‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is a 1974 animated Christmas special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, based on the famous 1823 poem that opens with this line. Although the opening credits mention “told and sung by Joel Grey,” it is really narrated by George Gobel, as there is more emphasis on the point of view of Father Mouse, with Moore’s poem read by Grey as a secondary plot.
Plot[]
The special is set in the fictional town of Junctionville, New York, around the turn of the 20th century. All of the letters that the people of Junctionville have written to Santa Claus have been curiously returned, which leaves the Mayor and the rest of the townsfolk confused. Father Mouse discovers that Santa was offended by an anonymous letter printed in the town’s newspaper (signed “all of us”) claiming that he doesn’t exist. He immediately suspects that his brainy older son, Albert, is the author. Albert confirms his suspicions, repeating the letter verbatim to him.
While Father Mouse tries to show his skeptical son what his actions have done, Joshua Trundle, a human clockmaker whom Father Mouse assists, devises a plan to appease Santa and pitches it to the town committee. He will build a singing clock tower for him, with a special recording to play a song that will make Santa happy again and convince him not to bypass Junctionville on Christmas Eve. One day, a town meeting is held in the town square to unveil Joshua’s new clock to the townsfolk. Unfortunately, Albert enters it to explore it without permission and inadvertently breaks it. This ends up seriously damaging Joshua’s professional reputation, as his business dies out due to the townsfolk not trusting him with their clocks. Furthermore, the Mayor, publicly embarrassed at the clock tower’s failure, refuses to give Joshua access to it for repairs.
After realizing that his actions may have ruined Christmas for the whole town, a remorseful Albert confesses his mistake to his father and volunteers to repair the clock tower himself. Father Mouse tells Joshua about the situation before both families go to bed, waiting with worry on Christmas Eve. Although Albert does not complete his task until about one minute after the midnight deadline, the clock tower does play its song after all within earshot of Santa, which convinces him to turn around and come to Junctionville after all. The special ends amid an animated retelling of the original poem, set to Santa leaving gifts at the Trundle home, performing the actions stated in it, then flying off into the night.
Songs[]
Cast[]
- George Gobel as Father Mouse (primary narrator)
- Joel Grey as Joshua Trundle (secondary narrator)
- Tammy Grimes as Albert Mouse
- John McGiver as the Mayor of Junctionville
Additional voices[]
- Bob McFadden as North Pole phone operator, Man guarding the clock, Councilman #2
- Allen Swift as Santa Claus, City clerk, Councilman #1
- Patricia Bright as Mrs. Trundle, Mother Mouse
- Christine Winter as Trundle Daughter, Mouse Daughter
- Scott Firestone as Trundle Son, Mouse Son
External links[]
'Twas the Night Before Christmas on YouTube