Joyful Hour

This program was a re-edited version from the Catholic Family Theater Program from the early 50s. In this episode the family of that noted Hollywood Catholic lay person, Pat O'Brien, hosts the show with a telling of a more involved working of the Christmas story that also includes the story of the birth of John the Baptist whom we are told was the cousin of Jesus as well as the prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah.

As she did in so many of the Family Theater Programs Ruth Hussey plays the Virgin Mary with Nelson Leigh playing Joseph. The cast is long and extensive and I recognized such people as Percy Helton as an individual who refuses the Holy Family lodging for the night and Raymond Burr as a Roman centurion. I wish we could get a more extensive cast list for this film.

The production is low budget, but the tone is sincere and reverential and the cast of some of the best professional players around do a more than competent job. I'm sorry I might have to wait until next Christmas season to get a more extensive cast list to add.

This classic, vintage 60s dramatization of the first three joyful mysteries of the holy rosary is skillfully and reverently portrayed. This is excellent family, catholic teaching and entertainment, simply yet skillfully told through light, sound, music, and dialogue. As a family prays the rosary in their home around the Christmas tree, the viewer is drawn into the meditations of their prayer, as the action segues into scriptural dramatizations of The Annunciation, The Visitation, and the Nativity of Jesus. An even balance of actual scripture and realistic, created dialogue moves the story along reverently and dramatically. The acting is solid, a testament to skilled players of the time, honing their craft. The minimal use of special effects are simply and effectively done, and the music score is beautiful and traditional as one would expect from that era. Costuming is wonderful. Set design is minimal at times but always appropriate, artistic, and believable. Perhaps most interesting is the way the film portrays ancient customs and behavior, as in the wedding scene. The Catholic teaching is solidified in the end with a priest's heartfelt summary and sending forth. This is a must see for any one of faith, if only for educational reasons, but for me it is a nostalgic, heartwarming film to enjoy during the Christmas season. I thank EWTN for broadcasting it.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THAT PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

JOYFUL HOUR - DVD

The Christmas story depicted from the Annunciation through the Nativity. The story of Joseph and Mary is told with interspersed teaching regarding the rosary. Actor Pat O'Brien and family are shown praying the Rosary. 57 minutes.

I was looking for an entertaining film about the events of Jesus's birth when I came across this. I was looking forward to viewing his but I should have watched something else.

Everything about this is wrong. The actress that plays Mary is 20 years too old to play the part.

The film also breaks into sermons instead of dialog. Most of the actors in this are bad.

Do yourself a favor and don't watch this. Life is too short