Most of the selections in this collection are short films that were originally made by the Edison Company. These include a 1905 version of THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS and a 1910 version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL which are quite good considering their age and length. Unfortuntaely the transfer speed for both is much too fast which mars their effectiveness. There is also a D. W. Griffith Biograph short, A TRAP FOR SANTA which is surprisingly moving.
The prize of the collection is SANTA CLAUS, a 30 minute short, parts of which were actually filmed at the North Pole. Just wait till you catch a glimpse of those vintage toys and watch out for Santa's telescope! My children loved these films and adults can go back to their childhood with them as well. They are quaint visions of long ago and far away that cannot help but touch the child in all of us. Think of them as moving picture cards from the Victorian Era.
These films come from that vast storehouse of films known as the Killiam Collection. Paul Killiam was an entrepeneur who began collecting silent films in the 1950's. He once had a program on ABC called SILENTS PLEASE. Thanks to him many silent films that would have been lost were saved including the Biograph and Edison shorts. He died in 1998. It would be great to get more of these on DVD in a restored condition. Thanks to Kino for doing their usual fine job in making these films available once again. "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night"...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.
POSTSCRIPT: I just want to say that I think the controversial score by Al Kryszak is highly subjective. The melancholy nature of the music captures the spirit of a long vanished Christmas. For those of you who don't care for it, simply turn down the volume and find something else. That's the beauty of silent movies, you can provide your own soundtrack. It's fun to do even if you like the music provided.