5 comments about Pinocchio's Christmas.

1. This movie is painfully awful... but you can't stop watching it! It all boils down to the dancing song. I can't stop laughing every time I hear it! If you're into B rated movies, this is definitely your flick! I've had this movie for almost two years and I still can't stop watching it.



2. Yikes! I love watching Christmas cartoons but I didn't love watching Pinocchio's Christmas, it was awful and really lame and I can't believe it's a Rankin and Bass production. It Must have been an off day for them when they thought of this one!



3. Yikes! I love watching Christmas cartoons but I didn't love watching Pinocchio's Christmas, it was painfully bad and really lame and I can't believe it's a Rankin and Bass production. It Must have been an off day for them when they thought of this one! It's beyond tacky!



4. PLOT: Pinnocchio is told about christmas by Gepetto, who gives him an early present. Pinnochio sells it to buy a present for Gepetto, and along the way gets caught lying. The bad Fox and Cat trick him into burying his money to grow a tree of silver and gold. Pinnochio goes to work in a puppet show, and rescues a girl puppet, then hides in the enchanted woods. Pinnochio lands up at the North Pole, teaching toys how to dance. Later the Fox and Cat sell him as a present to a rich Duke for his kids, and when Pinnochio learns that the busy Duke only spends 3 minutes with his kids on Christmas he makes him change his ways.
   
   BACKGROUND INFO: This show is a 1 hour TV special that first aired on ABC on December 3, 1980. Made 16 years after Rudolph, the technical ability of the studio Animimagic stop motion work made the action more life-like than ever before. For one thing the puppets themselves are better made than ever before, and the stop-motion is more fluid than any other show they had made before. Pinnocho is voiced by Ted Porter. The cricket is voiced by Robert McFadden, who did other work for the studio. George Irving as Gepetto, Alan King as the voice of Maestro, Allen Swift, Diane Leslie, and Pat Bright also lend their voices. Written by Romeo Muller. The music is by Maury Laws, who wrote the music for Rudolph and many other shows. While Jules Bass wrote the lyrics for many of the specials, the yrics were by Julian Gardener. Character design was by Paul Coker Jr. who did the design for most of the shows from Rankin/Bass, both cel animated and animagic. He did all the characters for 'Year Without a Santa Claus' for example.
   
   If you are a Rankin/Bass fan, give this title a chance, it's better than it sounds. It is loaded with 7 songs including, "Gonna Get lucky, Knock on Wood"; I Never Know What Gifts to Buy, Do You?"; "The Very Best Friend I Ever Had"; "Let 'Em Laugh"; "It's the Truth"; "The Perfect Gift for Christmas Day"; and "Dancin'", surely the best song in the special.
   
   Their studio has brought us such memorable holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Year without a Santa Claus, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Mad Monster Party, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Mouse on the Mayflower, Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Cricket on the Hearth, the Stingiest Man in Town, Jack Frost, Pinnochio's Christmas, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, the First Easter Bunny. They also made non-holiday films such as the Hobbit, Flight of Dragons, the Last Unicorn. It is incredible that one company is responsible for all those TV specials, 95% of the ones we see every year. Their work includes standard animation, stop-motion animagic, and live action. I hope this comes out on a restored DVD soon, I have bought all the other Rankin/Bass that have been released on DVD.



5. I've always loved the immortal story of Pinocchio and of course treasure the classic animated Disney film released in 1940 that continues to enchant viewers of each new generation. It has been an absolute joy this last Christmas gone then to finally see this delightful Rankin and Bass "animagic", which originally premiered on television back in 1980 but strangely doesn't seem to be as well remembered as the other much loved specials that Rankin and Bass produced such as "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", and "Frosty the Snowman". "Pinocchio's Christmas", offers a different slant on the famous character of Pinocchio this time placing him in a Christmas setting and the charming little story combined with the excellent animagic stop motion work makes for a truly beautiful little Christmas special that deserves to be seen more often during the festive season.

5 comments about A Matter of Principle.

1. This is probably one of the best movies made. My only copy was "kept" by a neighbor who borrowed it. That copy was off PBS from nearly a decade ago. I have searched all around for this movie and am thrilled to finally find it.



2. We had an old VHS copy of this wonderful program taped off TV. We wanted to upgrade the quality to a DVD so we ordered this one. The DVD we received is very poor quality. It is so dark at times it is hard to make out the characters. Returning it would not give us a full refund so we are stuck with it. Very disappointing.



