The Christmas Candle

This article is about the film. For the novel, see The Christmas Candle (book).
The Christmas Candle
Directed by John Stephenson
Produced by Tom Newman
Hannah Leader
Steve Christian
Ivan Dunleavy
Huw Penallt Jones
Brian Lockhart[1]
Written by Candace Lee
Eric Newman
Max Lucado[2]
Starring Hans Matheson
Samantha Barks
Lesley Manville
Sylvester McCoy
James Cosmo
Susan Boyle
Barbara Flynn
John Hannah
Production
company
Distributed by Pinewood Studios (UK)
EchoLight Studios (US)
Release dates
  • 25 November 2013 (2013-11-25) (United States)[3]
  • 13 December 2013 (2013-12-13) (United Kingdom)
Country United Kingdom
United States
Language English
Box office $2,258,620[4]

The Christmas Candle is a 2013 British/American Christmas drama film.

Introduction

It is based on Max Lucado's novel The Christmas Candle. The film is an Impact and Big Book Media Production presented by Pinewood Pictures being distributed by Rick Santorum's film production company EchoLight Studios in the US and by Pinewood Pictures in the UK.[5] It is Susan Boyle's debut on the big screen.[5][6] Boyle also contributes an original song to the film, "Miracle Hymn".[7]

Locations

It was shot in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and in the Isle of Man.[1] Locations included Stanway House,[8] Tudor House in the Worcestershire village of Broadway,[9] and the Wiltshire village of Biddestone, including the White Horse pub.[10] Studio work was completed on the Isle of Man in the Mountain View Media Village studios in Lezayre.[11]

Summary

In the fictional village of Gladbury, every twenty-five years an angel visits the candlemaker and bestows a miracle upon whomever lights the Christmas Candle. However, shortly after the arrival of a new pastor, David Richmond in 1890, the Christmas Candle goes missing.

Theology

The Christmas Candle makes use of the Bible and the main character, the pastor, quotes Jesus from the Gospels while focusing on the Advent season.[12] The viewpoint of the movie is a mixture of Protestant and Roman Catholic theology, where the main character is struggling to find his lost faith.[13]

Cast

Reception

The film received positive reviews. From the UK, The Portsmouth News gave the film 4 stars writing "Boyle's performance is endearing and her stunning vocal talent continues to dazzle while the gentle chemistry between Matheson and Barks complements the piece without upstaging the film's central ideas."[14] The Los Angeles Times wrote, "Hammy histrionics of a Hallmark movie are present, but its message of community and faith shines brighter."[15] The Dove Foundation awarded 5 Doves as a "Family-Approved" film.[16]

The film expanded from five to over 390 venues for its second week.[17]

The film also received negative reviews, with the New York Daily News describing it as a "Dickens-meets-Sunday-school movie", and that it was "as artless as the setup [was] muddled".[18] The New York Post referred to it as a "throwback, made-for-TV-style film" with a "cheesy climax". The Arizona Republic judged it as "resolutely stiff and hollow".[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Pinewood Group
  2. ↑ Roberta Miller, Screenwriter Candace Lee on new film Christmas Candle, Christianity Today, 15 May 2013
  3. ↑ http://www.fandango.com/thechristmascandle_168949/movieoverview
  4. ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=christmascandle.htm
  5. 1 2 Caitlin McDecvitt, Rick Santorum to release a Christmas movie, Politico, 9/25/13
  6. ↑ Stuart, Kemp. "Susan Boyle to Make Feature Film Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Susan Boyle's FIFTH studio album in four years, 'Home for Christmas'". susanboylemusic.com. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Article in the Gloucestershire Echo. Accessed 6 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Article in Worcester News
  10. ↑ http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/10293022.Village_of_Biddestone_enjoys_Hollywood_moment/?ref=twtrec Wiltshire Times article]. Accessed 6 December 2015
  11. ↑ IOM Today article. Accessed 6 December 2015.
  12. ↑ Pronechen, Joseph. "'The Christmas Candle' Celebrates Advent". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  13. ↑ Rives, Steve. "The Christmas Candle Movie, by Max Lucado: A Review". Jesus:Theology:Archaeolgy:Bible. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  14. ↑ "The Christmas Candle". The Portsmouth News. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  15. ↑ Martin, Tsai. "Review: 'Christmas Candle' beams with holiday spirit". LA Times. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "The Christmas Candle". The Dove Foundation. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  17. 1 2 Andrew Pulver. "Rick Santorum's Christmas movie proves flop". Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  18. ↑ Joe Neumaier. "'The Christmas Candle,' 'Narco Cultura,' 'Everyday,' 'Cold Turkey': movie reviews". New York Daily News. Retrieved 25 November 2013.

External links

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