Children's Christmas Play


The part of "Bells of Saint Mary's" when the children are showing Father O'Malley the Christmas play is my favorite part! I laugh every time!

I was wondering if anyone knew if that part was written in the script and the children were just speaking what was written or if the children were just told what to do and said what the wanted.

Does anyone know?

Thanks!

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I don't know for sure, but I have always felt that the children probably improvised around a basic notion of what they thought the story was.

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The director Leo McCarey liked to have his actors improvise, so it wouldn't surprise me if he just let the kids loose on the play.





"Fortunately, I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency."

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My favorite line in the play is when Bobby, playing Joseph, says "Well, that's too bad for us!" after being told there's no room at the inn. The kid is so funny!

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My favorite line in the play is when Bobby, playing Joseph, says "Well, that's too bad for us!" after being told there's no room at the inn. The kid is so funny!


That kid and the one playing baby Jesus crack me up every time. I have seen that scene so many times, yet it never fails to make me laugh.

No blah, blah, blah!

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The kids are 1st graders, I believe.

Some directors had and have a knack for getting great performances from kids. As someone above says, McCarey must have given the kids the basic idea of The Stable and told the kids to tell the story in their own words and actions. Multiple takes probably had to be made to get it right (and so funny)!

W.C. Fields is supposed to have said that he hated to work with kids or animals, because they came off better on screen than he did.

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It was funny. Joseph, Bobby Dolan, Jr., seemed like he had to stutter or pause while thinking of his lines.

Merry Christmas

Can you fly this plane?
Surely u cant be serious
I am serious,and dont call me Shirley

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