Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Director: Kizo Nagashima, Larry Roemer
Average Customer Review:
DVD (17 October, 2000)
list price: $19.98
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Editorial Review

This classic 1964 television special featuring Rudolph and his misfit buddies set the standard for stop-motion animation for an entire generation before Tim Burton darkly reinvented it in the early 1990s. Burl Ives narrates as Sam the Snowman, telling and singing the story of a rejected reindeer who overcomes prejudice and saves Christmas one particularly blustery year. Along the way, he meets an abundance of unforgettable characters: his dentallyobsessed elf pal Hermey; the affable miner Yukon Cornelius and his motley crew of puppies; the scary/adorable Abominable Snow Monster; a legion of abandoned, but still chatty, toys; and a rather grouchy Santa. In addition to the title song that inspired it, this 53-minute tape is crammed with catchy tunes such as"Silver and Gold" and "Holly Jolly Christmas." Those who grew up looking forward to watching Rudolph every Christmas season will undoubtedly be able to recite the quotable quotes ("I'm cuuuute. She said I'm cuuuute." "Herbie doesn't like to make toys.") as well as any Casablanca cult audience. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Animated

Reviews (107)

A true children's Christmas classic...
One of a plethora of animated Christmas classics created in the 1960's - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) come to mind - this rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is unique in that it uses stop-motion animation instead of cartoons to tell its story. Sam the Snowman (voiced by Burl Ives) brilliantly narrates the tale of an awkward reindeer and his struggle with discrimination. Along the way, he sings a number of holiday classics such as "Silver and Gold," "Holly Jolly Christmas," and of course - "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

The story begins when Rudolph's father, Donner, tries to cover up his son's shiny, bright red nose with a disguise. When Rudolph attends a flight training school for young reindeer, he encounters Clarice - a young doe who thinks that Rudolph is cute. This revelation causes Rudolph to leap into the air and fly around the sky like a seasoned aviator. But when he lands, the nose disguise falls off and Rudolph's red honker is exposed to the scorn and ridicule of the young bucks in flight school. Clarice is the only one who doesn't view Rudolph as an outcast freak, but her father quickly escorts her out of the presence of such a "monster".

Following this episode, Rudolph runs away only to meet up with an outcast Elf named Hermey who has committed the unforgivable sin of not wanting to make toys. Contrary to the social conventions of his time, Hermey wants to be a dentist. Feeling unwanted, Rudolph and Hermey decide to run away together. But in due time, they encounter the dangerous Abominable Snow Monster - a giant, hairy beast who crushes anyone who leaves Christmastown. Aiding in their rescue is Yukon Cornelius, a burly prospector who chops off a piece of ice with his pick ax, allowing Rudolph, Hermey, and himself to float away from the Abominable Snow Monster (who can't swim).

After floating through the night, the three characters discover The Land of Misfit Toys - an island of handicapped, screwed-up toys rejected by elf quality-control managers and forced to live away their best years in an icy wasteland. Our three heroes can relate to the misfit toys, and Rudolph promises to inform Santa of their status the next time he sees him.

When Rudolph sneaks away in the middle to return home, he meets up with Clarice (who ran away from home to search for him), and the two of them get cornered by the Abominable Snow Monster. But Yukon Cornelius faces down the Monster, and together with Hermey, he coaxes the beast into a trap - where Hermey neutralizes the Monster by pulling out his teeth.

Meanwhile, Christmastown is covered with a thick fog, and Santa ponders the cancellation of Christmas. But when he sees Rudolph's bright red nose glowing in his workshop, Santa asks Rudolph to guide his sleigh through the night. With Rudolph taking the lead, Santa swoops down on Christmas Eve just in time to rescue the depressed residents of The Land of Misfit Toys and deliver them all to expectant boys and girls who will love them for who they are.

This breakthrough Claymation classic is essential for any child's Christmas experience (and that of adults who grew up watching much-anticipated annual holiday special on TV). That's why this ranks as a definite "must-see" by any standard. But undoubtedly, we all owe a special thanks to Montgomery Ward - the giant retail chain that created Rudolph as part of a promotional gimmick one fabled Christmas season decades ago. For after all, it just wouldn't be Christmas without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...

The DVD Report

Great special-except for one detail
This is a great holiday special. I especially like the Island of Misfit Toys detail. The only reason I gave the special 4 stars rather than 5 stars is the detail in which Hermey pulls out the Bumble's teeth to make him safe(this could not be done to real-life animals that bite, for they cannot live without their teeth.I think this is improperly teaching the viewer that an animal who bites can have its teeth pulled to make it less harmful to humans.Therefore, I believe that this segment can easily send the wrong message to children.) Nevertheless, the special shows how okay it is to be different. Sometimes I cry when I watch the Island of Misfit Toys segment, but light up again with a smile when I see the misfit toys being dropped out of the sleigh at the end. If you have the older VHS, be sure to upgrade to this DVD version with the original song, "We're A Couple of Misfits." The "Fame and Fortune" song is included as a bonus feature.

