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:

sorority house | mysterious killer | sorority | christmas | psychopath | 

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Taglines:

Christmas is coming early this year. And it's murder.

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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:

Silent Night, Evil Night

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

Although this film's original title was Silent Night, Evil Night it shares no connection to the Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) film, another Christmas horror movie, or any of its sequels. Another similarly titled film called Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) also has no relation to the film.

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Goofs

Before the search party begins, we see a man wearing a Canadian beret in a car door window reflection when Mrs Quaife is looking worried even though the film is supposed to take place in the USA.

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Quotes

Barb: Did you know, this is a very little known fact, but... did you know that there's a certain species of turtle that... there's a certain species of turtle that can screw for three days without stopping. You don't believe me, do you? Well, I-I mean, how could I make something like that up?
Mrs. Mac: Ah, Barb, dear, ah, I-I-I-ah...
Barb: No, really! They just... three days, 24 hours a day, wha-voom! Wha-voom! Wha-voom! Can you believe that, three days? I'm lucky if I get three minutes! Do you know how I know this?...

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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

Featured in Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009)

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Soundtracks

O Come All Ye Faithful
Music by John Reading (uncredited)
Words by John Wade (uncredited)
St. Simon's Choir
Edgar Hanson - Choirmaster

User Reviews

CREE-PY!!!!

I am probably not the BEST person to review this movie, as I have only seen it twice, but with this particular film, that's enough. It's creepy as hell. I am a major horror fan and because of that that statement is NOT an easy one for me to say. The phone calls from the killer to the girls freak the livin' shhh out of me! The voice sounds almost warped and garbled, uhh I am having chills now thinking about it! It's crazy that it was directed by the same man who did the perennial Christmas family fave "A Christmas Story" and "Porky's". All of the actors did a great job, especially Margot Kidder as the drunken sorority girl. She was my favorite, I think. Also in this is Andrea Martin, most recently famous for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" as one of the girls. I watched it right around Christmas time and it freaked me out like y'all wouldn't even believe. Of all the Holiday-themed horror movies ("Silent Night, Deadly Night", "My Bloody Valentine", etc.) I think this is right up there with "Halloween". Major props to all involved, just DON'T watch this one at night OR alone, you think you will be able get to sleep? YOU WON'T!!!!