The Nativity (television drama)

1952 television film by Franklin J. Schaffner

This article is about the 1952 television play. For other uses, see Nativity § Film, television, and theater.

The Nativity was a 58-minute United States television drama with music about the birth of Jesus Christ, presented on the television anthology Westinghouse Studio One. Directed by Franklin Schaffner, it is a rare modern network television production of an authentic mystery play, mostly culled from the York and Chester mystery plays of the 14th and 15th centuries in England. The adaptation was by Andrew Allan. The presentation, originally telecast live the evening of December 22, 1952 on CBS, has been preserved on kinescope. It has been issued in several DVD public domain versions. It can also be seen complete online on Internet Archive. The play was performed in what is now known as Elizabethan English. Although it takes its text straight from fifteenth-century English, the words were not pronounced as Middle English would be, but in a more modern manner. Musical selections were selected from Christmas carols and sung by the Robert Shaw Chorale. The cast included Thomas Chalmers, Paul Tripp, and Miriam Wolfe. Hurd Hatfield serves as narrator.

Even though it aired in the 1950s, the drama’s blend of ancient mystery‑play text and mid‑century television production gives it a surprisingly contemporary feel. The decision to use Elizabethan‑style English, but spoken in a modern cadence, sidesteps the barrier of Middle‑English while keeping the poetry alive. Coupled with a choral soundtrack of familiar carols, the piece creates a ritualistic atmosphere that mirrors today’s live‑streamed nativity scenes. For families seeking a throwback that still resonates, it offers a rare glimpse of how early broadcasters tackled sacred storytelling, making it a quiet alternative to the more polished Hollywood retellings.

Start by setting the mood: dim the lights, light a few candles, and cue a simple Christmas playlist before the opening credits. Because the original broadcast was live, the pacing is deliberately measured; allow pauses for the chorale’s interludes to settle in. If you have a DVD version, consider watching in the original black‑and‑white to preserve the period feel, or switch to the colour‑enhanced online copy for easier viewing. Subtitles can help with the archaic phrasing, and a brief look‑up of the York and Chester mystery plays beforehand will enrich the experience, turning a short programme into a mini‑history lesson.

Many assume the 1952 Nativity is a straightforward biblical film, but it is actually an adaptation of medieval English mystery plays, not a direct Gospel retelling. The script pulls directly from the York and Chester cycles, meaning the structure follows medieval theatrical conventions—processional entrances, choral narration, and an emphasis on communal worship rather than personal drama. Another myth is that the language is authentic Middle English; in reality the actors delivered the lines in a 20th‑century accent, making the text more accessible. Understanding these nuances helps viewers appreciate the production as a cultural bridge between medieval liturgy and mid‑century television.