“I Heard the Bells” is one of the latest films you can find on Pure Flix as part of Great American Christmas, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this instant Christmas classic to our members.
The film tells the inspiring true story behind the beloved Christmas carol and its author, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. And it’s clear from all the behind-the-scenes footage, that the cast and crew had a blast making this film and bringing its message of faith and hope to the screen.
From “Test Run” to the Top 10
You would never guess after watching “I Heard the Bells” that it started out as an experiment of sorts. Not only did the film rake in millions of dollars, but it easily cracked the top 10 at the box office during its December 2022 theater release, capturing the hearts of viewers everywhere.
Remarkably, “I Heard the Bells” was the very first film by production company, Sight & Sound, which had made a name for itself over the past few decades bringing powerful stories from the pages of Scripture and history to life on stage. When they decided to give film a try, they needed the perfect story—and they found it in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Read Also: Learn the True Story Behind the Classic Christmas Carol in ‘I Heard the Bells’
"What it comes down to is this: Sight & Sound Films wants to tell stories of figures and events from history that changed the world because Christ first changed them,” said co-writer and director of the film, Josh Enck. “This was supposed to be a short film that was just going to be like a test run for Sight & Sound and we ended up making the decision probably about three months into production to write more scenes, shoot more material, make it a feature length and just go for it.”
Shot in Its Own Backyard
Sight & Sound shot the majority of the film in its own backyard in Lancaster Country, Pennsylvania. The Longfellow home was a local bed and breakfast, which miraculously had a room that was nearly the exact same footprint, almost down to the square footage, of Longfellow’s study. The train station scene was shot at the historical Strasburg Rail Road, America’s oldest continuously operating railroad. The team even went to nearby Gettysburg to shoot the pivotal Civil War scenes.
But the crown jewel of the film was the historical New Hope Church, which the Sight & Sound crew built from scratch on its own back lot. The war-torn church was a crucial part of the opening of the film and the team worked to ensure every detail was perfect—from the dusty pews to the broken windows and church bells laying on the floor.
“The attention to detail is so important to Sight & Sound,” Enck said. “This is the first film set that we ever built and you, for a moment, just believe, like wow, we stepped back in time. And I mean, I could not have been happier."
The church was also the backdrop for the official music video of Sight & Sounds original version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” which was sung by Rachel Day Hughes, who plays Fanny in the film.
A Collaborative Effort
It was pretty clear from the beginning that everyone involved in “I Heard the Bells” had a passion to bring this story to life in an authentic way, including the actors, production crew to the wardrobe and makeup departments and extras. And they all truly delivered.
“It was a surreal experience to do as much research as we have done on the Longfellow family and then to see these talented actors wearing the costumes that are period appropriate and then put them in the place like the Longfellow study,” Enck said.
The team also worked closely with Civil War reenactors and the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum in Lancaster County to add to the film’s historical accuracy.
“We’ve teamed up, working a lot with some external partners to make this film, it’s a collaborative effort,” Enck noted. “When that team gets that vision, and they start adding their professionalism to it, and you can’t stand in those scenes and think of just your own specific role, you see everyone’s fingerprints on it.”
Historical Figures Brought to Life
But a truly beautiful film wouldn’t be complete without the actors who brought the characters to life in an authentic way—especially Longfellow himself, who is a well-known historical figure.
“This wasn’t just a simple story to tell—it had a lot of depth,” said Stephan Atherton, who plays Longfellow. “Honestly, reading some of his works was the start. Reading his poetry and kind of getting a feel for his creative genius. His journals were a very good resource for really kind of seeing into his struggles.”
The emotion of the story was another crucial aspect of the film, especially considering everything the family went through, and it was up to the cast to get those emotions across on the big screen.
“As you dig into [Longfellow] as a person and Fanny as a person, their story and what they went through, it just comes alive,” Hughes said. “You really just fall in love with these people.”
Stream “I Heard the Bells” this Christmas on Great American Pure Flix and be filled with hope as you watch this incredible true story come to life! And if you want to see the full BTS video of “I Heard the Bells,” sign up to become a Premium member of Pure Flix.
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