To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive — RL Stevenson: a blog on books, films, art, music, culture
John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s And so this is Christmas & The Christmas Angel
Dear friends,
It’s said they recorded this in 1971 when the war in Vietnam was not over: the US gov’t was bombing hospitals in Vietnam; they thought, What could they do about it? they decided to sing and record a song in which they pretended “the war is over:”
A hundred and ten years ago, this short French film, “The Christmas Angel” was made, and thanks to a friend on one of my listservs I watched it last night and can share it here:
Ellen Moody holds a Ph.D in British Literature and taught in American senior colleges for more than 40 years. Since 2013 she has been teaching older retired people at two Oscher Institutes of Lifelong Learning, one attached to American University (Washington, DC) and other to George Mason University (in Fairfax, Va). She is also a literary scholar with specialties in 18th century literature, translation, early modern and women's studies, film, nineteenth and 20th century literature and of course Trollope. For Trollope she wrote a book on her experiences of reading Trollope on the Internet with others, some more academic style essays, two on film adaptations, the most recent on Trollope's depiction of settler colonialism: "On Inventing a New Country." Here is her website: http://www.jimandellen.org/ellen/ No part of this blog may be reproduced without express permission from the author/blog owner. Linking, on the other hand, is highly encouraged!
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6 thoughts on “John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s And so this is Christmas & The Christmas Angel”
Elaine:
“Glad you watched it. The 10 minutes is a bit long, but it is still quite fascinating. I was struck by the change of ending. In the French version, the girl dies destitute on the streets. Perhaps it’s a Catholic ending, meaning she will be rewarded in the next life, in heaven. While in contrast the American version provides material gifts in the present life, I think it must also speak of the generosity the Americans were known for at the beginning of the 20th century.”
From Sixtine:
“I have read your description of the film and its French end [the angel tries to saves the girl;; there are no good-hearted people in a car]: this is very close to the tale by Hans Christian Andersen “La petite marchande d’allumettes” but I can’t remember how to translate “allumette” in English and my dictionaries are too far from me today.You know the story of the little girl in the street who sells her “lighters” made of wood and phosphor that you use but once? And none wants to buy them. It is Christmas Eve. She is fascinated by the flame and the light and she jusy light them one after another seeing her mother at leasr in the last one who beckons her to come to her… in Heaven. And she dies and found dead as tresh on Christmas morning. You can imagine the scents, the bells, thhe rifh Copenhaghen, etc. Do you remember the tale?
It was a classic tale in France and in Europe, trying to denounce the situation of children at work or in the streets. It belongs to the new less conservative trends of tales. It could not be changed for something more light and happy.
But the happy twist was consistent with the US? We, Europeans, and very poor Europeans, America was a land where work and jobs could be found – a land of bounty. So for the Americans, the positive hope on Earth was given, not to destroy the American dream.
At that time, relationships between RC Church and Frenh artistan intellectuals and (sorry, I shall not be politically correct) “intelligent” political parties where tense – even if there had been the encyclic by Pope Leon XIII about work, necessary reform of work, society and economy.”
They are no longer known for this generosity. The one part of Cuba we rent is Guantanomo prison; an article in the NYRB said the Obama administration has dropped 440 drones so far. The ruling party is stony oligarchy which would remove all social helps, is destroying the schools, is after the post offce; hates seeing poor and middling people being helped to get medical care at an affordable rate; has done all it can to prevent that in 30 states.
The tale is Den lille pige med svovlstikkerne. In English it is The little match girl. It was first published in 1854. You Tube has it told in Danish by a great reader and illustrated from an old unknown picture book.It is her grandmother who takes her into heaven. It was partly inspired by the childhood of H.C. Andersen’s mother.
I have had a chance to watch the 1904 version of the Little Match Girl with its happy ending. I found it quite fascinating as a piece of social history and also well done. I could feel the cold with all the falling snow and all the details, however corny, did say Europe. All the meat at the end was fascinating. The original story is quite searing.
Ellen And Jim Have A Blog, Two 
Elaine:
“Glad you watched it. The 10 minutes is a bit long, but it is still quite fascinating. I was struck by the change of ending. In the French version, the girl dies destitute on the streets. Perhaps it’s a Catholic ending, meaning she will be rewarded in the next life, in heaven. While in contrast the American version provides material gifts in the present life, I think it must also speak of the generosity the Americans were known for at the beginning of the 20th century.”
From Sixtine:
“I have read your description of the film and its French end [the angel tries to saves the girl;; there are no good-hearted people in a car]: this is very close to the tale by Hans Christian Andersen “La petite marchande d’allumettes” but I can’t remember how to translate “allumette” in English and my dictionaries are too far from me today.You know the story of the little girl in the street who sells her “lighters” made of wood and phosphor that you use but once? And none wants to buy them. It is Christmas Eve. She is fascinated by the flame and the light and she jusy light them one after another seeing her mother at leasr in the last one who beckons her to come to her… in Heaven. And she dies and found dead as tresh on Christmas morning. You can imagine the scents, the bells, thhe rifh Copenhaghen, etc. Do you remember the tale?
It was a classic tale in France and in Europe, trying to denounce the situation of children at work or in the streets. It belongs to the new less conservative trends of tales. It could not be changed for something more light and happy.
But the happy twist was consistent with the US? We, Europeans, and very poor Europeans, America was a land where work and jobs could be found – a land of bounty. So for the Americans, the positive hope on Earth was given, not to destroy the American dream.
At that time, relationships between RC Church and Frenh artistan intellectuals and (sorry, I shall not be politically correct) “intelligent” political parties where tense – even if there had been the encyclic by Pope Leon XIII about work, necessary reform of work, society and economy.”
They are no longer known for this generosity. The one part of Cuba we rent is Guantanomo prison; an article in the NYRB said the Obama administration has dropped 440 drones so far. The ruling party is stony oligarchy which would remove all social helps, is destroying the schools, is after the post offce; hates seeing poor and middling people being helped to get medical care at an affordable rate; has done all it can to prevent that in 30 states.
Max: “We must hope against all reason for a better world and make it happen because we hope.”
Very Dickens, Max.
The tale is Den lille pige med svovlstikkerne. In English it is The little match girl. It was first published in 1854. You Tube has it told in Danish by a great reader and illustrated from an old unknown picture book.It is her grandmother who takes her into heaven. It was partly inspired by the childhood of H.C. Andersen’s mother.
I have had a chance to watch the 1904 version of the Little Match Girl with its happy ending. I found it quite fascinating as a piece of social history and also well done. I could feel the cold with all the falling snow and all the details, however corny, did say Europe. All the meat at the end was fascinating. The original story is quite searing.