3. I second the reviewer below on the DVD. Apparently they did not solve the problem that appeared when this was released on VHS, which was the nighttime scenes are so dark, it is hard to watch. I gave this DVD to my dad for Christmas, and he said the problems with it being too dark (almost unwatchably so) are no better than the ealier VHS version release. His home-recorded VHS, off a rooftop antenna in 1984, is of better quality than the DVD.



4. 5 Stars if this was a good copy of the movie. This is a great story, but I am extremely dissapointed in the DVD version. As two of the other reviewers said, the night time scenes are so dark, it makes it difficult to enjoy. I have a VHS copy I made from TV which is a little grainy, but it is far better than the DVD version. If I had read the reviews before, I never would have purchased the DVD.



5. Years ago, I saw this film on PBS. I thought it was wonderfully written, acted and cast. Only recently, I wondered if it had been released on DVD. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was available. I've read that time decides what is a masterpiece and I wondered if this movie had weathered well or would I discover that as I had matured my opinion of this movie would alter substantially.
   Much to my delight, I still found this film to be a wonderful holiday offering. Slightly sentimental, it is not, however, strictly treacle. This movie made me a fan of Arkin. Madsen is believable and remarkable as the daughter fighting for her Mother's emancipation from a life of servitude to her Father's principles. Warm, funny and endearing, it will become a part of your holiday traditions.

1 comments about The Manhattan Transfer Christmas.

1. For those who like the manhattan transfer as much as i do then this is the dvd for you. It has all the classics from their two christmas cd's and i love the way they are deck out in their suits and dresses and the music is wonderful.

3 comments about A Trip To Christmas - The Bell Telephone Hour.

1. For any fan of the Lennon Sisters, this video is a must have collectors item!! The Lennon Sisters (in this video it is just Peggy, Janet, and Kathy) sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". This is one of two Christmas videos they appeared in.



2. This video is a rare find...a Christmas program from the classic "Bell Telephone Hour" series,one of the finest music programs ever to hit the airwaves. Some of it may seem downright corny,especially those hard-to-take kids,but this 1961 offering is a glorious example of what good Christmas programs used to be like before rock and country music took them over. Opera stars giving GOOD renditions of carols (NOT making them sound like operatic arias) are featured along with such classic ballet stars as Edward Villella dancing selections from "The Nutcracker". The entire show has been photographed on a set made up to resemble a small town celebrating Christmas.The opera singers sing their selections in informal settings,for example,the beautiful soprano Lisa della Casa is seen singing a child to sleep with the lovely "Gesu Bambino" (which Pavarotti lovers may recognize),and Earl Wrightson and Lois Hunt sing traditional carols in a Victorian setting ,a scene which is capped off by the Columbus Boychoir filing indoors in a procession and singing three carols.The finale of the program is a perhaps now dated,but sincere pantomime representation of the first Christmas,with dignified narration by "Father Knows Best" star Jane Wyatt,who also serves as hostess for the program---unfortunately,her reading of "Yes,Virginia,There Is A Santa Claus" is delivered in a cutesy,condescending,talking-down-to children style(she DOES read the letter to that irritating bunch of kids,who,at first,get in the way of enjoyment of the music). The visual quality of this video is amazing,considering the fact that it has been remastered from a 1961 studio videotape,but the colors WILL look a little too ripe. A warning to the buyer: the info on the box is incorrect--NOT the info on this site. John Raitt and Jane Morgan are listed as singers in the program,but they are nowhere to be seen ---perhaps they were forced to cancel at the last minute.They are not listed in the actual credits,although the credits do mistakenly say "Starring (in order of appearance)"---the viewer has to figure out who's who. Anyone who wants to see what tasteful TV variety programming was like before the networks decided to become more pop-oriented and trendy should not pass this up. They will hear beautiful renditions of traditional Christmas music (except,perhaps,for the Lennon Sisters,but they're on for only a few minutes anyway) all sung without a trace of formality and stuffiness. I remember this show from my childhood,and it's good to see it on video.



3. I agree with A. Moreno. Apart from the "cuteness" of children with whom hostess Jane Wyatt talks to (and this could be forgiven as it was in 1961 when this was still a cultural family "ideal", the videotape is a masterful transfer).
   The production values are high and the professionalism of the well-rehearsed performers compaed to our age of short-scene edits is stunning.
   There are long scenes with tracking cameras particularly in the Nutcracker ballet and the extended "English Christmas" ensemble segment.
   
