Customer Reviews

Frosty's Winter Wonderland/Twas the Night Before Christmas

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a deal, two rare Rankin/Bass hoiday specials available for the first time on DCD, and we get 2 for the price of 1.

FROSTYS WINTER WONDERLAND: Just like the song says, Frosty comes back again someday. Frosty returns to play with the children, but Jack Frost is envious of him. He tries to steal Frosty's magic hat to take his powers. The children build Frosty a wife named Crystal according to magic instructions from Frosty. When Jack Frost finally gets Frosty, it's his wife that must save him with love.

The studio that made the first hour long cel animated Frosty special that first aired on CBS television in 1969 is Rankin/Bass Productions, the kings of holiday specials. That show was based on the original song written in 1951 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins. The studio made a terrific half hour sequel in 1976 for ABC television titled "Frosty's Winter Wonderland". That special starts right where the first one left off. The character design was by Paul Coker Jr., who did the same work for the first special, so the visual continuity works very well and the characters have that classic Rankin/Bass 'look'. He also did the unique lettering for the credits in both specials. The famous voice actor Paul Frees stars as Jack Frost, and the policeman. Frees was a regular in studio productions and had also voiced the policeman, ticket seller, and Santa Claus in the original. Jackie Vernon voiced Frosty just like he did before, and Selly Winters is his new wife. The writer for both Rankin/Bass shows was Romeo Muller, and Maury Laws returned as the musical director. Interestingly, while Rankin/Bassis known for the high quality of their original songs, they used Christmas standards in their sequel. While the first show was narrated and sung by Jimmy Durante, the second time we had the voice talents of Andy Griffith. Nothing against Andy, but it is a big change.


'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: The story of two families, one human family of Joshua Trundel the clockmaker, the other a mouse family that lives in their house. In Junctionville, all letters to Santa have been returned and the townsfolk are worried. Turns out that Santa is upset at a letter from "all of us" to the editor in the paper, saying that he didn't exist. A young genius mouse named Albert turns out to be the culprit. The town starts the Joshua will build a special clock to encourage Santa to come by singing a song "Calling Santa" at midnight on Christmas Eve. But the clock breaks down too. The people turn against Joshua, and he starts losing customers. Soon enough, his family is starving, and so in turn is the mouse family. It is eventually found that Albert is responsible for the clocks malfunction but did not do it on purpose. He is sorry, but his dad encourages him that sorry is not enough, you must fix what you did wrong. If Albert can fix the clock in time, then Christmas may be saved yet, along with the reputation of Joshua.

Rankin/Bass Studio created this wonderful traditional cel animated special for CBS televison. It first aired on December 8, 1974 in a half hour format on CBS television. The screenplay was by Jerome Coopersmith, inspired by the Clement Moore poem, it does not literally follow the lines of the poem until near the end. The memorable song "Calling Santa" is one of best songs to come from the studio. Also has the songs "Even a Miracle Needs a Hand" (really good), and "Give Your Heart a Try". Character design was by Paul Coker, Jr. who designed the characters appearance for nearly every holiday special from the studio. With musical direction by Maury Laws... Yes, he was the musical genius behind the Rudolph special and it shows. The songs are really good in this special. Lyrics were written by Jules Bass. The actual songs and narration are performed by Joel Gray, and he voices the character of the human father Joshua. Tammy Grimes stars as Albert Mouse, and George Gobel as Father Mouse. John McGiver as the Mayor.

Twas the Night Before Christmas was one of my favorite Christmas specials when I was a kid and it still is.

The story begins with a reading of Clement's The Night Before Christmas but creatures are stirring because they have learned that Santa is upset with their town and he isn't stopping to bring toys this year. The story is told jointly from a mouse/human perspective through a flashback to reveal why Santa is upset and how they hope to remedy the situation.

Other Christmas shows (such as Rudolph and Charlie Brown) have received more attention over the years but, in my estimation, Twas the Night Before Christmas belongs in the same lofty company. It's a great story and we got the DVD so our kids could enjoy the show too.

I have been waiting for this for so long. I have actually been accused of making up "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by several people who have gone and grown up. I lost my recording of this a few years back and have missed watching this lovely story now that 1/2 hour toy commercials have taken up most of the time networks dedicate to Christmas specials. I had almost given up on anybody else remembering this story fondly enough to put it on DVD.

