A Child's Christmas in Wales (1987)

Young Thomas is disappointed because it?s raining on Christmas Eve. But his spirits are soon lifted by his grandfather, who gives him a snow globe and recounts his own childhood Christmas memories.

Director:

Don McBrearty

Writers:

Jon Glascoe (adaptation), Jon Glascoe (developed for television by: )

Stars:

Denholm Elliott, Mathonwy Reeves, Glynis Davies

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denholm Elliott	...	Old Geraint
Mathonwy Reeves	...	Thomas
Glynis Davies	...	Mother (present)
Michael Fawkes	...	Father (present)
Jesse McBrearty	...	Young Geraint
Calum McGeachie	...	Jim
Gwynyth Walsh	...	Mother (past)
Nigel Bennett	...	Father (past)
Anne Butler	...	Auntie Hannah
Helen Beavis	...	Auntie Bessie
Jenny Turner	...	Auntie Dosie
Donald Ewer	...	Uncle Arnold
Gordon Masten	...	Uncle
Bridget O'Sullivan	...	Mrs. Prothero
James Mainprize	...	Mr. Prothero

Storyline

It's Christmas Eve in Wales. A young boy named Thomas is excited about the holiday, but he's also disappointed because it's raining instead of snowing. His grandfather gives him an old snow globe as an early Christmas present and starts telling colorful, amusing stories about his childhood Christmases that are shown in flashback. Thomas keeps asking his grandfather more questions because he likes the stories and because he doesn't want to go to bed. His parents finally insist that he go to bed, and his grandfather tells him one last story about going to bed on Christmas night while listening to his family singing carols downstairs. After Thomas falls asleep at last, his grandfather opens the bedroom window and sees falling snowflakes.

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Plot Keywords:

male protagonist | child protagonist | snow globe | husband wife relationship | mother son relationship | 

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Genres:

Family | Drama

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Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Drake's Drum
(uncredited)
Composed by Charles Villiers Stanford
Sung by Gordon Masten after dinner.

User Reviews

Brilliant!

I remember watching this every Christmas as a kid with my family. When the cassette was misplaced, of course the tradition subsided, but last Christmas I found it, dusted it off, and my parents, brother and I gathered around.

It was just as I'd remembered it, and better.

Don McBrearty did a really beautiful job of bringing Dylan Thomas' poem to life, and very sensitively, I might add. There is nothing sappy or commercial about it, and the film adaption keeps the same tone as the poem.

Actors, costumes and sets are vibrant and alive. Nothing feels contrived, and you barely notice that the actors are acting-- it's as though you're there, having Christmas with the family. There is this wonderful sense of innocence and warmth to it, and has a feeling that continues to ressonate with you for a long time after watching it.

My favorite part has to be at the end, when at the end of an eventful Christmas day, the young Geraint (Jesse McBrearty) is saying goodnight, taking his time to embrace each family member, as they are all singing that Welsh air, "All Through The Night," and quietly goes upstairs as the sounds of his family follow him. It's quite possibly one of the most moving moments in film that I have experienced, and one to be carried with me.

I am delighted that the tradition of watching this at Christmas has resumed-- it was a part of my childhood, and now is a part of visiting my parents at Christmas. We are all a bit older, but can fall into that innocence and peacefulness for a while...

Details

Official Sites:

Cypress Films home page

Country:

Canada UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1987 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Montgomery, Powys, Wales, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlantis Films, Cypress Films (I), Harlech Television (HTV)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color