Never Be Late For Elf Practice Again -- Thanks To This DVD!
First televised on NBC-TV on Sunday, December 6, 1964 (but usually associated with CBS-TV due to that network's many airings of the program throughout the succeeding years), the animated color TV Special "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" has now turned forty years of age (as of this writing), and has endured for all those years as an annual staple in many American homes.

The DVD edition I'm reviewing here is the one issued by "Sony Wonder" and "Golden Books Family Entertainment" (1-Disc version). It provides a very good-looking Full Frame (1.33:1) video image of the perennial "Rudolph" Christmas Special; with a Dolby Digital soundtrack recorded in 2-channel (original) Mono.

This particular version of "Rudolph" is quite unique actually, in that it is the "unaltered" version of the TV Special, as it aired originally in 1964. Which means that one song which has been routinely cut out of subsequent broadcasts of the program is presented uncut within this DVD version. That song being "We're A Couple Of Misfits", sung by Rudolph and dentist-to-be "Hermey" near the beginning of the show. This song was replaced in 1965 with the "Fame And Fortune" song instead.

The alternate song used in that scene ("Fame And Fortune") is included, however, as a separate Bonus Feature on this DVD. .... To tell you the truth, I prefer the "Fame & Fortune" number to the original "Misfits" tune. And I can see why the producers of the Special decided to make the switch during the second broadcast of the program in 1965. "F&F" is a better ditty, IMO. And, obviously, others thought so as well. Hence, the substitution.

This DVD contains the complete, uncut version of "Rudolph" (with a total run time of 51 minutes, 32 seconds). This is significant (and most welcome), because after the first few broadcasts on network TV, as we all know, many cuts and edits were made to the original print, so that more and more commercials could be jammed into the one-hour network timeslot over the years. It's doubtful we'll ever encounter this original "51-minute" version on network television again, due to the ever-increasing sponsors' demands for prime-time air time.

All of the rarely-seen snippets of the "Rudolph" Special are re-inserted into this full-length DVD version -- clips like: the "Peppermint" scene at the tail-end of the special, where Yukon Cornelius discovers "a peppermint mine! Yahooo!" .... And: the complete musical numbers ("Jingle, Jingle, Jingle!" and "We Are Santa's Elves") are fully intact on the DVD; whereas, in many chopped-up prints, one (or both) of these songs have either been severely truncated or cut out entirely. It's nice to be able to see the "whole" show via this nicely-done "Sony" DVD release.

This disc has a few nice add-on bonus supplements, too. In addition to the aforementioned bonus song ("Fame And Fortune"), there's also a Rudolph trivia game, an original TV promo, some ads for other "Golden Books" holiday DVD titles, and a fun and informative 11-minute "introduction" by producer/creator Arthur Rankin.

In addition, you can access English Subtitles in two different ways on this disc -- there are the traditional "captions"/(subtitles) that can be turned on at the bottom of the screen. Plus, this DVD offers what is called "Read-Speak Action Captions", which show the words on the screen in a unique, 3-D kind of fashion, displaying the words in large print right beside the mouths of each character speaking, one word at a time. An interesting alternative to the normal captioning process.

Chapter breaks are also included on this disc, with a whopping total of 27 "Scene Selections"! My goodness, some three-hour movie DVDs don't have this many Chapter Stops! :) *

* = NOTE: The "Read-Speak" Captioned version of "Rudolph" (which can be accessed via the Bonus Features area) does not have any "Chapter" breaks included.

An added word or two about the "TV Promo" on this disc --- This is a nice little bonus, which runs for 59 seconds and exhibits very good color and overall picture quality. It's an original 1966 NBC-TV promo that informs the viewers that "Rudolph is coming on Sunday, December 4th, on the General Electric Fantasy Hour" program.

A word about the DVD Menus ..... I'm not a big fan of "Animated Menus" on DVDs, but this disc's Menu system is an exception. For some reason, I really like these Menus, which offer up cheery music and cute animated sequences. The Main Menu puts the viewer right into the Christmas spirit, featuring falling snow, a decorated Christmas tree, and "Rudolph" looking skyward, complete with batting eyelids and a bright glowing nose. While the various Sub-Menus also have animated moving pictures and a "falling snow" background as well. Each Sub-Menu features a different character from the "Rudolph" Special.


Some additional "Rudolph" Notes and Trivia and Miscellaneous Ramblings :-) ..................

