VHS : The Little Drummer Boy
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In association with Amazon.com
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starring: José Ferrer, Paul Frees, June Foray, Ted Eccles, Greer Garsondirected by: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass, Takeya Nakamura
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 0074645404936
Format: Animated, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
Label: Sony
Manufacturer: Sony
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony
Release Date: September 11, 2001
Running Time: 25 minutes
Sales Rank: 10106
Studio: Sony
Theatrical Release Date: December 19, 1968
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
The model animation techniques in this 1968 Rankin and Bass TV chestnut are primitive by today's standards, and picky kids may reject them out of hand. The story, however, which elaborates on the popular Christmas song about a shepherd boy who plays his drum for the baby Jesus and makes the animals dance, is a little more tough-minded than you might expect. The kid begins the story as what we'd now call a neglected child, a surly urchin who says he hates all people. He's pulled back from the brink, first by learning to make music, and then by his encounter with the Christ child. The underlying message alone--that everybody has something worth contributing--qualifies the show for holiday-perennial status. The big-name voice performers, Jose Ferrer and Greer Garson (who narrates), may be a little too ponderous for the occasion, but the familiar cartoony tones of Paul Frees (aka Boris Badenov) and June Forey (aka Rocket J. Squirrel) help liven up the proceedings. It's only 23 minutes long, so it's worth a shot for younger children. --David Chute
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Best Movie out there for Toddlers to Understand Jesus' Birthday
I have a three year old, and a five year old. They got this movie today in the mail, and have watched it twice now. They love it! It makes sense on a level that they can understand. The story clearly describes the birth of Jesus Christ, and the true meaning of Christmas. I love the fact that the dialog and narration include actual Biblical scripture.(KJV) Wish I had seen this movie when I was a kid. Grew up in a Christian home, and understood the holiday, but not at the same age as my girls now do. ... Read More
Rating: - The Little Drummer Boy DVD
Probably the only true spiritual Christmas movie. Excellent story line and thought provking meaning of Christmas. Hope that it is some day remastered.
Rating:  - very sweet movie
The movie is as good as I remember from my childhood but unfortunately the quality of the reproduction is very poor. My mother-in-law happens to have a copy of it on VHS that must have been made before the producers lost the 35mm original, because her VHS reproduction is much clearer than what's on my DVD. It's a real pity the 35mm was lost because it makes a big difference to watch it with the original quality. I imagine if someone redid the story from scratch it would be saccharine and puerile just ... Read More
Rating: - Better than Any Sunday Sermon.
This is a fairly short Christmas special but it was made in the old days when a half hour on TV contained only four minutes of commercials. The best part about The Little Drummer Boy is its wholesome simplicity. The fact that it is so unabashedly religious is its strongest point in my opinion. Chasing the hate out of your heart and replacing it with love is a valuable lesson for all children, so I agree with another reviewer about its being a timeless family classic. It begins rather slowly but the last ... Read More
Rating: - Christmas favorite
When I was a little boy, Christmas time was never complete until I had the opportunity to see "The Little Drummer Boy" on TV. Now that it's out on DVD I don't have to wait to see it on TV. That's right, I still consider it a pinnacle of my Christmas traditions. It's a beautiful, but sad story about a little boy who loses his parents in a house fire deliberately set by some roaving thieves. He, along with his camel and sheep, teams up with a wondering junk dealer and low and behold winds up being at the ... Read More
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