Vintage Holiday Show
Free Admission
Christmas comes a little early with the Eighth Annual Vintage Holiday Show, a family-friendly afternoon of holiday and winter-related short films from the vaults of the Harvard Film Archive. This year, all of the films are from a recent addition to our catalogue, the Boston Public Library’s Circulating Collection. Today you can borrow a DVD from your local library, but in an earlier time, you could borrow a 16mm print, a screen and a projector! These films were shown mainly at public libraries in the Boston area, but were also available to the public. – Liz Coffey, Film Conservator
PROGRAM
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The Great Toy Robbery
Directed by Jeff Hale.
Canada, 1963, 35mm, color, 6 min.
Print source: HFA
An animated Christmas Western that has become a Holiday Show staple.
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Six Penguins
Directed by Asporoah Panov.
Bulgaria, 1973, 16mm, color, 5 min.
Print source: HFA
Told nonverbally with puppets, this delightful adventure story about six penguins teaches the value of helping others.
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Max’s Christmas
Directed by Michael Sporn.
US, 1988, 16mm, color, 5 min.
Print source: HFA
This animated version of the book by Rosemary Wells illustrates Ruby’s futile attempts to put her little brother to bed on Christmas Eve.
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The Cop and the Anthem
Directed by Peter Mark Schifter.
With Robert Morse, Ralph Drischell.
US, 1982, 16mm, color, 20 min.
Print source: HFA
This O. Henry adaptation features Soapy, an affable bum in 19th-century New York City, who starts thinking about going to his "winter home" on Blackwell's Island. To set his plan into motion, all he has to do is break the law.
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The Cherry Tree Carol
Directed by Gardner Compton.
US, 1968, 16mm, color, 10 min.
Print source: HFA
This traditional Christmas carol is performed by choreographer Agnes de Mille's Appalachian dance troupe.
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A Figgy Duff Christmas
Directed by William Gough.
Canada, 1978, 16mm, color, 10 min.
A musical group, named after the Newfoundland Christmas dessert, plays and sings the old songs while donning strange costumes in the Mummer tradition.
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Animal’s Best Friend
Directed by Hermina Tyrlova.
Czechoslovakia, 1973, 16mm, color, 10 min.
Print source: HFA
Animated felt figures tell the story of a barnyard full of animals and their faithful watchdog.
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A Charles Dickens Christmas: From the Pickwick Papers
Directed by John Barnes.
With Roddy Hughes.
US, 1958, 16mm, color, 22 min.
Print source: HFA
The Christmas visit of Mr. Pickwick and his friends to Dingley Dell Farm—with dancing, games and a substantial supper—is dramatized in this enchanting film.
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The Night Before Christmas
Directed by John Wilson.
US, 1968, 16mm, color, 8 min.
This charming film uses puppet animation to present the famous Christmas poem from 1823.
