Product Details

• Actors: Patricia Bright, Scott Firestone, George Gobel, Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes
• Directors: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
• Writers: Clement Moore, Jerome Coopersmith
• Producers: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
• Format: Animated, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: December 21, 1993
• Run Time: 25 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301760387
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,384 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Animators of all things Christmas, Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass (Frosty the Snowman) take on the famous poem by Clement Moore. Narrated by Joel Grey, the story opens on the night before Christmas, but the reading of the poem must be stopped when two creatures in the house begin to stir: family men Mr. Trundle and Father Mouse. Their restlessness stems from the fact that Santa is angry at the residents of Junctionville, returning all their letters without even opening them. The reason? Somebody wrote a letter to the editor of the paper saying that he doesn't exist. In an attempt to fix the situation, Mr. Trundle, a clockmaker, comes up with a plan to lure Santa into town with a clock that will sing an enchanting song at midnight. When the clock doesn't work on its first test, the townsfolk lose all faith in him. Turns out the cause of all the trouble is Albert, a book-smart young mouse who thinks he knows the truth about Santa Claus. There are a few good songs in the 23-minute program, whose the moral is: don't believe the kids on the playground if they say that Santa doesn't exist. --Andy Spletzer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I would like to see real Rankin Bass themed extras!, August 9, 2010

By 

SuperDave80s - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twas the Night Before Christmas (DVD)

Rankin Bass presents "Twas the Night before Christmas" This delightful Christmas special is based on the poem by Clement Moore adapted and written for the show by Jerome Coopersmith and produced by Arthur Rankin Jr.It features charming songs by Maury Laws and lyrics by Jules Bass. Some of the most memorable songs are, "Even a Miracle Needs a Hand" and "Calling Santa," among others.

There is a reading of the poem in the beginning of the show and when it gets to the part of "..not a mouse was stirring," Father Mouse played by George Gobel catches us up on the events at hand. That being the hope that everything will turn out right in Junctionville and Santa will still visit and everyone can be happy again. Of course I could tell you all the details but you're better off watching it unfold yourself as to not spoil it if you haven't seen it before.

Now on to this deluxe edition at hand. On the special alone I would give this show 5 stars but being this is a remastered deluxe edition thus I am scrutinizing it more. Truth be known, I'm a bit fed up with the majority of these deluxe editions from WB because the extras have nothing or hardly anything to do with Rankin Bass and it's talents. Just who is WB marketing these deluxe editions to? Certainly not real Rankin Bass fans. It leaves me perplexed. They have removed the Frosty's Winter Wonderland special from the last incarnation on this dvd so basically they're asking us to double dip it seems on this special being remastered and the extras. So let's see 25 minutes and a bunch of so-so extras. Now give us some real extras like interviews and retrospectives with the creators, a talk and show with Paul Coker who did the character designs here as he did before in Frosty as well, maybe he could draw some of the characters in a quick sketch showing his brilliance. Let's hear from the actors and actresses on what this show meant to them, let's hear from Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin and Maury Laws on their experiences making these classics. Or have an interview with someone like Rick Goldschmidt who's a Rankin Bass historian. I would even say a round table with Rankin Bass fans on what this show means to them when they were a kid and what it means to their kids, grandkids etc..

If WB is not going to do these deluxe editions justice, except for "The Year without a Santa Claus" deluxe edition, those extras were quite good I say why not just release the remaining Rankin Bass Christmas specials in true dvd digital quality the fans want, especially "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" and also "The First Christmas," and "Drummer Boy Book II." I certainly don't feel to double dip on these kinds of lack luster deluxe editions. The people who are in charge of making these extras must have no clue on making Rankin Bass themed extras. It seems they have good intentions at first like contacting someone like historian Rick Goldschmidt but as soon as they would have to pay a little compensation they run for the hills. To think of all the money these specials have generated and generate year after year they could compensate the right people who had a hand in creating these Rankin Bass specials in putting together true Rankin Bass themed extras which are beloved by so many. Otherwise these deluxe editions are just a shell of what they should and can be!

Feel free to leave your comments if you agree or even disagree.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DVD IS OUT!, October 25, 2004

By 

Brian D. Wilson "Christmas Lover" (hatboro, pa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twas the Night Before Christmas [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I just want lovers of this show to know that it did indeed get released on DVD...I have been waiting for a long time and never would have known had I not come across it by chance...It is not out on DVD by itself, rather, it is on the DVD "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" (The Rankin Bass Version If you want this DVD, check it out and pick it up, it will not let you down...It is the same version as we all know and love

UPDATE - October 15th 2011
Wow, just looking back at this comment I made 7 years ago...time flies. Back then, Blu Ray was not even a thought, however I just wanted to update this blurb here by saying this has now been exclusively released on Blu Ray for anyone who does not know and might be interested.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Christmas special, December 15, 1999

By 

nukegirl "nukegirl" (Glenview, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twas the Night Before Christmas [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My fiance and I knew we were meant for each other when we discovered that this Christmas special was a favorite for both of us! I've loved it since I was a kid watching it on TV, and I wish they'd play it more now. It has lovely, catchy songs and a timeless message that's not overly sappy. The story is about a young mouse, Oliver, who doesn't believe in Santa and writes a letter to the editor of his local newspaper saying just that. Santa reads it and gets angry, sending back the letters of all the town's children and refusing to go there at Christmas. The young mouse soon learns the devastating effect of his disbelief when he realizes how much Santa's visit means to them all.