Silent Night: The Story of the Christmas Carol (1953) Poster

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Decent Telling of the Song
Michael_Elliott30 November 2012
Silent Night: The Story of the Christmas Carol (1953)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent 13-minute documentary taking a look at the song "Silent Night" from the time it was written to the music and finally to it being performed across the world. A few weeks ago I watched a British short from 1939 called STARLIGHT NIGHT, which covered the same information but it was so drawn out and boring that it was nearly impossible trying to figure out the story of the song. This here runs half the time shorter and does a much better job at giving you the history of Father Mohr, his journey and how it led him to write the song. It's pretty obvious that this was shot on a very low budget so the cinematography, editing and structure isn't the greatest. There's no doubt that the film could have used a tad bit more energy to keep things moving better but if you're unfamiliar with the history then I think this film does a good job at telling it.
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9/10
A Very Touching and Old-Timey Documentary/Story.
Weaselsarefree7 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This short documentary came as a bonus on my Santa Claus Conquers the Martians DVD, and boy am I pleased that it was Included. This interesting and informative film will have you buzzing with nostalgia in no time and will make an excellent addition to your DVD collection.

There isn't a lot I can really say about the plot of the film. Essentially, The film tells the story of how Silent Night was composed, in a reasonably historically accurate manner.

The story is explained through narration, with actors providing the visuals for the story. The accompanying music, which consists mostly different versions of Silent Night, is delightful and reminds me of the Christmas Eve church services I attended as a child.

The visuals, although simplistic, are stunning in their own right and really make you feel as though it is Christmas, regardless of what time of the year you are watching the film. Viewers are treated to images of Christmas carolers, old time churches and scenery from the region in Germany which Silent Night was written. All of these things are wonderfully dated and take you back to another era that has long passed by.

Although a basic quasi-documentary, this film is a real treat and something I watch every December. Highly Recommended.
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