   As well as the Lennon Sisters (whose harmonies have the status of "classicalas far as I am concerned), the glorious Lisa Della Casa and ballet stars Violette Verdy & Edward Villella, I found it wonderful to see and hear the wonderful, robust baritone of Earl Wrightson and his wife soprano Lois Hunt. I was so pleased at last to see an American soprano who never reached the heights I felt she deserved - Phyllis Curtin - who sings "O Holy Night" beautifully (but not as well as she did on an Andre Kostelenetz Christmas LP in 1965).
   
   It is a time capsule of a past era when people and children could be exposed to large chunks of culture by the mainstream media. (The ballet segment is given a generous portion of time).
   
   It is a very highly recommended time capsule.

No comments about Christmas Favorites Collection.

No comments about The Monster's Christmas.

5 comments about Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree & Meet Big Paw (Christmas Double Feature).

1. This animated Christams tale, tells the story of Papa Bear's quest to find the perfect Christmas tree. But, oh no! The one he finds is home to so many animals. Will he learn to share? This movie is warm and family-spirited. Great enjoyment!



2. This is a charming look at paying attention to the needs of others. Papa Bear is determined to find the "perfect" tree so he takes the kids up the mountain on his quest. Every "perfect" tree is the home to another animal, bird, etc. The bears pass each by to let the animals keep their home(s). In the end, the tree expedition is stopped by a storm and the bears return home without a tree at all. When they arrive, their house has been decorated by all the animals whose homes have been spared. A message of sharing that grown-ups and kids alike should see.



3. In this special,it all starts with,"Will Pa Bear find the perfect Christmas tree before Santa comes?The BB Christmas Tree,by Stan and Jan Berenstain.Pictures by Jose Ramirez and Stan Berenstain.Music by Ned Stacey.Sound by Gaston LeRoux and Jean-Pierre Louis.Writin' by Quetzal Ramirjo.Produced and Directed by Stan and Jan Berenstain."This award-winnin'TV special which has won Genie Awards at the Canadian Animated Festivals in Montreal,Quebec,Canada since 1972,Oscars at the Hollywood Awards since 1989 and 4 Emmys.Now,you can own it on home video!



4. We need ALL of these great Berenstain Bear stories, especially the holiday, on DVD!! PLEASE!!! These lesson-learning, wholesome stories are ageless and priceless. My girls loved them as children and now that I'm about to be a grandmother for the first time .... they are very limited or not available at all! Hope to see the holiday stories on DVD soon.



5. It is Christmas time where ehe bear family lives in a hollow tree, in a town of bears. The family really makes a big deal about all the precious decoratiuons and star for their soon to be selected Christmas tree. Mom wants poppa to get a tree down at Gus's lot, but poppa bear wants to go out and find one in the woods. Momma does not want them to, since a snow storm is moving in, but they trudge up the mopuntain anyway. They find several "perfect trees", but in each case they find that other animals live in the tree already. Some are scary and chase them away, some are tiny and helpless. The bears decide to spare their homes, sacrificing their own happiness. It is a good moral tale about the caring for others. The animals reward the bears with a nice treat in the end. The animation, done in Canada, is really nice. The character animation is smooth, designs and backgrounds fit right with the story, and the music is well done. This is an Emmy Award winning tv special releasxd on VHS. Overall a very nice addition to our own holiday show collection - a feel good story for all ages. It is a bit hard to find now, but I highly recommend a copy. I bought mine used from a third party seller here at Amazon.com and am very happy with the sale.

5 comments about James Earl Jones Reads the Bible.

1. Great for companionship while driving or otherwise, Gives you the word and read by a master. My only issue was I wasn't aware it did not include the Old Testament and there was no indication of this prior to purchase.



2. Mr. Jones has just the right touch, and tone for this beautiful project. I have but one problem with this production. Where is the Old Testament? Otherwise I would have given this production 5 stars.



3. This is an excellent reading of the King James Version New Testament. Jones reads clearly with excellent pronunciation and makes it easier to listen to and understand. His voice is wonderful to listen to. There is no music played in the background, which is good.
   
   The hymns by the Nashville Faith Choir are enjoyable. They sing several of them with a traditional shape-note tone quality. For some this is an acquired taste. But I love shape-note singing.



4. What a marvelous narrator! I wish I would have read the other reviews prior to purchase as I too was under the impression that this was the entire Bible, not just the NEW TESTAMENT. I would highly consider letting buyers know that even though it says Deluxe, it is referring to the lovely box it comes in. This is very deceptive. Now I have to spend another $41 to get the entire Bible. Please correct this if you value your feedback.