>> The voice talent for "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" was supplied by Burl Ives (Narrator/"Sam"), Billie Mae Richards ("Rudolph"), Paul Soles ("Hermey"), Larry Mann ("Yukon"), and Alfie Scopp ("Head Elf").

>> I hadn't realized this trivial tidbit until recently ...... Comet (the reindeer coach) was voiced by Don Adams (of "Get Smart" TV fame).

>> I've often wondered how many little kids who have watched this "Rudolph" Special were suddenly scared to death that Christmas might be "cancelled" (as feared in the show due to foul weather). LOL!

>> Has anyone (besides me) ever noticed with amusement that the gruff voice of the "Head Elf" dramatically changes, somehow, just before he begins to direct his "Elf Chorus" in the song "We Are Santa's Elves"? Throughout the majority of the show, Mr. Head Elf is the very coarse-sounding 'meanie' -- when he dishes out some of my favorite lines from the show, such as: "Now you come to Elf Practice and learn how to wiggle your ears, and chuckle warmly, and go "hehe" and "hoho", and important stuff like that! A dentist! Good grief!" .... And yet, in the "chorus" scene, his voice changes completely. He sounds a bit wimpish when he utters: "Now let's try out the new elf song I wrote; and remember, it's for Santa." (LOL!) This sudden and drastic vocal-cord switch always cracks me up when I watch this program.

------------------------------

The "Rudolph" TV Special is truly an American tradition. A must-see each December. And now, via this nice uncut DVD edition, the adventures of our antlered hero with the crimson-colored snoot should remain crystal-clear and in pristine condition forever. ... Read more

Asin: 0307514161
Subjects:  1. Christmas   

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Director: Bill Melendez
Average Customer Review:
DVD (24 August, 2004)
list price: $16.99 -- our price: $15.29
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Editorial Review

This television classic features the Peanuts characters in the story of Charlie Brown's problematic efforts to mount a school Christmas pageant. Everybody's on board: Lucy, Snoopy, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, but the biggest impression is surely made by Linus, who stops the show with his recitation from the gospels of the story of Christ's birth. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Animated

Reviews (93)

A true holiday classic...
Charles Schultz cast the gold standard of annual holiday classics with his 1965 creation of A Charlie Christmas. This animated, made-for-TV special features all the familiar Peanuts characters (although I've always wondered why the comic strip was titled Peanuts and not Charlie Brown?) - Lucy, Snoopy, Schroeder, Linus, Sally, Pig-pen, and Woodstock all make appearances. But the enduring popularity of this classic stems not from its storyline, but its invocation of childhood nostalgia and memorable Christmas music (everyone on earth has heard the song the characters sing in the closing credits).

For those who need refreshing (because I don't know anyone who hasn't seen it), A Charlie Brown Christmas covers title character Charlie Brown's search for the true meaning of Christmas. When neighborhood friend Lucy dispenses her usual five cent advice, she encourages Charlie Brown to take on the job of director in the school Christmas play. But none of the other kids take their new director seriously, and when Charlie Brown passes over several Christmas trees which he believes embody the commercial exploitation of Christmas (and brings back a sagging relic of branch instead), the other kids fire him as director. Meanwhile, Snoopy is involved in decorating his doghouse with colorful flashing lights and other knick-knacks in an effort to win 1st Prize in a Christmas decorating contest. In the end, the other kids feel they've been too hard on Charlie Brown, and fix up his tree into a brilliant display Christmas beauty. Linus reveals the true meaning of Christmas by retelling a segment from the Gospels that recounts the story Jesus Christ's birth. Charlie Brown is finally happy and everyone sings Christmas carols.

One of the better parts of this TV special is when Charlie Brown goes hunting for a Christmas tree. Some of the trees are aluminum, which you rarely see today (especially those trees with the rotating colored lights underneath). Simply put, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a breath of fresh air - a thoughtful, funny, and highly entertaining show that the whole family can enjoy together. Parents and children are connected by the shared experience of this annual holiday affair, and parents don't have to worry about their children being exposed to a Janet Jackson "costume malfunction"!

The DVD Report

Don't listen to the others!
Absolutely awful.

I watched this Christmas special with an effort.When I think of bad Christmas movies, it's Santa Claus (1961), Santa with Muscles, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I can't believe this won an Emmy, Hollywood's most famous TV award!I would have to be on drugs in order to recognize it as such.

I beggar you not to listen to the others!It's not a Christmas classic, they're lying.How can a Christmas movie have touching up on a perfectly innocent tree, teasing C.B. because of the Christmas tree, and Lucy at the end saying dialogue that I try to forget:

"Charlie Brown IS a blockhead...but he gave us a nice tree."

Something that Ed Wood would perpetrate, in my highly professional opinion.

