A Christmas Movie: “The Crossing” (Missed Movies)

Washington Crossing

If you are looking for an unusual holiday movie, you should check out The Crossing (2000).  The film is an excellent A&E made-for-TV movie starring Jeff Daniels as George Washington. The Crossing portrays the story behind Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River on the night after Christmas in 1776 to fight the Battle of Trenton.

While one may only pack so much information in an 89-minute movie, few holiday movies will put you on the edge of your seat like The Crossing. Director Robert Harmon does an excellent job of condensing the story to convey the drama, risk, and importance of George Washington’s decision to cross the Delaware.

Most people are familiar with the crossing because of the famous painting Washington Crossing the Delaware by artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. But in watching The Crossing I was surprised by how much I did not know — or had forgotten.

Perhaps because of the painting, many think of the crossing as being near the end of the American Revolutionary War.  But it occurred closer to the beginning of the war.  The crossing took place less than six months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when the war would continue until 1783. Also, the battle was not against the main British forces but against hired German Hessian forces.

Jeff Daniels The Crossing None of that, though, lessens the significance of the battle and George Washington’s decisions.  The Crossing does an excellent job of portraying the risks involved and the importance of the battle.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast, and it takes some liberties for dramatic effect.  But the film sets the big picture accurately. The Colonists had suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the British.  And the British were expecting a quick end to the war. But Washington decided to take his weary men in a risky move.  The result of his decision would gain supplies for the winter and provide a much-needed victory to inspire the Colonists and future enlistments.

While the personality of Washington remains somewhat elusive, Jeff Daniels does an excellent job portraying one of the most important people in American history.  He conveys the difficult decisions encountered by the steady leader.

Even though you know how the story ends, the film will still draw you into the tense tale, seeing the men battle against the odds. The Crossing does a good job of portraying the challenges, including the cold weather and Washington’s realization that it is impossible to encounter the Hessians before daybreak.

Conclusion? While The Crossing has little Christmas cheer, it is a great way to remember an important event in American history that occurred on the night of December 25 into the morning of December 26. Watching The Crossing, one cannot help but think how American history may have gone differently — or never existed at all.  What if George Washington made a different decision or if the outcome was different on that Christmas night more than two hundred years ago?

At least for now, you may watch the entire film on YouTube:

Other Reviews Because Why Should You Trust Me? Rotten Tomatoes provides no critics rating for the TV movie, but it gives a disappointing audience score of 53%. I suspect some may have had high expectations for the film and were disappointed because they expected a movie theater film on the life of George Washington. But others appreciate the film for what it is: a short dramatization of the important events over a short time period. By contrast, GJ’s Closet called The Crossing “the greatest American Revolutionary War film ever made and an ideal history lesson.” The film won a Peabody Award in 2000.

Painting photo via public domain.

What is your favorite movie set during Christmas that is not about Christmas? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    What Song Did George Bailey Sing?: A Quiz on Christmas Songs on the Screen

    It's a  Wonderful Life
    Test your knowledge of the classic songs appearing in movies and holiday television specials with these ten questions (plus a bonus question). How well do you know your Christmas music? Answers and videos of all the songs appear at the end with your score.

    1. At the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas, what song do the Peanuts gang sing?





    2. The Christmas classic "White Christmas" first appeared in what film?





    3. What film first featured the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"?





    4. Near the end of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the Grinch has a transformation when he hears the Who's singing what song?





    5. At the end of Scrooged (1988), Bill Murray and the cast sing what song after the small miracle of the child saying "God Bless Us Everyone"?





    6. At the end of It's a Wonderful Life, what song do the Baileys and their friends sing after Harry's toast and as Clarence gets his wings?





    7. Near the end of Elf (2003), a blonde Zoey Deschanel gets the crowd in Central Park to sing what song to prove their faith in Santa Claus?





    8. The holiday classic song "Silver Bells" first appeared in what film?





    9. What movie features a washed up rock star singing a Christmas song with the lyrics, "There's no beginning, / There'll be no end / 'Cause on Christmas / You can depend"?





    10. Here's your holiday gift: Which television special featured the song, "Holly Jolly Christmas"?





    Bonus Question: Which holiday television special featured a duet by Heat Miser and his step-brother Snow Miser?







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