I HEARD THE BELLS

US, 2022, 110 minutes, Colour.

Stephen Atherholt, Jonathan Blair, Rachel Day Hughes.

Directed by Joshua Enck.

I Heard the Bells is the first line of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Christmas Bells. And this film focuses on the poet and his family, the settings the 1860s.

This is the first film made by an American religious company, Sight and Sound, who have operated two theatres with an emphasis on telling biblical stories. As a first venture into filmmaking, this one is quite accomplished and should please audiences.

Perhaps Longfellow is still well-known and admired in the United States, but is not so well-known beyond. In the past, when students at school learned poetry and recited poems, his Hiawatha was very popular. He also wrote a poem about the war of independence, Paul Revere’s Ride. In fact, by the time of this film, he was America’s best loved poet, a poet who was able to use ordinary language and voice rhythms to communicate his feelings and his message. (He was also a well travelled academic, lecturer, translator, includeing Dante’s The Divine Comedy.)

As the film opens, we are in Cambridge Massachusetts, 1860, cosy scenes of family life, very much sweetness and light. (Which may be initially offputting for those who want to get into some action – but that comes!).

An interesting comparison might be the March family from Little Women, living at the same time, in nearby Concord, Massachusetts, a close family, love, sentiment and bonds.

However, it is also the period of the move towards abolitionism and there is a sequence at a family dinner where a guest is an African-American gentleman who is invited to read to the guests one of Longfellow’s poems. Longfellow’s stance was staunchly abolitionist.

Longfellow is played by Stephen Atherholt in his first film role, but a longtime member and trainer in the Sight and Sound Company.  For older audiences, they may be reminded of Gregory Peck in the presence and performance.

There is a sad episode which changes the mood of the film, and Longfellow’s own mood, the tragic accidental death of his wife and his becoming more depressed. Not writing poetry.

But, then the action… The Civil War begins, men are lining up to enlist, there are patriotic soldier parades throughout the towns, Longfellow’s older son, Charlie, feeling too sheltered within the family, wants to go to war, goes to the recruiting office, Needed is his father’s signature which, of course, is not forthcoming. However, Charlie becomes impetuous, leaves for the war.

There are quite a few reconstructions of war sequences in this film, a dramatic moving from family sweetness and light to the harsh realities of battle, deaths, the battlefields, Charlie being protected from frontline action because of his father’s intervening with a Senator for officials to keep him out of danger, but, nevertheless, Charlie doing surveillance and being wounded.

The war, the changes in the family, Charlie coming home for convalescence, stir something in Longfellow. There have been images of bells throughout the film, bells collapsing from churches destroyed in the war, the ringing out of church bells – and this becomes inspiration for Longfellow’s poem, and our sharing his experience, family, the religious dimensions, slavery, the harsh realities of war, and his writing hopeful poetry again, hearing the bells ringing.

1. The poetry and life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow? Well known in the US? 19^th century popularity and acclaim? Less known outside the US?
2. The production company, the religious background, working in theatre, the first film? Accomplishment? Writing, direction, the cast?
3. The introduction to Longfellow, 1860, in his 50s, indication of his reputation, the range of poems, Paul Revere’s Ride, Hiawatha…? His status in his community? Living in Cambridge, Massachusetts? His academic background, travels? Lecturing, translating? Now in his 50s, the issue of slavery? His taking an abolitionist stand? The African American visitor at his table, reading his problem?
4. Longfellow, the initial sweetness and light of family life, the religious dimension with the pastor? The children? Fanny? Her encouragement of Longfellow and his poetry? (The period and place of Little Women?)
5. The picture of the family, their activities, bonds, the young girls, the previous death of a daughter, the two boys in their teens?
6. The transition from sweetness and light to the realities of the Civil War, the parades and marches, the recruitment, Longfellow and his not wanting Charlie to go to war, the parade, the promotion, the recruiting booths, Charlie signing up, needing his father’s signature, his father’s refusal? Charlie’s anger, going to war?
7. The sadness in Longfellow’s life, his devotion to his wife, the episode with her dress, catching fire, her death? Funeral? Issues of God? The support of the pastor? The effect on Longfellow, depression?
8. The civil war sequences, military leaders, strategies, battles? Longfellow and his influence on the local senator, the letter, asking for Charlie to get a post out of battle? The authorities following this advice? Charlie not knowing?
9. Charlie’s jobs, surveillance, interactions with the men, with the authorities, the frank talk of his superior?
10. Stationed at the church, the enemy, surveillance, needing an observer to go out, Charlie volunteering, going, seeing the Confederate soldier, the signal, his being shot?
11. The family, Longfellow writing letters, Charlie not replying? The messenger at the door? The impact, Longfellow and his son going to receive Charlie? The train, the wounded?
12. Charlie, wounded, the impact, his returning home, recuperation? The background of the friendship with Mary, her continued devotion to him?
13. The effect on Longfellow, his not writing poetry after the death of his wife? The impact of the war, on the issue of slavery, so many dying in the war?
14. The imagery of the bells, the opening and the shattered church, the bell on the floor? The church bells throughout? Charlie and his wounding, his remembering the bell on the church floor?
15. Longfellow, the inspiration of the girls, his starting to write, Christmas Bells and the line, I Heard the Bells?
16. Longfellow subsequent life, career, poetry, his family? His American Heritage?