The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow

The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow is a heartwarming animated movie from 1975 that tells the story of a young shepherd boy named Lucas who experiences a miracle on the night of Jesus’ birth.

The movie opens with Lucas, a disabled boy who is unable to walk without the aid of crutches, living with his parents in a shepherd’s village. Lucas’ parents own a sheepdog named Blizzard and live a happy life in the village. However, Lucas dreams of walking and playing like the other boys in the village.

One evening, Lucas is out tending to his sheep when he notices a bright star shining in the sky. Curious, he follows the star until he arrives at a stable where Mary and Joseph have just given birth to their son, Jesus. As he enters the stable to peer at the newborn babe, an angel appears and gifts him a small patch of snow that he can play with. However, not being used to snow and unfamiliar with how it behaves, Lucas inadvertently defiles the snow and becomes distraught. The winged character that gifted him the snow, warns that if the snowball is too dirty when handed back, he will lose the ability to walk permanently.

Determined to fix his mistake and keep his ability to walk, Lucas seeks the help of Father Thomas and the nuns in the local convent. The nuns try to clean the snowball but are unsuccessful. Father Thomas suggests they take the snowball to Sister Theresa, who lives high in the mountains and is known for her power to heal. Sister Theresa takes the snowball and returns it to its pure state. She then blesses it before returning it to Lucas to take back to the stable.

As Lucas rushes to return the snowball to the stable, he is caught in a raging snowstorm. Blizzard, his parents' loyal sheepdog, finds him and leads him to safety. As the storm calms down and Lucas arrives safely back at the stable, the snowball transforms into a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, and Lucas finds himself able to walk perfectly without the need for crutches.

Throughout the movie, the audience is drawn into the warmth of Lucas’ village community and their selflessness when called upon to help those in need. The charm and innocence of the movie is evident in the relationships between the characters, especially Lucas' friendship with Blizzard, the family sheepdog.

Angela Lansbury, who narrates the movie with her signature storytelling grace, adds depth and emotion to the storytelling, while Cyril Ritchard, who voices Father Thomas, brings his experience as a Broadway actor to create an individualized tone, much as he had for countless stage shows. David Kelley, who plays Lucas, brings warmth and innocence to the voice of the young shepherd boy.

The animation in The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow, done by veteran director Jules Bass, is captivating and breathtaking, especially for an animated film made in the 70s. There are bright, vividly drawn backgrounds and the characters are given realistic and lifelike expressions. The attention to detail is astonishing and is evident in every scene, from the rolling hills of the village to the snowdrifts in the mountains.

Ultimately, The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow is a classic Christmas tale that beautifully illustrates the power of faith, love and self-sacrifice. It is an uplifting movie the whole family can enjoy, filled with strong values and lessons that can be cherished throughout one's lifetime.