Black Christmas (1974)

Director:

Bob Clark

Writer:

Roy Moore (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 December 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl... It's On Too Tight!

Plot:

A sorority house is terrorized by a stranger who makes frightening phone calls and then murders the sorority sisters during Christmas break.

Plot Keywords:

Sorority | Christmas | Sorority House | Holiday | Police

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Olivia Hussey	...	Jess Bradford
Keir Dullea	...	Peter Smythe
Margot Kidder	...	Barbara 'Barb' Coard
John Saxon	...	Lieutenant Kenneth Fuller
Marian Waldman	...	Mrs. 'Mac' MacHenry
Andrea Martin	...	Phyllis 'Phyl' Carlson
James Edmond	...	Mr. Harrison
Doug McGrath	...	Sargeant Nash (as Douglas McGrath)
Art Hindle	...	Chris Hayden
Lynne Griffin	...	Clare Harrison
Michael Rapport	...	Patrick Cornell
Leslie Carlson	...	Bill Graham (as Les Carlson)
Martha Gibson	...	Mrs. Quaife
John Rutter	...	Laughing Detective
Robert Warner	...	Doctor
Syd Brown	...	Farmer
Jack Van Evera	...	Search Party
Les Rubie	...	Search Party
Marcia Diamond	...	Woman
Pam Barney	...	Jean
Robert Hawkins	...	Wes
David Clement	...	Cogan (as Dave Clement)
Julian Reed	...	Jennings
Dave Mann	...	Cop
John Stoneham Sr.	...	Cop (as John Stoneham)
Danny Gain	...	Cop
Tom Foreman	...	Cop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Clark	...	Prowler Shadow / Phone Voice (uncredited)
Nick Mancuso	...	The Prowler / Phone Voice (uncredited)

Directed by
Bob Clark

Writing credits
Roy Moore		(screenplay)

Produced by
Gerry Arbeid	....	co-producer
Bob Clark	....	producer
Findlay Quinn	....	executive producer
Richard Schouten	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Carl Zittrer

Cinematography by
Reginald H. Morris		(director of photography) (as Reg Morris)

Film Editing by
Stan Cole

Casting by
Karen Hazzard		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Karen Bromley

Makeup Department
David R. Beecroft	....	hairdresser (as David Beecroft)
Bill Morgan	....	makeup artist
Katherine Southern	....	assistant makeup artist (as Kathy Southern)

Production Management
Gary Goch	....	assistant production
David M. Robertson	....	production supervisor (as Dave Robertson)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Don Brough	....	third assistant director
John M. Eckert	....	second assistant director (as John Eckert)
Tony Thatcher	....	assistant director

Art Department
Keath Barrie	....	property buyer
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	property master (as John 'Frenchie' Berger)

Sound Department
David Appleby	....	sound mixer (as Dave Appleby)
Patrick Drummond	....	assistant sound editor
Rod Haykin	....	soundman
Kenneth Heeley-Ray	....	sound editor (as Ken Heeley-Ray)
Herb Heritage	....	boom
Bill O'Neill	....	sound mixer
Charles Owens	....	assistant sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Albert J. Dunk	....	camera operator (as Bert Dunk)
Peter Luxford	....	first assistant camera
Carmen McDermaid	....	key grip
Bob Milligan	....	gaffer
David Petty	....	second assistant camera
Bev Rockett	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Debi Weldon	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Rick Clarke	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Melody Greene	....	production assistant (as Melady Greene)
Barry Leyland	....	production comptroller
Sandra Marley	....	script supervisor (as Sandra Ulosevich)

Production Companies

• Film Funding Ltd. of Canada (as Film Funding)
• Vision IV
• Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC) (produced in co-operation with)
• Famous Players (produced in co-operation with)
• August Films (uncredited)

