Regular Price $19.95

Starring: Denholm Elliott,  Mathonwy Reeves,  Glynis Davies,  Michael Fawkes,  Jesse McBrearty, 
Directed By: Don McBrearty, 
Rated: G (General Audience)
Release Date: 1987-12-23
Studio: Henstooth Video
Format: Closed-captioned,  Color,  DVD-Video,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information about A Child's Christmas in Wales

Description
A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES takes you on a lyrical journey back to the magic and marvel of boyhood where no two moments were ever alike and life was embraced with belief instead of doubt. On this special Christmas Eve, Old Geraint shares these heartwarming memories with his dearly loved grandson, Thomas. In one evening he does more than recall his cherished youth . . . he relives it.

Amazon.com
This timeless tale is as wondrous as the story's snow globe, delivering with pristine gentleness a glimpse of a child's Welsh Christmas told from the remembrances of a kindly grandfather to his attentive grandson. Dylan Thomas' 1955 poem of the same name--originally written for radio--is richly adapted to the small screen by director Don McBrearty who brings to life an already masterful piece of prose, infusing it with even more grandeur through vivid costumes, scripting, and cinematography. Denholm Elliott is captivating, both as narrator and as Old Geraint, the grandpa who settles in on a rainy Christmas Eve to share with young Thomas (Mathonwy Reeves) his memories of Christmas past. Who can forget the fire in Mrs. Prothero's parlor; the unending snow, "a dumb, numb thunderstorm of white"; the Useless Presents, including the mewing moo; the Uncles "trying their new cigars"; and, always, the Aunties-- including Hannah, who customarily "laced her tea with rum." Gift-wrapped in delicate music by Lou Natale, the language, imagery, and subtle humor of this film--absent of stain and cynicism--makes for a suitably classic "annual family tradition." (All ages) --Lynn Gibson

Customer Reviews for A Child's Christmas in Wales

Something of Every Child's Christmas Everywhere
Seeing this on PBS 10 or 12 years ago it was an instant favorite. My Child's Christmas was in West Michigan the joking boyish uncles, the alternately worrying and celebrating aunts and the sense that children were the center of a warm and caring universe were all there in my place and in my time. Almost anyone can find elements of their own childhood Christmas memories in this beautifully filmed and sonorous, lilting recounting. I am so glad that Amazon stocked it four years ago so that my family could enjoy it every yearA Child's Christmas in Wales

Child's Christmas
We watched this with our grandchildren (ages 4 and 9) and it was enjoyed by all. My granddaughter (4) liked the part where they sang carols and a whispery voice sang back to them. We have read the book and the video brings it to life. Excellent.A Child's Christmas in Wales

A Lyrical Masterpiece
Both lyrical and poignant, this lovely film based on Dylan Thomas's poem, captures the warmth and nostalgia of a Christmas long past. Portraying a kind-hearted grandfather, the late great Denholm Elliot lovingly spins this Christmas tale from childhood for his enraptured grandson Thomas. Although the film includes many great visual scenes, "Mrs.Prothero's house fire", "The uncles", and the "two pipe-smoking young men walking undaunted toward the sea", to name a few, it emphasizes Thomas's evocative text, thus creating a rather literal film. Although lyrical, the film progresses quite nicely, moving seemlessly between the grandfather's childhood remembrances and the present. A well-wrought and beautiful film, my only criticism would be a technical one, and perhaps I'm splitting hairs, but I had hoped that it could have been produced in anamorphic widescreen, filling the entire screen of a 16x9 tv. Nonetheless, a must for any Christmas film collection.A Child's Christmas in Wales

A Child's Christmas in Wales
This is our family's favorite Christmas story ever. It was shown on PBS the year my daughter was born. My husband called my hospital room and told me to turn it on, quick. We had this film on tape, and just ordered it on DVD. By the way, that precious daughter turns 21 in December.A Child's Christmas in Wales

MY favorite Christmas story
I really love this movie. My grandparents came over from Wales and it makes me think of what their childhoods might have been like. It's a wonderful movie and I watch it every year, plus I purchased afew as gifts and everyone has loved it...A Child's Christmas in Wales