Tyler Brooks
The Christmas Candle is a 2013 Christmas drama film directed by John Stephenson, based on Max Lucado's novel of the same name. The story revolves around the legend of an angel visiting the village candlemaker in Gladbury every 25 years and blessing one candle. In the film, Edward Haddington, the candlemaker, accidentally mixes up the candles, causing uncertainty about who has the blessed candle. Thomas Haddington, played by Sam Crane, is Edward's son, and it is revealed that he is the father of Ruth's child. The Haddingtons pass out candles to 29 people, including a boy who can't talk and a blind man, without explicitly stating which is the blessed candle. The film explores the interplay between faith and miracles, as Reverend Richmond challenges the townspeople to place their faith in Christ rather than the candle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | The Christmas Candle |
| Year | 2013 |
| Genre | Drama, Family |
| Rating | 6.3/10 |
| Director | John Stephenson |
| Production companies | Impact, Big Book Media, Pinewood Pictures, EchoLight Studios |
| Main cast | Hans Matheson, Samantha Barks, Lesley Manville, Sylvester McCoy, James Cosmo, Susan Boyle, John Hannah, Jude Wright, Emily Shewell, Victoria Bewick, Beatrice Curnew, Sam Crane |
| Character played by Sam Crane | Thomas Haddington |
| Plot | An angel visits the candlemaker in the village of Gladbury every 25 years to bestow a miracle candle that can grant miracles to its recipient. This year, the candlemaker Edward Haddington trips and mixes up the candles, causing a village-wide panic. Reverend Richmond, a new pastor who does not believe in miracles, tries to convert the townspeople from their candle-based faith to a more pragmatic approach. |
| Reception | The Christmas Candle received mixed reviews. Some critics praised the acting, costumes, and uplifting message of the movie, while others found the story predictable and overly sentimental. The film was also criticized for its religious themes and attempt to blend a traditional Christmas story with modern sensibilities. |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Haddington is played by Sam Crane
The story centres around an angel who visits a candlemaker in the English hamlet of Gladbury every 25 years, imparting miraculous powers to one of the newly formed candles. In the film, the candlemaker Edward Haddington, played by Sylvester McCoy, trips and knocks over the candle rack, jumbling the candles and making it impossible to identify the blessed candle.
Thomas Haddington, played by Sam Crane, is the son of Edward and Bea Haddington, played by Lesley Manville. It is revealed that Thomas is the father of Ruth's child, who returns to town after her wagon wrecks.
Sam Crane, who plays Thomas Haddington, is an English actor known primarily for his theatre work. He has appeared in several notable productions, including "1984" in the West End, "Farinelli and the King", and "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" at the Palace Theatre in London.
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The Haddingtons pass out candles to 29 people
In the 2013 Christmas film, The Christmas Candle, the Haddingtons pass out candles to 29 people. The film is based on Max Lucado's novel of the same name. It is set in 1890 in the fictional English hamlet of Gladbury in the Cotswolds.
In the story, an angel visits the local candlemaker in Gladbury every 25 years, touching one of the newly formed candles and transforming it into a source of miracles for whoever it is given to. This year, however, the candlemaker, Edward Haddington, trips and knocks over the candle rack, jumbling the candles and making it impossible to identify the anointed candle.
Despite this, the Haddingtons distribute candles to 29 people, including a boy who cannot talk, a woman who wants to find a husband, a blind man, and 26 others with individual needs. They suggest to each person that they might have the Christmas candle without explicitly saying so.
The preacher, Reverend Richmond, wants people to pray to God and not seek hope and change in a candle. He has the church wired with modern lightbulbs to demonstrate that people should not rely on candles. During a church service, he extinguishes the candles and turns on the lights, but the bulbs explode, starting a fire in which a man dies. Few parishioners attend the following Sunday, but on Christmas Eve, many people believe they have received the blessed candle.
