Black Christmas (1974)

During their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger.

Director:

Bob Clark

Writer:

Roy Moore (screenplay)

Stars:

Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Olivia Hussey	...	Jess
Keir Dullea	...	Peter
Margot Kidder	...	Barb
John Saxon	...	Lt. Ken Fuller
Marian Waldman	...	Mrs. Mac
Andrea Martin	...	Phyl
James Edmond	...	Mr. Harrison
Doug McGrath	...	Sargeant Nash (as Douglas McGrath)
Art Hindle	...	Chris Hayden
Lynne Griffin	...	Clare Harrison
Michael Rapport	...	Patrick
Leslie Carlson	...	Graham (as Les Carlson)
Martha Gibson	...	Mrs. Quaife
John Rutter	...	Laughing Detective
Robert Warner	...	Doctor

Storyline

It's time for Christmas break, and the sorority sisters make plans for the holiday, but the strange anonymous phone calls are beginning to put them on edge. When Clare disappears, they contact the police, who don't express much concern. Meanwhile Jess is planning to get an abortion, but boyfriend Peter is very much against it. The police finally begin to get concerned when a 13-year-old girl is found dead in the park. They set up a wiretap to the sorority house, but will they be in time to prevent a sorority girl attrition problem?

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Plot Keywords:

scantily clad female | cleavage | blonde | voyeur | voyeurism | 

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Taglines:

He knows when you're sleeping, he knows if you're awake, HE KNOWS...

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Christmas

Filming Locations:

6 Clarendon Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$620,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$4,053,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Funding Ltd. of Canada,Vision IV,Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Quinn Labs)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Star Margot Kidder admitted in an interview that she never thought that the film would become a hit and was surprised to learn that it had gained such a large cult following over the years.

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Goofs

When Billy first enters the attic through the window at the beginning of the film, his shadow reflected on the wall clearly shows the camera equipment he is carrying.

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Quotes

Sergeant Nash: [after Sergeant Nash calls the sorority house] Who is this?
Jess: It's Jess.
Sergeant Nash: Ah, Ms. Bradford, eh, this is Sergeant Nash. Are you the only one in the house?
Jess: No. Phyl and Barb are upstairs asleep. Why?
Sergeant Nash: All right. Now, I want you to do exactly what I tell you without asking any questions, okay?
[Jess tries to ask something]
Sergeant Nash: No, no, no... no questions. Now, just put the phone back on the hook, walk to the front door and leave the house.
Jess: What's wrong?
Sergeant Nash: Please, Ms. Bradford, please just do as I tell you.
Jess: ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

A telephone is continously ringing throughout the final credits.

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Alternate Versions

The film was released 3 different times (ntsc format)on DVD and each disc features a different aspect ratio. The first DVD edition from Critical mass (25th anniversary) used the proper full frame format (the film was shot this way). The second DVD release from Critical Mass (listed as being just a special edition) uses a 1:75:1 aspect ratio, it was also noted that director Bob Clark approved of this ratio. The latest DVD special edition from Critical Mass (December, 2006) uses an over-matted 1:85:1 ratio. This 1:85:1 over matted ratio also appeared on the special edition laserdisc that was released by Warner Bros. a few years back.

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Connections

Referenced in The Dirties (2013)

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Soundtracks

O Little Town of Bethlehem
(uncredited)
Words by Phillips Brooks (c. 1865)
Music by Lewis H. Redner
Combined words and music first published 1906
Played on church bells

User Reviews

The original and perhaps the best slasher film ever made.

The girls of a sorority house are being tormented by a twisted prank caller who continually calls to convey increasingly vile and abusive sentiments. What at first appears to be a sick joke eventually turns violent for the girls during the season of supposed goodwill and merriment.

The original and maybe even the best, ‘Black Christmas' set the ball rolling for the slasher genre and was the biggest influence for the phenomenally successful John Carpenter classic, ‘Halloween' (1978), which was, in fact, originally conceived as a sequel. Although Italian director, Mario Bava, had previously created what some see as the first slasher movie, ‘Bay of Blood' (1971), it was ‘Black Christmas' that was to become recognised as the catalyst for one of the most lucrative sub-genres of horror cinema. Bob Clark (who previously made the kooky, enjoyable, low-budget zombie film ‘Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things' (1972)), still at this point something of an amateur director, took a simple yet naturally frightening concept and turned it into one of the most unsettling and nerve-wracking one hundred minutes in cinematic history. Only a select few films such as ‘The Haunting' (1963) and ‘Alien' (1979) are atmospheric enough to truly equate to the eeriness and feelings of apprehension that are to be induced by ‘Black Christmas'.

The simplicity of the production is what makes it so endearing. There are no overly bloody death sequences or unlikely, comic-book style events; the viewer is just presented with an unnerving tale which could easily have a strong basis in reality. Inventive camerawork and POV shots as well as a superlative use of lighting are the elements that combine to achieve the desired results. The often pseudo-claustrophobic environment of the sorority house, from where the vast majority of events occur, offers the perfect, vulnerable and unguarded location susceptible to intrusion and thus attributes to the continual foreboding atmosphere. Clark was not afraid to take time building both the story and characterisation as well as introduce the viewer to the aspects that he would use to build the suspense. This is prepared before plunging the viewer into a seemingly uncontrolled nightmare that one experiences along with the protagonists. Another aspect that firmly stands out is the mysterious way that everything is presented; even at the very end, very little has truly been explained yet everything seems like it should have an obvious explanation. Even in its undoubted simplicity, ‘Black Christmas' has complicated facets that require thought from the viewer to entirely comprehend the film. In some ways, the concealing of several key points puts the viewer's knowledge of events on a par with the actual characters.

‘Black Christmas' is also complimented wonderfully by strong acting performances from Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, John Saxon and a highly pleasant and amusing turn from Marian Waldman. Despite the tiny budget, this is a highly polished horror film that genuinely belongs among the elite of the genre. This is where it all started and those familiar with later slasher films such as ‘Halloween', ‘Friday the 13th' (1980), Slumber Party Massacre (1982) and ‘The House on Sorority Row' (1983) should be able to spot several of the now-clichés that first materialized in ‘Black Christmas'. My rating for ‘Black Christmas' - 8½/10.