Of all the biblical stories, the story of the birth of Jesus was my favourite and has always been my personal favourite and most re-visited. It has often been adapted, quite well generally, and nativity play productions have long been a school tradition (looking back over my school days and the annual nativity play, they come over as pretty twee and cringe-worthy now). It is very easy to see why it has so much appeal as a story, as it is very powerful with many memorable parts.
Rabbit Ears Productions did nine biblical adaptations between the years 1991 and 1994 as part of their 80s and 90s takes on literature (whether classic fairytales, stories of American heroes and legends, world stories and of the bible). All the Greatest Stories Ever Told adaptations are well worth watching, as is the company's entire output with the best of them being brilliant. 'The Savior is Born' is one of the best of these nine adaptations and one of the ones that connected with me the most emotionally, and the story itself has a lot to do with it.
'The Savior is Born' is visually stunning for one thing, very elegant in its simplicity yet rich in detail. It was like looking at those beautifully detailed stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals, which was wholly appropriate for a biblical story, of all Rabbit Ears Productions' Greatest Stories Ever Told adaptations 'The Savior is Born' is one of the most visually striking.
Also top class was the music, sung angelically by a cathedral choir and being somebody who has a background in choral music it was great to have music that suited the story perfectly and the most appropriate style of music to use. Stirring without being intrusive. One cannot not forget Morgan Freeman's narration too.
Freeman, in his second of two Rabbit Ears Productions adaptations (the other being 1992's 'Follow the Drinking Gourd') has a very distinguished and immediately recognisable voice that had exactly the right amount of authority, understated dignity and gravitas in delivering the sincerely written scripting.
Scripting that had maturity and was faithful, while not being too complicated. The storytelling is very poignant and has a lot of depth, nothing twee about it whatsoever.
In conclusion, wonderful and one of the best of the Greatest Stories Ever Told series. 10/10
Rabbit Ears Productions did nine biblical adaptations between the years 1991 and 1994 as part of their 80s and 90s takes on literature (whether classic fairytales, stories of American heroes and legends, world stories and of the bible). All the Greatest Stories Ever Told adaptations are well worth watching, as is the company's entire output with the best of them being brilliant. 'The Savior is Born' is one of the best of these nine adaptations and one of the ones that connected with me the most emotionally, and the story itself has a lot to do with it.
'The Savior is Born' is visually stunning for one thing, very elegant in its simplicity yet rich in detail. It was like looking at those beautifully detailed stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals, which was wholly appropriate for a biblical story, of all Rabbit Ears Productions' Greatest Stories Ever Told adaptations 'The Savior is Born' is one of the most visually striking.
Also top class was the music, sung angelically by a cathedral choir and being somebody who has a background in choral music it was great to have music that suited the story perfectly and the most appropriate style of music to use. Stirring without being intrusive. One cannot not forget Morgan Freeman's narration too.
Freeman, in his second of two Rabbit Ears Productions adaptations (the other being 1992's 'Follow the Drinking Gourd') has a very distinguished and immediately recognisable voice that had exactly the right amount of authority, understated dignity and gravitas in delivering the sincerely written scripting.
Scripting that had maturity and was faithful, while not being too complicated. The storytelling is very poignant and has a lot of depth, nothing twee about it whatsoever.
In conclusion, wonderful and one of the best of the Greatest Stories Ever Told series. 10/10