Must have for Xmastime
Even though this TV is now almost 40 years old, it has surely stood the test of time and is still relevant today. Basically, Charlie Brown is upset that Xmas has become too commercialised. He wants to enjoy it but can't because of the shallow, money-grabbing opportunity he sees all around him.

The gang try to cheer him up by letting them direct their Xmas play. He finds it a major stain at first but soon finds it easy being an artistic tyrant. But they need an Xmas tree and the only one Charlie can afford is practically a twig. It needs a lot of love, which the gang sure do give it.

Also this TV special also features something damn rare in Xmas movies these days; an actual dedication to Jesus. Now, I am not a puritan Christian but there are sooooo many movies that try to find the TRUE meaning of Xmas but none ever mention the birth of Jesus. Weird eh? Definitely one of the better Xmas specials and miles better than Mr Magoo Xmas Carol or Denver the Last Dinosaur Save Santa.

Second on this DVD is It's Christmas Time Again, Charlie Brown. When compared to the original Charlie Brown Christmas this TV special seems to be less social commentary and more an excuse for gags. It's more cartoony and has more obvious laughs rather than any irony or important things to say.

There's another Xmas play in this 'un. Peppermint Patty is refusing to do any homework and is annoyed that Marcie is playing Mary and she is left with the thankless role of a sheep. Still, she's determined to steal as much scenery as possible. Charlie Brown is selling his old comics to buy an Xmas present for his wannabe girlfriend and his sister Sally has only one word to say in the play 'HARK' but she ends up yelling 'HOCKEY STICK' instead.

More like a series of Peanuts vignettes than a real TV special. But still nice.


The shorts are presented in perfectly adequate 1.33:1 fullscreen, as drawn, with Dolby Mono and Stereo tracks. There are no extras. Also, the Coca-Cola sponsorship ads have been edited out of this DVD. ... Read more

Asin: B00004W5UM
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

It's a Wonderful Life
Director: Frank Capra
Average Customer Review:
DVD (07 September, 1999)
list price: $19.98
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Editorial Review

Now perhaps the most beloved American film, It's a Wonderful Life was largely forgotten for years, due to a copyright quirk. Only in the late 1970s did it find its audience through repeated TV showings. Frank Capra's masterwork deserves its status as a feel-good communal event, but it is also one of the most fascinating films in the American cinema, a multilayered work of Dickensian density. George Bailey (played superbly by James Stewart) grows up in the small town of Bedford Falls, dreaming dreams of adventure and travel, but circumstances conspire to keep him enslaved to his home turf. Frustrated by his life, and haunted by an impending scandal, George prepares to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. A heavenly messenger (Henry Travers) arrives to show him a vision: what the world would have been like if George had never been born. The sequence is a vivid depiction of the American Dream gone bad, and probably the wildest thing Capra ever shot (the director's optimistic vision may have darkened during his experiences making military films in World War II). Capra's triumph is to acknowledge the difficulties and disappointments of life, while affirming--in the teary-eyed final reel--his cherished values of friendship and individual achievement. It's a Wonderful Life was not a big hit on its initial release, and it won no Oscars (Capra and Stewart were nominated); but it continues to weave a special magic. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• THX

Reviews (242)

Jimmy Stewart at his absolute best...
The quintessential holiday Christmas classic, It's A Wonderful Life has dominated the seasonal television landscape with its story of love, friendship, and one man's exceedingly relevant life. Filmed in 1946, this Frank Capra masterpiece opened in theaters to a lukewarm reception, but quickly rose in stature following repeated annual television airings in the 1960s to present day. The film is centered around the life of George Bailey - a likeable, ambitious resident of Bedford Falls who harbors dreams of grandeur, but begins to question the meaning of his life when things don't work out according to his plan.

When the story begins, George is a young boy employed by Mr. Gower, the neighborhood druggist. Mr. Gower, having just received news of his son's death - and engaged in the act of getting drunk - inadvertently places poison in a medicine bottle. George discovers the mistake and doesn't deliver the medicine, thus averting a major disaster. The opening scenes also show George saving his brother from certain death by pulling him out of a frozen pond where the ice had broken.

From there, the story jumps several years into the future, where a grown up George harbors dreams of world travel, exploration, and the construction of large buildings. But he ends up staying in Bedford Falls to work for his father's business, a small savings & loan (and the only financial institution in Bedford Falls not owned by the miserly Mr. Potter). Eventually, George falls in love with childhood friend Mary and the two wed, choosing to renovate an old house in Bedford Falls.

When the Great Depression strikes, George uses his own money, ingenuity, and personal demeanor to stave off a bank run that threatens to close down the family business. In so doing, George keeps Mr. Potter from using his numerous resources to force a takeover bid of Bailey Savings & Loan. Thus, he saves the town's residents from being subjected to a Potter monopoly with possibly disastrous consequences. Along the way, George is tempted with offers of riches and travel by Mr. Potter, but he turns him down - opting instead to work for the benefit of the community.

