Product Details

• Actors: Angela Lansbury, Cyril Ritchard
• Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Vision Video
• DVD Release Date: July 26, 2004
• Run Time: 23 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002SQ06S
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,642 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Winner of Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children’s Video and the Crown Award for Best Children’s Video.

A magnificent production that offers a fresh, new way to recapture the meaning and mystery of the Christmas story. This colorful, clay-animated program of "The First Christmas" is narrated by Christopher Plummer and will delight adults and children alike.

It tells the traditional story of the birth of Jesus, beginning with Mary and Joseph's trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. We witness their encounter with the innkeeper who "has no room for them," but provides shelter in a stable where Mary gives birth. We see the announcement to the shepherds and follow the Magi who trek across the desert guided by the mysterious star.

Rebecca, the innkeeper's daughter, and Daniel, the shepherd boy, provide a strong supporting cast. And finally, the mood is enhanced by colloquial dialogue and familiar music in the background. You'll recognize traditional carols such as "Silent Night," "We Three Kings," "Joy to the World," "O Come All Ye Faithful,"and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Includes English and Spanish language tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon is wrong again., October 8, 2008

By 

Christmas Miracle (Canfield, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Christmas (DVD)

This product is not the Rankin & Bass production of "The First Christmas (The Story of the First Christmas Snow)". It is "The First Christmas" by Billy Budd Films. The words "Billy Budd" appear clearly on the DVD case (and on Amazon's own picture of the item). Yet the product review states "Rankin & Bass". Poor work Amazon.com

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Rankin/Bass version of same name, but still very good, December 11, 2009

By 

microjoe - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The First Christmas (DVD)

If you are looking for the VHS of the same title, by Rankin/Bass featuring the voice of Angela Lansbury and Cyril Ritchard, it is also sold at Amazon.com. Do a search for ASIN: 6301760336. The story on this page is the nativity, and it comes in a better deal a 3 story DVD. The Rankin/Bass story is the story of a shepherd boy that is blinded and lost in a storm, and saved by the nuns in a remote abbey. At the time I write this, the Amazon title description above mistakenly lists Angela Lansbury as an actor.

Having said that, the story on THIS page is very well done and I highly recommend it. It is an award winning show as it received the Andrew Carnegie Medal for "Excellence in Children's Video"; and the Crown Award for "Best Children's Video". It is made in stop-motion animation, and is very beautiful. I was stunned at the level of detail they uses, and the range of expression and amotion in the characters. They really come alive. A sensitive portrayal of the nativity story, that is worth repeat viewing.

Narration of the show is by Christopher Plummer. It is the Nativity story from the Bible, about the birth of Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem. It includes the innkeeper and his wife, 3 wise men, shepherds. 23 minutes in length. There is another DVD with this story that may be a better deal for you, as it has two more Christmas stories from the same producers/animation studio.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Realistic, January 13, 2007

By 

no name (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The First Christmas (DVD)

Though "claymation", this version of the Nativity rings truer than just about any other production I've seen. Joseph cares for and worries about Mary. They are a real family and have a real baby. It brings back the feelings I used to have as a child, before the whole story became so repetative and "yada, yada, yada ish".