Customer Reviews

The First Christmas [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I reccommend this RARE one hour television special that was released in 1975 on NBC television. Made by the Rankin/Bass Studio, who specialized in stop-motion "Animagic" wonders. By the way, this should not be confused with the claymation special of the same name released more recently by another studio. The voices of Angela Lansbury and David Kelly are featured. This story is similar to The Little Drummer Boy in that it has a religeous or spiritual theme to it, and it helps teach kids about kindness, gratitude, sharing, and other positive values. Three diferent original songs are included.

The story is: A shepherd boy named Lukas is struck by lightning and blinded, then taken in by some nuns at an abbey during the holidays. They cannot care for him forever, and he cannot tend sheep anymore so he is to go to an orphanage. He has to rescue his sheep from some wolves after some other boys let them run away. The boy gets to play the Angel in a leve re-enaction of the Nativity. After a Christmas miracle his sight is regained.

While this never seems to be broadcast anymore, this is a nice film from the holiday entertainers of Rankin/Bass Studio. Their studio has brought us such memorable holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Year without a Santa Claus, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Mad Monster Party, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Mouse on the Mayflower, Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Cricket on the Hearth, the Stingiest Man in Town, Jack Frost, Pinnochio's Christmas, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, the First Easter Bunny. They also made non-holiday films such as the Hobbit, Flight of Dragons, the Last Unicorn. It is incredible that one company is responsible for all those TV specials, 95% of the ones we see every year. Their work includes standard animation, stop-motion animagic, and live action.

I hope this comes out on a restored DVD soon, I have bought all the other Rankin/Bass that have been released on DVD.

This movie has all the feel good aspects of other Christmas classics but not the fantasy. A person could almost believe it is a story that could have really taken place. This is some of Angela Lansbury's greatest work. It is often over looked when compared with other Christmas classics but more than worth watching.

Lucas is a young shepherd boy, who is blinded during a horrible winter storm. He almost loses his way after he loses his sight, but is saved by one of the sisters, Sister Theresa (voiced by Angela Lansbury), of an abbey located close by. Lucas is embraced by Sister Theresa, who allows him to stay at the abbey until Christmas. Lucas, being so entirely happy by Sister Theresa's gesture, gives her everything that he owns: his flock of sheep. That Christmas, thanks to his lovely kindness, Lucas receives one of the greatest, and most miraculous recovery ever, and also learns about the gift of love.

I saw this movie on the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family last year, and was so touched by it, that I immediately ordered the film from Amazon.com. Lucas is a kind young boy, who has been through so much terror in his life, and deserves for something good to happen to him, and it does when he meets the wonderful Sister Theresa. Sister Theresa is a loving character, who will capture the hearts of anyone who view this film. This movie will show even the grouchiest of grinches how beautiful, and wonderful Christmas is. And prove to you that Christmas miracles do come true. A must-have.

Erika Sorocco

This is a truly unusual cartoon, by today's standards. It is less concerned with what one may get from Christmas than what one may give. It brings home the true meaning of the holiday, yet is still festive and entertaining.

Take home this classic treasure, and you'll look on giving with a whole new attitude. It will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside!

The story is: A shepherd boy named Lukas is struck by lightning and blinded, then taken in by some nuns at an abbey during the holidays. They cannot care for him forever, and he cannot tend sheep anymore so he is to go to an orphanage. He has to rescue his sheep from some wolves after some other boys let them run away. The boy gets to play the Angel in a leve re-enaction of the Nativity. After a Christmas miracle his sight is regained.

BACKGROUND INFO: I recommend this 1 hour television special from 1975, from the Rankin/Bass Studio. This should not be confused with the claymation special of the same name released more recently by someone else, this is much better to my opinion. The voices of Angela Lansbury and David Kelly are featured. This story is similar to The Little Drummer Boy in that it has a somber religeous or spiritual theme to it, and it helps teach kids about kindness, gratitude, sharing, and other positive values. Three different original songs are included.



While this never seems to be broadcast anymore, this is a nice film from the holiday entertainers of Rankin/Bass Studio. Their studio has brought us such memorable holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Year without a Santa Claus, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Mad Monster Party, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Mouse on the Mayflower, Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Cricket on the Hearth, the Stingiest Man in Town, Jack Frost, Pinnochio's Christmas, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, the First Easter Bunny. They also made non-holiday films such as the Hobbit, Flight of Dragons, the Last Unicorn. It is incredible that one company is responsible for all those TV specials, 95% of the ones we see every year. Their work includes standard animation, stop-motion animagic, and live action.

I hope this comes out on a restored DVD soon, I have bought all the other Rankin/Bass that have been released on DVD.

The First Christmas Snow is a cute and touching Christmas special from Rankin and Bass and features Angela Lansbury as the voice of a nun who helps take care of a little blind shepherd boy and though this is shown every year on The Fox Family Channel (It was show about two or three times so far this December of 2005) I wish it would be transferred to DVD!

I rate this film 5-stars because the animation is spectacular and is an excellent family film to watch, during the Christmas season.

Rankin/Bass Productions made a winner with this delightful Christmas film.

Of course anything with Rankin/Bass on it is almost always a good thing!

A DVD version needs to be released.

The poor little shepherd boy, Lucas, was blinded by lightning. He sang in the nuns' nativity play as a member of the angel choir. An adorable dog helped care for him in the abbey during the Christmas season. Some local pranksters hid his sheep, who then escaped into the forest. In the end, Lucas regained his sight because of snow, which usually never fell in his area. I saw this on TV today and was charmed by it. A hartwearming, enchanting Christmas story.

I can't wait to share it with my husband and my children who have never seen it. Husband thought I was hallucinating when I told him about it and couldn't find it online.

This is a very good Christmas movie for your collection. ABC Family rarely shows it anymore, so if you can get a copy, consider yourself fortunate. The story is a good one for the family. It is typical Rankin-Bass work - classic!

Like many of the Rankin-Bass specials, I am hoping that this show will be made available on DVD.