Frosty's Winter Wonderland is the charming story of how Frosty met his snow-wife and how he overcomes the interference of Jack Frost. It is a cute movie with good morals and enjoyable for children and adults. It is also narrated by Andy Griffith and brought to life by the voices of Jackie Vernon and Shelley Winters. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas has been one of my favorite Christmas shows since I was a little girl. It's the story of a mouse who wrote a letter to the editor claiming Santa Clause does not exist and signing it from "all of us." So, Santa Clause decides he will skip that town on Christmas Eve. But the clock-maker of the town, on return of his family's Christmas wish-lists in the mail, has a plan of how to show Santa that they do believe.

Forget the Frosty show. If you want to see the best Frosty show, get the original "Frosty The Snowman" narrated by the late, great Jimmy Durante.
The true gem in this DVD is getting to see "Twas The Night Before Christmas". This is one of my all time Xmas favorites. It ranks up there with the original Frosty, Rudolph the Ned Rosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Year Without A Santa Claus, and Mr. Magoo's Christmas.
Like those other shows, Twas the Night Before Christmas has some memorable songs like: "You wish and I'll worry, you play while I plan, we'll all do what's necessary, cause even a miracle needs a hand".
Also, "Give up a little on the wonder why and give your heart a try". Lastly, "Christams chimes are calling Santa, Santa, every heart is calling Santa, Santa. Come on Kris Kringle, down the Milky Way." Enjoy this one and all the others.

I don't know about Frosty's Winter Wonderland, but Twas the Night Before Christmas is wonderful. My whole life I have been watching this classic on a very old recording. It has wonderful music and an interesting lesson to learn. I am so happy that they have finally came out with this classic on DVD before my tape becomes in any worse shape! Love this movie!

I've never been a big fan of the Frosty sequel, but ever since I saw "Twas The Night Before Christmas" in it's very first TV run back in the 70's I've been hooked. This show is pure classic Christmas Special all the way. It's ranks right up there (as others have said) with Charlie Brown, The Snow Miser, and Rudolph.

I bought the VHS version way back when it first came out (probably 10-15 years ago) and I've lovingly enjoyed it every year. And I even found the soundtrack record on eBay! Talk about Christmas wishes coming true! But now with a pristine digital copy on DVD, I know I'll never be with those glorious "Christmas bells calling Santa, Santa!"

I remember watching Twas the Night Before Christmas when I was little. It was great. This DVD has a good clean, clear, picture, something I was a little worried about.

The Frosty movie was good too. I plan to watch these movies during the holiday season for many more years to come.

While the stories of these two 1/2 hour Christmas specials don't have anything to do with one another, they both feature similar looking cel animation from the classic team of Rankin/Bass. Frosty's Winter Wonderland and Twas the Night Before Christmas always seemed to air in the second half hour of a Christmas special hour block on network TV, but I wouldn't consider either one second rate.

In Frosty's Winter Wonderland, the sequel to Frosty the Snowman, we find Frosty able to choose the exact likeness of his new snow bride (don't we WISH we could all do this in real life) as the kids make her to keep him company. This time, a magic hat won't work on her, only a special gift from Frosty. They attempt to get married, but not if the snickering Jack Frost has his way.

The 2nd is the classic about a boy mouse who loses all faith in Santa Claus and decides to write him a nasty letter. After that, Santa decides to cancel Christmas and the town must fix their musical clock, which will belt out the classic holiday tune, Santa We Need You Today, if they want Santa back.

Two great 70's specials from the kings of holiday television. I think these go well together, despite the fact that Frosty the Snowman should have come doubled up with Frosty's Winter Wonderland on DVD and NOT the inferior, non Rankin Bass, Frosty Returns. I think they have to do it that way, or no one would want to buy Frosty Returns on it's own!

The follow-up to 1969's "Frosty the Snowman" updates the mythology by bringing Frosty back to the very town he was born. This time, winter fiend Jack Frost grows envious of the children's love for the snowman and attempts to stop their fun. Also in the mix is a new "snow wife" for Frosty! The real treat of this disc is the second feature: Rankin Bass' "T'was the Night Before Christmas." The animated tale is told from two families perspectives, one human, and another mice. The delightful tale has some of the most memorible songs in the Rankin Bass catalogue. The best part is that you'll be humming them all season long! Great stories of the heart with a positive message attached to both films. If you've seen the original Frosty or just want some yuletide entertainment, check this out.