who starred as the lead character in the film?
Macaulay Culkin
Home Alone
Hughes suggested to Columbus that they cast Macaulay Culkin in the main role, because of his experience with the child actor while shooting "Uncle Buck". Columbus met with other actors for the part, by his count "hundreds and hundreds" (actually 200), as he felt it was his "directorial presponsibility". Columbus finally met with Culkin and agreed he was the right choice for the role.

where did the family go in home alone Paris, France.
wiki:19556001
Home Alone [SEP] Casting
Daniel Stern was cast as Marv, but before shooting started, he was told that the production schedule had been extended from six weeks to eight; after being informed that there was no money in the budget for a pay increase he sought due to the extended schedule, he dropped out of the role. Daniel Roebuck was quickly hired to replace him, but after two days of rehearsal, Columbus did not see any chemistry between him and Pesci and decided to bring back Stern. Roebuck later admitted that, although he was upset to be fired from the production, he now believes the experience to be "such a little blip of unimportance".