To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

New Film Tells the True Story behind the Beloved Carol, 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'

Efrem Graham : Dec 2, 2022  CBN News

"We discovered this beautiful story that came out of one of the nation's darkest time periods, which was the Civil War, and it's a poem, and it's really a diary entry about the protagonist, Henry Longfellow, and his whole journey of faith. And we thought there are a lot of people who can relate to this man who had it all, lost it all, and had it come back again and be redeemed through, in this case, the symbol of a bell ringing out more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor does He sleep." -Josh Enck, writer and director

[CBN News] It's been called "one of the most beautiful Christmas carols ever written." But there is a tragic story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Grief silenced him as he saw his country divided by civil war and his family torn apart. (Screengrab image)

Sight & Sound Theater brings Bible stories to life on a grand stage. Its latest story took shape outside the theater, and beyond the pages of Scripture.

Sight & Sound is turning its backyard into a back lot for Sight & Sound Films. Its very first movie is ready for the big screen, opening in theaters at the beginning of December, just in time for Christmas.

Josh Enck is the writer and director for "I Heard the Bells," the true story behind the beloved Christmas carol and its author. He explained how this story came to be the company's very first film. 

Click Here to watch the CBN News interview with Enck

"What it comes down to is this: Sight & Sound Films wants to tell stories of figures and events from history that changed the world because Christ first changed them, and we wanted to do a Christmas story," Josh said.

"We discovered this beautiful story that came out of one of the nation's darkest time periods, which was the Civil War, and it's a poem, and it's really a diary entry about the protagonist, Henry Longfellow, and his whole journey of faith. And we thought there are a lot of people who can relate to this man who had it all, lost it all, and had it come back again and be redeemed through, in this case, the symbol of a bell ringing out more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor does He sleep." (Screengrab image)

Stephen Atherhold plays the leading role. We asked him how well he knew Henry Wadsworth Longfellow before being introduced to this story.

"Not super well," he said. "I knew of him. I knew that he wrote The Children's Hour and I Heard The Bells. But that's really it. Getting the opportunity to play him was an amazing chance to dive into who he was and to really fall in love with his character."

Click Here to watch the trailer for "I Heard The Bells"

Stephen says he fell in love with Longfellow's struggle for hope. "I think as an actor, the ability to struggle is what everyone relates to. We all have trials in this life. When you are not willing to give in. When you say, 'I know there is hope on the other side,' even though Henry couldn't see it. We all long for that. And to be able to find that hope with him as a character was a beautiful journey."

Rachel Day Hughes takes the journey alongside him as Longfellow's wife, Fanny.

"The final words of the song are peace on earth, good will to men. And those words are not original to Henry. They are original to Scripture. And they are the reason we celebrate Christmas, because Christ really did come to give us peace on earth. So if there is anybody out there that is walking through a story of grief this Christmas, it is my hope that this film inspires you as you as you watch Henry's journey to reclaim the truth of those words over his life, that it inspires you to do the same," she said. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

The Undercroft: The New Museum Located Underneath the Lincoln Memorial Opens in Time for America's 250th Birthday (Video)

Samaritan's Purse Sending Help to Venezuela after Devastating Earthquakes

Postmaster General Tells Congress USPS Will NOT DELIVER Mail-In Ballots to States That Refuse to Comply with President Trump's Election Integrity Executive Order

US Forces Kill ISIS Leader in Syria Airstrike: CENTCOM

Senate GOP Reverses Course, Rejecting War Powers Resolution after Trump Meeting

Here's What Trump Demanded from Republican Senators Behind Closed Doors

Obama Judge Permanently Blocks Trump's Proof of Citizenship Requirement to Vote; Appeal Coming

SCOTUS Decides How Far States May Regulate Concealed Carry in Public

Supreme Court Rules on Endless 'Temporary Protected Status' for Aliens

Strongest Earthquakes in More Than a Century Hit Venezuela, Causing Widespread Damage, Injuries and Death; Trump Says US Ready to Help

Texas Judge Wins Big After Faith-Based Stand on Marriage, Awarded $640K

'HEINOUS': White House Condemns Judge's Order Mandating 'Woke' Ideology at National Parks

Antifa Members Convicted in Texas ICE Attack Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms

New York City's Socialist 'Tsunami' Is Only the Latest Weirdness from the Big Apple

Trump Declares 'National Emergency,' Demands Housing Overhaul Bill Be Scrapped in SAVE Act Push

Senate RINOS Too Busy Scolding Trump to Pass Voter ID Bill

Lebanon a Major Sticking Point in US-Iran Discussions as Rubio Visits UAE to Reassure Allies on MoU

Biden DEA Let 1M Fentanyl Pills Flow to Streets, Whistleblower Lawyer Says

Supreme Court: Border Officers Can Suspend Criminal Illegals' Permanent Status

How China Is Poisoning America With Parkinson's



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



Subscribe to
Breaking Christian News


Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com