Things seem to be going well for George until his Uncle Billy absentmindedly leaves the daily deposit of the business in a newspaper that he throws in Mr. Potter's lap (while boasting about the military honors bestowed on George's brother). While George and Uncle Billy frantically search for the misplaced $8,000, Mr. Potter sees his opportunity to ruin the Bailey Savings & Loan once and for all. When George appeals to Potter for help, Potter threatens to call the authorities.

Disillusioned, George leaves Potter's office and wanders into the night. After leaving the local bar, he runs his car into a tree and then walks over to a nearby bridge. While on the bridge, George contemplates suicide as a way out. But before he can commit the act, a man falls into the water below. George jumps in to save him, and later finds out that the man's name is Clarence. Clarence claims to be angel working to get his wings. He jumped into the water to save George, and when George wishes he had never been born - Clarence aims to show George exactly what the world would be like had he never been born...

What he sees leads George to believe that his life was more than worth living. He decides to return home to his wife and children and face the consequences of the misplaced money. When he returns home, he finds that people from all over Bedford Falls have come to donate their own money to bail out their good friend George and the community fixture, Bailey Savings & Loan. Clarence receives his wings, and George Bailey is thankful for his numerous blessings.

It's A Wonderful Life is almost magical in its idyllic portrayal of Depression-era, small-town America. The characters (with the exception of Mr. Potter), harkens back to a simpler time when public attitudes toward morality prevailed, where neighbors knew each other by name, and where communities helped each other out. In addition, George Bailey and his friends are likeable people, developing a rapport with the audience that makes the viewer actively root for them and care about what happens to them. This personal connection with the audience (and the audience ability to relate to questioning the meaning of one's life) may well be the key to the enduring success of the story. Having spent over five decades as the number one Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life ranks as one of the greatest films of all time.

The DVD Report

IT S A WONDERFUL MOVIE
LA PRIMERA VEZ QUE VI ESTA PELICULA REALMENTE.. ME CONMOVIO.. UNA HISTORIA QUE TE LLEGA AL CORAZON.. TE HACE PENSAR COMO UNO PUEDE INFLUIR EN LAS DEMAS PERSONAS SIN DARSE CUENTA.. CREO QUE LAS ACTUACIONES ESTAN MUY BUENAS... UN EXCELENTE GUION... UN GRAN ELENCO...ES LA PELICULA.. QUE TODA LA FAMILIA DEBE VER

SALUDOS

Almost the best movie I have ever seen! I love it !
This is such a great movie I don't really know where to start.First of all, I love Jimmy Stuart. He is so awesome in this though. Its a great story that really touches anyone except the most heartless bastard. I watch it every Christmas season more than 1 time. I remember seeing it as a kid and loved it then too. Anyone who doesn't enjoy this movie is a heartless bastard is all I have to say. Jimmy Stuart and Donna Reed have excellent chemistry and Mr. Potter is an ass. Great movie. Watch it with soemone you love! ... Read more

Asin: 6305064490
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-drama   

A Christmas Carol (Colorized Version)
Director: Brian Desmond Hurst
Average Customer Review:
DVD (05 November, 2002)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $17.99
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Editorial Review

This is the desert-island choice of the many versions ofA Christmas Carol, with a magnificent, full-bodied portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge by Alastair Sim that leaves everyone else in the dust. Lean and direct, this film's version of the story wastes no time trying to impress viewers with the magical nature of the spirits' visitations. Director Brian Desmond Hurst keeps the focus on Scrooge's life story, beautifully simplifying and underscoring the theme of lost women with a haunting musical refrain from the folk song "Barbara Allen." Sim's commitment to the role is at times astonishing; his Scrooge's Christmas-morning ecstasy is a marvel of giddy technique. Watch for Patrick Macnee (Steed inThe Avengers) as the young Jacob Marley--the actor made his screen debut in this 1951 production.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Color

Reviews (134)

A Classic's Remasterization/Colorization :New Heights
I was concerned before buying it because of a negative review I read here about the above topic.The other reviews were positive thus overruling the bad one.

Today I watched and I was impressed.The colorization and remasterization has taken this Christmas classic to new heights making it a must for every home that celebrates Christmas and owns a DVD player.

Both sound and picture are vastly improved.The colorized version adds a new and fresh dimension to an already warm and welcomed visitor in our living rooms.

If you don't have it and are wondering if you should buy it, stop wondering and click it right now into your cart.You won't go wrong.

All time best version of the Christmas Coral
This version of the Christmas Coral with Alastair Sim "IS", without question, the all best film production of this story that has ever been produced. It not likely that any one can ever top Alastair Sim's performance. I pleased to see that this wonderful film has now been released on DVD. I WILL be getting a DVD copy of this movie as soon as I can.

