The World’s First Christmas Movie
The world’s first Christmas movie dates back to 1898, an age well before even popular silent films shown in movie houses.
Directed by George Albert Smith, a British pioneer of film making, this wonderful bit of film was considered a technological wonder of the time and to this day remains a cherished look back at Christmas in time:
While it is a first among Christmas films it is also a first in special effects. Smith links the shots in terms of both space and time, by placing the new image over the space previously occupied by a fireplace, and continuing to show the children sleeping throughout (their bed occupies the left-hand side of the screen throughout the entire film). Santa then emerges from where the fireplace used to be, distributes the presents, and disappears via another jump cut.
Fascinating!
It amazes me to see films that are over 100 years old. They are literally a window on the past.