why didn't melinda dillon play in a christmas story

Melinda Dillon's role in "A Christmas Story" was a difficult one to cast. The director of the film, Bob Clark, was looking for an actress who could accurately convey the unique mix of warmth and humor that the character of Mrs. Parker required. Clark felt that Dillon's performance in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" demonstrated her ability to portray the soft, sensitive side of a character, while also being able to convey a more stern and practical side.