Response to B.Bowzer
Acording to IMDB.com and Maltin, it was indeed Patrick MacNee playing the young Marley. Glyn Dearman played Tiny Tim. ... Read more

Asin: B00000F168
Subjects:  1. Christmas   

Miracle on 34th Street
Director: George Seaton
Average Customer Review:
DVD (16 October, 2001)
list price: $19.98 -- our price: $17.98
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The original 1947 version of this Valentine Davies story follows the misadventures of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) as he gets a job playing Santa Claus at Macy's department store in New York City. Natalie Wood is the little girl who tells him she doesn't believe in Santa, and Maureen O'Hara and John Payne are the couple who help Kris through a trial in which he must prove he's the jolly fellow from the North Pole. A sweet movie and perennial Christmas favorite, this is one of those movies that gets under your skin and must be revisited every so often. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (73)

Classic radio show gave additional insight to movie theme
This is a great movie,as many have posted before me. However, after hearing the classic radio show (heard it on Sirius)originally aired around the same time as the orginal movie release, I learned something entirely new about this old classic I enjoyed for many years. In the classic radio show at the end when the lawyer talks with Santa about the house, he learns that Santa set the entire sanity trial up, Santa knew the lawyer could not afford the house unless he bacame a famous lawyer, and by going to trial it made the lawyer famous. I never realized that Santa set it all up by making them think he was crazy, but it makes sense that Santa could be that smart.

Please ignore the remakes and see this magical original
Many of us have seen Miracle on 34th Street many times (once a year), and for me it never wears out.Just seeing Edmund Gwenn convince the sceptical, but adorable Natalie Wood that he's Santa is always both moving and hilarious.The theme is that sometimes good (Gwenn) triumphs over evil (Sawyer) with a little luck and magic (unfortunately not this year though.)
The way the plot is put into place is masterful and George Seaton's direction flawless.Maureen O'Hara and John Payne (Gailey) do a great job and if you listen carefully you can hear O'Hara's Irish accent creep in.Also great is the judge played by Gene Lockhart who gives his role just the right dash of comedy, as well as William Frawley (better known as Fred on I Love Lucy).
The swipe it takes at psychiatry is too mild though.It depicts Sawyer as a fake psychiatrist...not challenging the legitimacy of psychiatry itself.However the message gets subtly through...there are those in the profession "with no humanity" as Kris Kringle puts it.
Even though you know the outcome it's still great to watch the triumphant result of Gailey's efforts, as well as Kringle's winning over of everyone at the end.
To me THIS is the quintessential Christmas film, not Wonderful Life or Christmas Carol which are too sentimental and dated.Miracle is intelligent, human, and timeless.

A Classic and a Gem
Great movie, even after all these years.Black and white or colorized, you can't go wrong.

Edmund Gwenn as Santa is the heart and soul of this movie.He is as we all imagine (and hope) Santa to be.It almost hurts when we see the other characters not actually believing he is the one and only Saint Nick.

But the other actors are also top notch...except for Maureen O'Hara.She may be the nicest lady in the world ... I don't know ... but she almost single-handedly torpedoes this movie.It achieves classic status despite her.

The guy who plays the lawyer, he is excellent.A nice understated but still believable performance.And Natalie Wood is cute and believable as the little girl.But the rest of the cast is a superb collection of unique characters who really fill out the movie nicely.

One last thing ... the one scene I like (love) best is the one where the little Dutch girl, who can't speak English, comes to sit on Santa's lap.A priceless, priceless moment.
... Read more

Asin: B00000K3CK
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

A Christmas Story (Full Screen Edition)
Director: Bob Clark (III)
Average Customer Review:
DVD (28 September, 1999)
list price: $19.98 -- our price: $15.98
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

A Christmas Story is on its way to becoming an annual holiday classic, one to keep on the shelf with It's a Wonderful Life, the puppet-animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. It may have been directed by Bob Clark (responsible for the Porky's pictures), but it's based on the childhood memoirs of humorist Jean Shepherd (from his hilarious book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash). And it is Shepherd's wry, deadly accurate and gently nostalgic comic sensibility that shines through in this kid's-eye-view of an all-American Christmas in the 1940s. All little Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants under the tree on Christmas morning is a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB rifle. He not only wants it, he's consumed with an aching desire for it. Unfortunately, his mother (Melinda Dillon) repeatedly crushes his dreams with the familiar, harsh mantra: "You'll put your eye out!" Among the movie's highlights are a surrealistic visit with little brother Randy to a department store Santa, and the childlike mixture of delight, pride, and awe with which Ralphie's dad (Darren McGavin) takes possession of a spectacularly gaudy prize he's won in a radio contest. McGavin should have won an award for his splendid comic work as a middle-aged-kid-turned-patriarch who alternates between grownup temper tantrums and unabashed juvenile joy. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby

Reviews (333)

A true holiday classic...
Adapted from humorist Jean Shepherd's hilarious memoir (In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash), A Christmas Story has climbed the ranks of the annual holiday must see films to claim its spot among the hallowed elite. If you've ever tried to lick a frozen telephone pole, or found yourself in a ridiculous outfit on Christmas morning, then A Christmas Story is one comedy that you won't want to miss...