Distributors

• Ambassador Film Distributors (1974) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• EMI Distribution (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Alberto Bitelli Intl. Films (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Capelight Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Critical Mass Releasing (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Eclectic DVD Distribution (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Eclectic DVD Distribution (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Future Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Malo Video (198?) (Canada) (video)
• Millennium Storm (2006) (Italy) (VHS)
• Ninth Dimension Home Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Nordic Video (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Palisades-Tartan Acquisitions (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Somerville House (2006) (Canada) (DVD) (North America) (widescreen)
• Ventura Distribution (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Service Corporation (????) (Canada) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Mirrophonic Sound  sound recording (as Mirrophonic Sound Ltd)
• Panasonic  stereo and televisions by
• Pat Call Boutique  ladies wardrobe by

Also Known As:

Noël tragique (Canada: French title)
Silent Night, Evil Night (USA) (wide-release title)
Stop Me (Canada: English title) (working title)
Stranger in the House (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-18 (DVD) (self applied) (2004) (2007) | USA:TV-MA | Argentina:X (original rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2008) | Australia:R | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Grenadier Lake, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Film Funding Ltd. of Canada

Trivia:

The role of Lieutenant Fuller was originally supposed to be played by Edmond O'Brien, but due to failing health he had to be replaced. John Saxon was brought in at the last minute.

Goofs:

Continuity: The outside of the sorority house says pi kappa sigma. A picture hung inside the house says pi beta phi.

Quotes:

Mrs. MacHenry: These broads would hump the Leaning Tower of Pisa if they could get up there!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)

Soundtrack:

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The original and perhaps the best slasher film ever made.

The girls of a sorority house are being tormented by a twisted prank caller who continually calls to convey increasingly vile and abusive sentiments. What at first appears to be a sick joke eventually turns violent for the girls during the season of supposed goodwill and merriment.

The original and maybe even the best, ‘Black Christmas' set the ball rolling for the slasher genre and was the biggest influence for the phenomenally successful John Carpenter classic, ‘Halloween' (1978), which was, in fact, originally conceived as a sequel. Although Italian director, Mario Bava, had previously created what some see as the first slasher movie, ‘Bay of Blood' (1971), it was ‘Black Christmas' that was to become recognised as the catalyst for one of the most lucrative sub-genres of horror cinema. Bob Clark (who previously made the kooky, enjoyable, low-budget zombie film ‘Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things' (1972)), still at this point something of an amateur director, took a simple yet naturally frightening concept and turned it into one of the most unsettling and nerve-wracking one hundred minutes in cinematic history. Only a select few films such as ‘The Haunting' (1963) and ‘Alien' (1979) are atmospheric enough to truly equate to the eeriness and feelings of apprehension that are to be induced by ‘Black Christmas'.

The simplicity of the production is what makes it so endearing. There are no overly bloody death sequences or unlikely, comic-book style events; the viewer is just presented with an unnerving tale which could easily have a strong basis in reality. Inventive camerawork and POV shots as well as a superlative use of lighting are the elements that combine to achieve the desired results. The often pseudo-claustrophobic environment of the sorority house, from where the vast majority of events occur, offers the perfect, vulnerable and unguarded location susceptible to intrusion and thus attributes to the continual foreboding atmosphere. Clark was not afraid to take time building both the story and characterisation as well as introduce the viewer to the aspects that he would use to build the suspense. This is prepared before plunging the viewer into a seemingly uncontrolled nightmare that one experiences along with the protagonists. Another aspect that firmly stands out is the mysterious way that everything is presented; even at the very end, very little has truly been explained yet everything seems like it should have an obvious explanation. Even in its undoubted simplicity, ‘Black Christmas' has complicated facets that require thought from the viewer to entirely comprehend the film. In some ways, the concealing of several key points puts the viewer's knowledge of events on a par with the actual characters.

‘Black Christmas' is also complimented wonderfully by strong acting performances from Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, John Saxon and a highly pleasant and amusing turn from Marian Waldman. Despite the tiny budget, this is a highly polished horror film that genuinely belongs among the elite of the genre. This is where it all started and those familiar with later slasher films such as ‘Halloween', ‘Friday the 13th' (1980), Slumber Party Massacre (1982) and ‘The House on Sorority Row' (1983) should be able to spot several of the now-clichés that first materialized in ‘Black Christmas'. My rating for ‘Black Christmas' - 8½/10.