Christmas Eve Tragedy (1908): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1908, Christmas Eve Tragedy is a drama film, running about 9 minutes.

What it’s about. Although it is very near Christmas, when everybody should rejoice, a sailor bound for a dangerous expedition takes leave of his wife, and the poor woman is seen following with dim eyes the departing ship, her heart apparently heavy with grief. After having cried and prayed on a cross, the grass-widow returns to the farm to resume her duties and takes a sack of wheat to the next mill. The miller, knowing of the sailor's departure, and finding the lass very agreeable and charming, after having seen to the wheat bag, gives his whole attention to the young woman, and he does not seem to mind very much the clumsy advances made by the workingman. They part after a rather excited confab, and have evidently made an appointment for the evening at the church, for it is a Christmas celebration. We follow the two young people in the chapel, then to a bonfire dance, and lastly we see them both driving away in a country cart.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.5/10, Christmas Eve Tragedy has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Christmas Eve Tragedy page.

If you liked it. Fans of Christmas Eve Tragedy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.