The story focuses on one central character - 5th grader Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his all-encompassing quest to receive a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB rifle for Christmas (you could put an eye out with one of those things, you know?) Thwarting Ralphie at every turn are his mother (Melinda Dillon) and father (Darren McGavin) who seem absolutely oblivious to their young child's aims.

Unable to come right out and say what he wants, Ralphie drops subtle hints around the house (such as placing clipped-out magazine ads for the gun in his parents' nightstand reading material). When prodded for his true Christmas wish, Ralphie blurts out that he wants a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB gun, but his mother's only reply is, "You don't want one of those. You'll shoot your eye out!"

A Christmas Story is filled with memorable scenes and highlights that have helped built a cult following around the life of a young boy obsessed with Christmas and surrounding by eccentric family members. When Ralphie's father beams with pride at his ability to win a newspaper contest, his proudly displays his prize in the front window of the family home - his prize being a lamp with a woman's long, stocking-covering leg as its own leg to stand on. Embarrassed, Ralphie's mother "accidentally" breaks it, sparking a war of words with her husband. Meanwhile, Ralphie dreams of saving the whole family with his Red-Ryder BB gun, and thus earning their undying gratitude.

One of the best sequences in the film involves a family trip to the local department store, where Ralphie and his little brother Randy meet with the store Santa Clause near closing time. Following a long, extended wait to reach the front of the line to see Santa, Ralphie is so brimming with anticipation to tell Santa what he wants that he can't speak. So, Santa convinces Ralphie that he wants a football. But before Santa's helper can push Ralphie down the North Pole slide, Ralphie blurts out his true wish, only to hear Santa's reply, "You'll shoot your eye out with that, kid!"

One of the best Christmas comedies ever made (few come close to Christmas Vacation), A Christmas Story is a memorable holiday classic that the whole family can enjoy. In much the same way as It's A Wonderful Life, the film has only grown in popularity in the years since its release. The timeless nature of its subject matter lends itself well to annual holiday viewing, and it remains one of the few "must see" films of the season...

The DVD Report

Fun to watch for the first couple of times....
But since it comes on TBS every year on Christmas Eve it just gets really old. It will come on for 24 hours and it just gets so annoying. Is this movie really that important to the holidays? I mean this movie is classic but main reason why I give it one star is because I got sick and tired of it for being it on TBS all the freakin time. Somebody who works for TBS needs to stop doing that.

I Don't Get It

Why has this become a classic holiday movie? I'm no big fan of schmaltz, but A CHRISTMAS STORY is utterly devoid of warmth. Its characters are unlikable, everything looks grimy and cheap, and Jean Shepherd's Lake Woebegonish narration is grating.
Next Christmas, skip TBS' 24-hour marathon and watch LORD OF THE RINGS, PLANES TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, SOME LIKE IT HOT, heck, ANYTHING but this. ... Read more

Asin: B00000JKNR
Subjects:  1. Christmas   

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording Of The CBS Television Special
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 September, 2000)
list price: $14.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

The first time you listen to this disc you will undoubtedly be transported directly back to your childhood. Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters will go toe-tapping and funky-dancing through your mind's eye. Play it a few more times, though (ignoring the dialogue snippets, if you can), and you will begin to truly revel in Guaraldi's wonderful, humorous, deep piano playing. You'll hear why he's such an influence on new age ivory tickler George Winston, but you'll also realize that Winston's holiday music never quite sparkles with the underlying passion, and humor, that twinkles in these grooves. Buy it for the nostalgia--keep it because it will remain one of the most enchanting albums in your holiday collection. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (152)

Christmastime is here, Happiness and Cheer...
Two things that make "A Charlie Brown Christmas" TelevisionSpecial so special is its classic and universal message of spirituality over materialism, and of course, the music.The animation may as well be primitive cave drawings compared to today's technical wizardry, but when you have something as heartfelt as this, I'll take it.Even if one has never seen the TV special, this CD stands on its own.The songs are suffused with a jazzy piano, and some even feature children singing.Forty years later the risk of incorporating these two elements have made this into a holiday classic for generations still to come.I dare anyone to keep still and not crack a smile when they hear "Skating".And yet what's alluring about almost all the tracks is how they can be somewhat melancholy, but never bleak, always teetering on the edge of childhood wonder and joy."Christmastime is Here" particularly comes to mind.It's a little sad in the delivery, but never distant.Its warmth and intimacy lie in the promise of invitation to brave the cold, scary world together. It should be a year-round sentiment.This is holiday music at its best and it rightly deserves a spot with the other Holiday classics.