5. I have to be honest - James Earl Jones has read more Bible to me than I ever read on my own. And you can listen to the Bible while you're multi-tasking. James Earl Jones has a fantastic voice and there are no extraneous choirs or music in the background. The only negative I can add has already been pointed out by other reviewers. This collection covers the New Testament only. I was kind of hoping to get the Old Testament too but, based on what's out there now, I can wait until James Earls Jones reads the Old Testament

1 comments about Spend the Holidays With Liberace.

1. This DVD is a must have. It is great going down memory lane with Liberace at his best.

5 comments about Last Holiday.

1. George Bird is an unimportant cog in the merchant machine when he learns that he has Lampington's Disease--invariably fatal. Through luck--meeting a beneficent salesman looking for the perfect man for an estate-sale bounty--and fatalism--losing any inhibition against speaking his true thoughts--the down-to-earth, plain-spoken words of Bird strike a spark in a broad range of characters at a posh resort and change the course of more than a few lives. Guinness is real, honest, and touching in his best role ever, in my mind. If the ending is sentimental and cutting at the same time, well, good for these old black-and-white movies. Bird is a prince among men in his triumph of substance over style and appearance.



2. A young Alec Guinness stars in this clever story of a mild-mannered, average sort of fellow who is told by his doctor that he has only days, perhaps weeks left to life. On medical advice, Guinness quits his job, liquidates his life savings, and goes off to a posh country resort on one last, luxuriously bittersweet holiday. Naturally, once he's given up all hope, everything in his life starts coming up roses: mistaken as a man of means by the hotel's inquisitive clientele, Guinness finds all sorts of new creative, financial and romantic opportunities arising out of nowhere. J. B. Priestley's script is in part a wry, piercing comment on Great Britain's class-bound society, where initiative and imagination were stifled by prejudice and regimentation... Only because he feels he has nothing left to lose does Guinness's George Bird work up the nerve to give business tycoons and Lords of Parliament a piece of his mind; once he does they recognize him as a man of great standing. Politics aside, though, this is also a very entertaining and somewhat sad little comedy, with an twist ending that happy, happy Hollywood wouldnt touch with a ten-foot pole. Recommended.



3. Why hasn't this terrific film come out on DVD? I keep waiting for it to go with all my other Alec Guinness comedies & dramas on DVD, and I'm getting impatient! Is there a copyright problem or something? What's holding this up?



4. When I think about films that have mattered in my life, "Last Holiday" is on the short list -- an ironic British comedy written by J.B. Priestly and released in 1950. Alec Guinness plays George Bird, a salesman as cautious as a civil servant. One guesses he has never married because what women see in his face is dread of life, not an attractive quality. A persistent headache has made him consult a doctor. After medical tests, Bird has been told to come back the next day for the diagnosis, but by the time he returns the files have been mixed up. The doctor has someone else's results in Bird's folder and so informs him that he has an untreatable illness and will be dead in six weeks. In fact, all Bird needs is an aspirin and perhaps a pint of beer.
   The doctor's clerical error transforms Bird's life. He quits his job, empties his bank account (no need to save for old age), and books a room in a coastal resort for the affluent. He had never imagined setting foot in such a place until he spotted the graveyard racing toward him. A day later he begins his last holiday. No longer needing to play it safe, Bird can say and do things he previously would never have dared -- there is nothing left to fear. For the first time in his life women find him attractive. Bankers, corporate executives, and government ministers are soon lining up for his advice, offering partnerships and vice-presidencies. Everyone senses in him a mysterious quality, a detachment and freedom that make him a figure to be reckoned with. The viewer alone knows just what that mysterious quality is: Bird's death sentence has been his liberation. He is no longer a prisoner of the terrifying future.
   The people in the hotel are far from a happy group. In many ways their holiday hotel is a well-appointed purgatory. George Bird becomes something of a Saint Francis in his efforts to help his fellow guests become less selfish people.
   The J.B. Priestly script includes a surprise ending -- probably not the one Hollywood in the 50s would have allowed....



5. Poignant and meditative story about a failed salesman plans to quietly live the last months of his life in a resort. And this unexpected place will ironically become of special significance for all the guests who spent their holydays there.
   
   Alec Guiness is superb in this role. Beatrice Campbell is lovable to watch.
   
   We are expecting its next release on DVD format.