- Actors: Marc McDermott, Charles Ogle, William Bechtel, Viola Dana, Carey Lee
- Directors: Ashley Miller, Bannister Merwin, Charles Kent, Charles M. Seay, D.W. Griffith
- Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Silent, NTSC, Import
- Language: English
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Mongrel Media
- Release Date: Sep 1 2004
- Run Time: 121 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005RDS3
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
Christmas doesn't come any more old-fashioned than in this inspired collection of vintage holiday films from the silent era. Amidst the melodramas (D.W. Griffith's 1909 "A Trap for Santa Claus") and comedies (the "amateur" detective lark "The Adventure of the Wrong Santa Claus") are some delicious Christmas treats. The 1925 "Santa Claus" combines magical images of Santa's workshop elves with thrilling documentary footage of icy Alaskan landscapes and herds of wild arctic creatures, and the 1910 "A Christmas Carol" condenses the Dickens classic into 10 minutes by layering all the ghosts and memories into one brief but visually imaginative scene. The delightful "A Winter Straw Ride" (1906) transforms into a snowball free-for-all to celebrate the giddy antics of adults reverting to childhood innocence. Al Kryszak's new, melancholy score for strings and harp is often lovely but out of place amidst the cheer and holiday celebration of the films. --Sean Axmaker
Video Details
A collection of enchanting silent films, "A Christmas Past" offers a nostalgic peek into the Yuletide pleasures of the early 1900s. Evoking the Victorian charm of Currier and Ives prints, these picturesque comedies and tender dramas were produced as cinematic Christmas cards offered to moviegoers of the silent film era. Includes D.W. Griffith's "A Trap For Santa" (1909, 16 min.); the Edison Studio's "A Winter Straw Ride" (1906, 7 min.), "A Christmas Accident" (1912, 15 min.), "The Adventures of the Wrong Santa Claus" (1914, 14 min.), "Santa Claus Vs. Cupid" (1915, 16 min.), "A Christmas Carol" (1910, 10 min.), and "The Night Before Christmas (1905, 9 min.); plus "A Holiday Pageant At Home" (1901, 5 min.) and "Santa Claus" (1925, 29 min.). Features an original score by Al Kryszak.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Piece of Americana,
By
This review is from: Christmas Past (Full Screen) (DVD)
This is one of those rare oppurtunities to see some obscure images from a time long, long ago. With the exception of perhaps one episode, most of the players are unknown people who gave their interpretation of a Christmas story. I felt like I was looking through a time machine, and the feeling of great nostalgia came over me. These are Christmas stories from the past presented by people who are long gone, but how much we have in common! I read some reviews that blast the soundtrack. I thought it was great and very appropriate. I especially enjoyed the use of Christmas bells, and think that the score helps add the feeling of nostalgia to this beautiful presentation. I ignored this title until catching it on TMC. If you enjoy silent films, this title is a must.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Patience, patience, patience...,
By Agape "Squonk" (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Christmas Past (Full Screen) (DVD)
I caught this on TCM before Christmas and taped it to first review before I considered getting the DVD. Be warned, this takes a lot of concentration and patience to view: rather boring in many parts, the sound track is useless (better, like a previous reviewer states, to play your own Christmas music, instrumental of course, while viewing), gets pretty interesting towards the end, though. Keep in mind that this was the days of filming when it was extremely raw and young, or young and raw, whatever, so "Christmas Past" is almost 100 years old, in part, and is quite different from the early color Christmas cartoons and silent video.I'd buy this only if you keep an open mind (and eyes for that matter since it can lull you into a winter's slumber) and view it as a period piece. Silents can be great with the right music since the music adds or subtracts from the "feel" of the video as it does today. I sure wish they'd put out "Cleopatra" (the 1912 version) silent which has a sound track (new) that is totally phenomenal (new music by Chantal Krevinzuk and Raine Maida). If you get TCM on your cable/satellite, checkout some of the silents on Sunday nights. You'll be surprised at how wonderful many of them actually are...especially the first "Cleopatra" with Helen Gardner. Exquisite! I was mesmerized.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Naughty and Nice,
By A Customer
This review is from: Christmas Past (Full Screen) (DVD)
Interesting movies from almost a century ago. But be warned. The muscial score leaves much to be desired. I prefer to turn off the sound and watch this DVD without sound, or I choose to play my own Christmas music selections in the background.Nice movies. Naughty score!
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