owner killed himself in it. Leigh and Arnie attend one of Dennis' football games. Dennis not only sees them together, but that Christine is completely restored. Distracted, he is gravely injured. Arnie visits him in the hospital and learns he was almost paralyzed and can never play football again. Leigh and Arnie's relationship goes well until they attend a drive-in movie. Leigh explains she is too uncomfortable with the car to have sex in it. When Arnie coaxes her back, the car's radio spontaneously turn on and a blinding light emits from the dash. As Leigh chokes on her food, Arnie discovers the doors have locked. Leigh unlocks the doors, and another patron saves her. She and Arnie later argue about Christine and their relationship.

Repperton and his friends vandalize Christine. When Leigh consoles Arnie, he lashes out at her and breaks up with her. Arnie returns to the garage later and promises Christine he will rebuild her. As he walks away, he hears creaking metal and sees the engine is fully restored. At his command, Christine restores herself to showroom quality. That evening, Christine runs over Moochie Welch. Detective Rudy Junkins questions Arnie, who says Moochie got what he deserved. Junkins lets him go when Arnie's alibi checks out.

Christine targets Repperton and his friend Richie Trelawney. After chasing them to a gas station where Repperton's friend Don Vandenberg works, Christine smashes their Camaro, killing Richie. Repperton escapes a gas tank explosion that kills Don, but Christine, still on fire, runs him down. The smoldering car returns to Darnell's garage. When Darnell investigates, the car crushes him in a seat. The police find Darnell's body in Christine, which is again in like-new condition. Junkins questions Arnie again, who becomes angry and provides an alibi.

Leigh requests help from Dennis to destroy Christine and save Arnie. Dennis scratches "Darnell's Tonight" into Christine's hood and leaves for the garage to hot-wire Darnell's bulldozer. They plan to lure Christine into the garage and destroy it, but Christine surprises them by emerging from a pile of scrap metal. Leigh flees while Dennis runs interference. After side-swiping another car, Arnie is revealed to be driving Christine. While trying to kill Leigh, Christine crashes into Darnell's office, and Arnie flies through Christine's windshield. As he grabs her, Leigh sees he is mortally wounded. Before he dies, Arnie reaches out to touch Christine.

Leigh exits the wreckage of the office to tell Dennis Arnie is dead. However, Christine continues attacking, regenerating faster than before. Dennis pulls Leigh into the bulldozer's cab, and they repeatedly smash Christine with it. They return to the junkyard the next day and see the remains of the Fury crushed into a cube. Detective Junkins joins them and attempts to console them, congratulating them for stopping Christine even though they were unable to save Arnie. They are momentarily spooked when they hear a 1950s rock and roll song, but it turns out to be a workman's boom box; however, Christine's grill slowly begins to unbend.

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Christine was shot largely in Los Angeles, California, while the location for Darnell's garage was located in Santa Clarita.[8] Filming began in April 1983, mere days after the King novel had been published.[9] An abandoned furniture factory in Irwindale was used for the opening scene. The film's stunts were primarily completed by stunt coordinator Terry Leonard, who was behind the wheel of the car during the high-speed chase scenes, as well as the scene in which the car drives down a highway engulfed in flames.[8] During that scene, Leonard wore a Nomex firefighter's suit complete with breathing apparatus.

Alexandra Paul's identical twin sister Caroline Paul wrote that she and her sister pulled a prank during filming, sending Caroline on set in place of Alexandra without telling Carpenter that they had made the switch until after he had shot a scene. She wrote, "My highly skilled clutch-pushing actually made it into the movie."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_(1983_film)