|
[The Birth of Jesus]
Also known as The Birth of Jesus in the USA
(1909) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
Compagnie Genérale des Établissements Pathé Frères Phonographes & Cinématographes production; distributed by Compagnie Genérale des Établissements Pathé Frères Phonographes & Cinématographes. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA as The Birth of Jesus by Pathé Frères on 24 December 1909; in a split-reel with Agriculture in Hungary (1909).
Drama: Historical.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 8 January 1910, page 16] A beautifully colored picture, following closely the story as given in the Bible. It is unnecessary to go over the story in detail. Everybody knows it. And at this season when the thoughts of everyone are directed toward the story, and what it means, it is all the more useless to repeat it. Perhaps it might be said that the patron of motion pictures who has missed this has missed an extraordinarily attractive film. The picture itself is good. That is certain at the beginning, but what it represents and the impressions it creates serve to make it appear better. It brings vividly before one the great central thought upon which the Christian religion, the most vital moral and ethical force in human history, is founded. Perhaps these impressions influence those who see the picture more than the picture itself, but even if they do they at least assist in creating a wonderously attractive and satisfying illusion, thereby adding to the effect of the film upon the audience. Perhaps technically the picture is no better than very many other Pathe releases; it would, indeed, be difficult to improve upon some of them, but the character of the story and what it means to each individual is so subtly impressed upon one’s consciousness that the film itself seems to be better than some which have gone before, partaking of the character of the narrative in developing this impression. This picture would be very valuable in Sunday school work, and those institutions could use it very effectively in connection with the new year’s lessons.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: (unknown) [France]; Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 22 January 2025.
References: MovPicWorld-19100108 pp. 16, 19 : Website-IMDb.
|
[The Moving Picture World, 8 January 1910, page 19] Scene I. When in the fulness of time God had decreed to redeem mankind, He chose as the instrument of salvation a spotless Virgin, Mary, dwelling in the little vilalge of Nazareth in Galilee. There at eventide Mary returns from the fountain, where she has drawn water, and seeking the seclusion of her chamber, she bends her knees in prayer to the Lord, when presently there appears unto her a messenger from the throne of the Almighty and addresses her in these words of sweet and tender promise: “Hail thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, thou shalt conceive and bear a child, which shall be called Jesus. He shall be a King in Israel and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.” The archangel having delivered his message, Mary arose and exclaimed: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy word.” / Scene II. Bethehem! A name of magic sound. The city is thronged with people and soldiers, for a decree has [gone] forth from Rome, then the mistress of the civilized world, that all the people of Palestine shall be counted and taxed. Mary and Joseph belonging to the tribe of David, have left their home on Nazareth and after passing through Galilee and Samaria at last arrive in the city of their royal ancestor David. The journey has been long and hard and as Mary feels that her hour is drawing nigh, Joseph looks about for a shelter in the night. He applies to one of the inns, but alas, every inn in Bethlehem is crowded to overflowing and they are turned away, when in their distress a little child comes to the rescue and directs them to a stable, now forever famous, just beyond the walls of Bethlehem. / Scene III. Hallowed and gracious were the days that heralded the coming of our Lord. Signs and wonders were seen in many parts of the world and in the eastern sky, near Bethlehem, shone forth a wonderful star. (Here interrupt the lecture and render a suitable song, such as “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night,” until the title for Scene IV appears on the screen, when you resume the lecture as follows:) / Close in the wake of the shepherds, now on their way to the stable, likewise following the star, came the magi, wise men from the East. They, too, in their far distant lands have seen this great, strange star, telling them of the birth of a new King of Israel. They are now on their way toward Jerulsalem to ask Herod and his scribes and priests, where, according to ancient prophecy, the new King of Israel was most likely to be born. And they bear in their train many precious gifts to lay at the feet of the new king — gold, frankincense and myrrh. / Scene V. Every door in Bethlehem being barred against them, Joseph and Mary at last find refuge in this most humble of all abodes, and here, in poverty, in a manger, even on a bundle of straw, there is born into the world the new King of Israel, Jesus Christ. (Sing here one verse from the hymn, “Come All Ye Faithful” and then resume the lecture as follows:) And as you see the golden glitter of the star shine again unto the wise men from the East. They have been to Jerulsalem and there they have learnt from Herod and his priests and scribes that the new King of Israel was most likely to be born in Bethlehem in Judaea, as foretold by the Prophet Micah. And the star has again appeared before them and they are now on their way to the stable. (Here end the lecture and bring the picture to a close with one or two more verse, sung or played, from the hymn, “Come All Ye Faithful.”) |
|
