NeutralAxis

Its time again to pull out the DVD of my favorite non-kid-friendly Christmas movie, A Midnight Clear.  Set in 1944 at the French/German border in the Ardennes Forest, its about an American intelligence platoon camped at the edge of German territory watching and waiting for signs of troop movement.  Its Christmas time and they discover a poorly outfitted platoon of German soldiers who don’t want to fight anymore.  A wary truce is formed and the two platoons celebrate Christmas together.  The Germans want to surrender, yet fear reprisals against their families if they do, so the Americans devise a plan to peacefully take the Germans prisoner.

If you watch, be sure to stay for the credits for a haunting version of It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, performed by Sam Phillips.  I’ve never heard it performed in a minor key in any other setting.  Trailer and song after the jump.  This version of the song is slightly different, and actually not quite as good, but gives a taste of the version from the movie.
A Midnight Clear
Starring Gary Sinise, Ethan Hawke, Kevin Dillon

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.