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The Haddingtons' son impregnated Ruth
The Christmas Candle is a 2013 Christmas drama film directed by John Stephenson. It is based on Max Lucado's novel of the same name. The story starts in the village of Gladstone in 1664, where the first Haddington couple are approached by an angel. The angel blesses one of the candles in their shop, bestowing the ability to perform miracles on whoever they give it to. This tradition is passed down through the generations.
Centuries later, in 1890, Edward Haddington and his wife Bea are the candlemakers in the village of Gladbury. They are visited by an angel who blesses one of their candles. However, Edward accidentally knocks over the candle rack, jumbling the candles and making it impossible to know which one has been blessed. Unselfishly, the Haddingtons decide to give out every candle, knowing that one person's prayer will be answered.
Among the recipients of the candles is a pregnant woman named Ruth, who has been cast out into the streets. It turns out that the Haddington's son is the father of Ruth's child. When Ruth's wagon wrecks, the Christmas candle is lit, shining with a preternatural light, and she is rescued.
The story of the Haddingtons' son impregnating Ruth adds a layer of complexity to the film, as it likely leads to Ruth's pregnancy and subsequent expulsion from the community. It also highlights the theme of miracles and faith, as the lighting of the Christmas candle plays a crucial role in Ruth's rescue.
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The Haddingtons are approached by an angel
The angel's visit is a much-anticipated event in Gladbury, as it brings hope to the villagers. The angel touches one of the newly formed candles, transforming it into a source of miracles for whoever lights it. The recipient of the blessed candle is instructed to "light this and pray", and miracles are expected to follow. This year, however, there is a mix-up involving the Christmas candle, and the identity of the anointed candle is hidden.
Despite the mix-up, the Haddingtons distribute candles to a boy who can't talk, a woman who wants a husband, a blind man, and twenty-six others who all have individual needs. They suggest that each person may have the Christmas candle without explicitly saying so. The preacher, Reverend Richmond, wants the villagers to pray to God and not seek hope and change in a candle. He tries to convert them from their candle-based faith to something more pragmatic by encouraging good deeds and simple acts of kindness.
As Christmas Eve approaches, the miracle of the Christmas candle is yet to be revealed. The Haddingtons, along with the rest of the village, wait to see if the angel's blessing will bring about the expected miracles. The story highlights the interplay between praying for miracles and working to make them happen, showing that these two versions of faith can work together rather than against each other.
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Reverend Richmond's bulbs explode and start a fire
In the 2013 Christmas drama film "The Christmas Candle", Reverend Richmond does not believe in the Christmas Candle tradition and instead wants people to pray to God and not seek hope and change in a candle. He decides to have the church wired with new and modern lightbulbs at his own expense to demonstrate to the townspeople that they should not rely upon candles.
During a church service, Reverend Richmond decides to extinguish the candles and turn on the new lights. However, the bulbs explode, starting a fire and causing panic. Unfortunately, a man dies in the ensuing chaos. The following Sunday, only a few parishioners attend the church service.
On Christmas Eve, the candle miracle is to be revealed. The Haddingtons pass out candles to several villagers, including a boy who cannot talk, a woman who wants to find a husband, and a blind man. Each villager believes that they have received the blessed candle, even though it has not yet been lit.
The miracle of the Christmas Candle is eventually revealed when the candle is used to find and rescue pregnant Ruth, whose wagon has wrecked. The candle shines with a preternatural light, leading to her rescue. This event restores the minister's faith in miracles.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas Haddington is the son of Edward and Bea Haddington.
'The Christmas Candle' is a 2013 Christmas drama film directed by John Stephenson. It is based on Max Lucado's novel 'The Christmas Candle'. In the story, an angel visits the candlemaker in the village of Gladbury every 25 years and blesses one candle. Whoever lights this candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve.
At a church service, Reverend Richmond has the candles extinguished and modern lightbulbs turned on. This goes terribly wrong as the bulbs explode and a fire is started. A man dies in the ensuing panic. On Christmas Eve, the candle miracle is revealed. Many people think they had received the blessed candle after the Haddingtons passed them out.
