On Christmas Eve a little girl is woken by the sounds of a tramp who has broken in and is stealing the valuables. When she investigates, she decides he is actually Pere Noel (Santa Claus), leaving gifts.
Besides the sentimentality of this short subject, I am also annoyed by the large gesture that are still in use in this short. Grand pantomime was still in fashion in Europe at this point, although it was gradually being diminished as the reforms that American film makers like D. W. Griffith became popular.
Contrariwise, the camera work is superior. Notice the depth of field established when the little girl is praying by her bedside with her parents looking on.
Besides the sentimentality of this short subject, I am also annoyed by the large gesture that are still in use in this short. Grand pantomime was still in fashion in Europe at this point, although it was gradually being diminished as the reforms that American film makers like D. W. Griffith became popular.
Contrariwise, the camera work is superior. Notice the depth of field established when the little girl is praying by her bedside with her parents looking on.