User Reviews

I saw "Christmas Customs Near and Far" in a collection of films called "Vintage Christmas Classics", though I think in this case, 'vintage' just means old...not particularly good. "Christmas Customs Near and Far" is actually one of the better films in the collection.

The print for this one is in need of restoration. While it is in color, the colors are faded and the print a bit blurry. It might have been filmed with a two-color process, as reddish-orange predominates.

Some kids are on a stage preparing for a Christmas pageant. Sadly, instead of rehearsing, their teacher (Fran Allison of "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" fame) tells them stories about children around the world with their customs. In actuality, it looks like the kids were just wearing costumes and were filmed on the same stage. It's all very cheap...but actually is mildly interesting. The narration and what you learn isn't bad at all. Had there been any budget at all and they could have actually gone to the various countries to show their Christmases, it would have been much, much better.

If you care, you see a German, American, Mexican and Chinese Christmases as well as St. Lucy's Day in Sweden. There also is the history of the manger scene.

Fran Allison explains to a group of children where such Christmas customs as the tree, the manger, and the pinata arose.

I was pleased to see her in this Coronet educational feature. Usually those are dull affairs narrated by educated people who seem to be talking to themselves. People of my age remember Miss Allison from television, where she often mediated between the bald-headed Kukla puppet and the snaggle-toothed, draconian Ollie puppet, speaking to them like human beings. She does so here, in a lecturing tone that is nonetheless friendly and caring. As a Coronet film, it's bloody brilliant. For those who don't remember Fran, it probably seems a little dull. They have my sympathy.