The Night Before Christmas (1951): Cast & Plot
The Night Before Christmas is a 1951 animated fantasy film directed by Zinaida Brumberg and Valentina Brumberg, starring Nikolai Gritsenko as Vakula (voice), Liliya Gritsenko and Vera Maretskaya. It runs 49 minutes.
- Release year
- Runtime
- 49 min
- Directors
- Zinaida Brumberg and Valentina Brumberg
- Original language
-
Russian - Studio
- Soyuzmultfilm
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Night Before Christmas About?
The premise of The Night Before Christmas without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Adapted from Mykola Hohol’s tale, the story follows handsome blacksmith Vakula, who becomes infatuated with the village beauty Oksana. Determined to win her favor, he embarks on a fantastical quest, riding the devil’s back to Saint‑Petersburg to petition the Empress for the slippers he hopes to gift his beloved.
The Night Before Christmas Themes & Keywords
· 2 tags- village
- f rated
The Night Before Christmas Cast & Characters
Nikolai Gritsenko leads the cast as Vakula (voice), with Liliya Gritsenko as Oksana (voice) and Vera Maretskaya as Solokha (voice). Directed by Zinaida Brumberg and Valentina Brumberg; 7 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Zinaida Brumberg
- Co-director Valentina Brumberg
- Nikolai Gritsenko as Vakula (voice)
- Liliya Gritsenko as Oksana (voice)
- Vera Maretskaya as Solokha (voice)
- Aleksei Gribov as Narrator (voice)
Also Starring in The Night Before Christmas
· 3 more- Mikhail Yanshin Chub (voice)
- Vladimir Gribkov The Devil (voice)
- Aleksei Zhiltsov The Head (voice)
The Night Before Christmas Plot Summary
What happens in The Night Before Christmas from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the Ukrainian town of Dykanka, a gentle animated fable unfolds, weaving everyday life with a touch of the supernatural. In the sky, two figures drift out of the night: a witch riding a broom who gathers stars in her sleeve, and a sly devil who “hides” the moon in his pocket, hoping that the coming darkness will keep the homes of the wealthy Cossacks safe. This celestial mischief crosses into the town as the smith Vakula faces a string of challenges, while the beautiful Oksana begins to dream of a life beyond her doorstep.
Full summary
The whole story of The Night Before Christmas, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Night Before Christmas?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the occupation of the main male protagonist, Vakula?
The Night Before Christmas Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Noch pered Rozhdestvom” and “La Nuit de Noël”.
- Also known as
-
- Noch pered Rozhdestvom
- La Nuit de Noël
- Ніч перед Різдвом
- La notte prima di Natale
Seen The Night Before Christmas?
Movies Like The Night Before Christmas
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Night Before Christmas, The Night Before Christmas and The Night Before Christmas.
-
The Night Before Christmas 1933 -
The Night Before Christmas 1941 -
The Night Before Christmas 1968 -
The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland 2024 -
The Light Before Christmas 2007 -
’Twas the Night Before Christmas 1992 -
Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka 1961 -
The Night B4 Christmas 2003 -
’Twas the Night Before Christmas 1974 -
The Nights Before Christmas 2020 -
The Night Before 2015 -
The Nightmare Before Christmas 1993
The Night Before Christmas FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Night Before Christmas, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Night Before Christmas?
The Night Before Christmas runs 49 minutes.
When was The Night Before Christmas released?
The Night Before Christmas was released in 1951.
Who directed The Night Before Christmas?
The Night Before Christmas was directed by Zinaida Brumberg and Valentina Brumberg.
More films by Zinaida Brumberg Who is in the cast of The Night Before Christmas?
The Night Before Christmas stars Nikolai Gritsenko as Vakula (voice), Liliya Gritsenko as Oksana (voice) and Vera Maretskaya as Solokha (voice), among 7 credited actors.
Does The Night Before Christmas have a post-credit scene?
No. The Night Before Christmas has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Night Before Christmas in?
The original language of The Night Before Christmas is Russian.
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