utgard14
Angela Lansbury stars in this gem, one of the lesser-known TV specials Rankin/Bass made. The story is about a young shepherd boy who is blinded by lightning and taken in by some nuns, led by Lansbury's Sister Theresa. As the boy recuperates, Sister Theresa tells him about snow, which he had never experienced firsthand. It's a lovely story with a touching ending that I won't spoil here. The stop-motion animation is wonderful. The music is quite nice with some decent songs, including the timeless "White Christmas," sung by Lansbury. I never get tired of Rankin/Bass specials. They're uplifting, heartwarming entertainment for all ages. This one isn't as famous as many others but it's a good one worth taking a look at if you enjoy Rankin/Bass' other classics.
Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow" is another holiday-themed production by Rankin/Bass, the most known duo the United States had to offer in 1970's television animation. And this is one of their better works I believe, even if it was not Emmy nominated. Angela Lansbury is certainly the most famous voice cast member here in this 24-minute short film. The story is pretty good, the Christmas miracle at the end is nice, Father Thomas adds some solid (unintended?) comedy in his scenes and the main character is just really sweet with his bright blue eyes. There are sad moments in here, but mostly, this is a story about hope and positivity. I must say I enjoyed the watch and I recommend it. Check it out during the holidays, it must be shown somewhere, even if it is not too well-known anymore. Thumbs up.
ExplorerDS6789
Ever wanted to know the story of the first Christmas snow? Well, dear friends, it all began one very rainy day. As three nuns busied themselves making Christmas cards, they see a brilliant flash of lighting strike what appeared to be a young boy. They venture out into the downpour to investigate, and discover the poor young shepherd unconscious near a tree. He was being eyed by a couple of hungry wolves, but thankfully Sister Theresa, Sister Katherine and Sister Jean got to him in time and carried him back to the abbey. When the boy, named Lucas, came to, he couldn't tell where he was, because he couldn't see. The accident must have blinded him. Poor kid. And, like the good shepherd he was, his first concern was for his flock. Sister Theresa assures him they're being looked after. So now one problem was solved, but there were many remaining, such as what to do with Lucas, as he had no parents. The Parrish, Father Thomas, was not too keen on having the boy stay there at the abbey, saying the proper place for children without parents is in an orphanage, but to show he isn't entirely heartless, he'll let Lucas stay until after Christmas.As the days passed, Lucas recovered quite nicely, all except for his sight. Sister Theresa shows him...tells him about her knack for making Christmas cards out of her own fond holiday memories. She gets him involved with the other children, taking part in the church play. Lucas is going to be an angel, though the other children are not too accepting of him at first. However, he does make a friend in fellow angel, Louisa. Things are shaping up nicely, but as if the kid didn't have enough problems, he had nothing to give Sister Theresa for Christmas. All he had was his dog, Waggles, and his sheep. So, he decides to give them to her. Unfortunately, some little brats overheard him spell out this plan and decide to play a trick on him. They round up the sheep and lock them in the barn, so Lucas won't find them. The tables turn when the sheep break out and book it. Good plan, you little nimrods. They fess up to Sister Theresa, but the only person capable of bringing in a herd of sheep is the blind shepherd boy, so he and the three delinquents venture into the woods, and hopefully find all the sheep before those hungry wolves do. He calls out to them as if they were dogs, and surprisingly, they all respond to their names...except Wooley! Eventually they find the wayward sheep stuck in a deep, dark hole. With a little teamwork, they manage to rescue Wooley and make it back to the abbey in time for the play. The subject was the First Christmas, except in this version, there was snow. From his place in the choir, Lucas asked Louisa to tell him about snow, and as she talks, Lucas swore he could almost see those tantalizing little flakes of ice...and more. He could see again! It was a miracle! After the play, Sister Theresa thanks Lucas for the gift, but says she doesn't know how to take care of sheep, but that won't be a problem since Father Thomas has had a change of heart and will allow Lucas to stay with the people who love him.A very nice Christmas special from Rankin/Bass, it just ain't Christmas without them. Sure, this one isn't one of their more popular specials, nor does it air as much as, say, Year Without a Santa Claus, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, etc., maybe because this one is more lowkey. It's not very upbeat and, for the most part, it's very realistic. No talking animals, very real things happen. That doesn't take away from it's enjoyment, it's got it where it counts. Angela Lansbury tells and sings this special's story to a tee. Great storytelling, great songs, and decent stop-motion animation (this WAS 1975). If you can find this special on DVD, I recommend checking it out.