A wonderful and fun interpretation of Christmas!
This is another one of my favorite Christmas collections.These are fun, lighthearted musical renditions and interpretations of old Christmas classics.The scores are done with class, creativity, and fun, and are very very enjoyable.This is great music to play during a Christmas get-together, or before Christmas dinner, and has become a staple in our home during the Christmas season.Although this is professionally done music that adult critics will appreciate, my kids like it, which means that it passes the "acid test" for our home.

The CD is reasonably crisp and clear, and the recording seems to be of fairly high quality.Recommended.

Twelve great tunes, twelve great memories
This wonderful CD contains twelve great tunes, twelve great memories, from the 1965 cartoon classic - A Charlie Brown Christmas. Originally put out in 1985, this CD (with a running time of about 40 minutes) is an excellent addition to your collection of Christmas music CDs, or even just for its own sake. My children love hearing the cartoon music again, and we listen to it quite often in the car. But, even more than that, this music is great for Christmas mood music, and I recently had it playing in the background for a Christmas party I hosted.

So, if you are looking for a great Christmas purchase, then this is the one to make. My family and I love this CD, and highly recommend it to you and yours! ... Read more

Asin: B000000XDJ
Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Contemporary Jazz    4. Cool    5. Holiday    6. Mainstream Jazz    7. Pop    8. West Coast Jazz   

The Sinatra Christmas Album
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 November, 1994)
list price: $13.98
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Editorial Review

Christmas probably sounded a lot like this in Hoboken, circa the late 1930s: A skinny kid with a huge voice leading friends through favorite carols like "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Greensleeves." Fast forward and that skinny kid is no longer just another voice in the crowd. All ears are turned his way as he croons through a whole new set of Christmas standards, from "The Christmas Waltz" to "I Wouldn't Trade Christmas." Sinatra is in fine voice on this 13-song set, which boasts some of the better arrangements you'll hear on a seasonal album. --David Sprague ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Fills a Spot (partially)
This collection of seasonal songs by Sinatra brings together miscellaneous material from the Reprise years, 1962-1975.It's a nice complement to, but no substitute for, his earlier holiday offerings on Columbia and Capitol ("A Jolly Christmas" is not only Old Blue's best but possibly as good a Christmas album as anyone has ever recorded).If there's any dissatisfaction with "The Sinatra Christmas Album," it's that no one has seen fit to reissue in CD format the original Reprise LP from which several of the songs were collected: "12 Songs of Christmas Sung Together by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians."Perhaps the title is too long, or the music is deemed excessively sentimental by today's standards.A pity, because the album is not only of a whole but a rich and moving experience.

A Christmas album for quiet moments when the lights are low
My first thought when listening to "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra" is that this was a Christmas album to listen to after you have finished trimming the tree, there is a nice fire in your fireplace, and you are sitting on the couch together and enjoying the moment. The "first side" of the album offers up songs that play to Sinatra's strengths as a master of phrasing a line in a song, such as "Christmas Song," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Christmas Waltz," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (editorial aside: songs written by and for the generation that fought World War II have a special meaning with regards to the idea of being away from loved ones for Christmas).

The "second side" of the album does more traditional carols and is where Sinatra loses some of his uniqueness as a singer (most clearly heard on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Adeste Fideles"). But there is always value in hearing any song done Sinatra's way, as he proves on "White Christmas" and "It Came upon a Midnight Clear." Needless to say, fans of Sinatra should already have this album in their collection. For others, this album offers perfect mood music for cuddling with the one you love on the couch after the tree is finished and the only illumination in the room are the lights on the tree and the flames in the fireplace.

Barely 5 stars - but some silly tunes.
This CD is better than the CAPITOL Xmas package.Not only is it in STEREO but the arrangements are also better.This album is a compilation ranging from 1963-1975 but provides a good balance between serious and happy Christmas songs on one hand as well as providing a few religious tunes.

All the arrangements are superb and most of them were by Nelson Riddle and Don Costa.Frank's singing throughout is solid.This CD has the best version of the CHRISTMAS WALTZ; a song which Frank previously recorded in 1954 and 1957.This is the only STEREO version with a lusher orchestration - beautiful.

Here are my only "complaints":

Greensleaves (What Child is this) should have with its original religious lyrics.Secondly, THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS and I WOULDN'T TRADE CHRISTMAS could have been skipped - these songs are lightweights and almost silly.The addition of Sinatra's kids to these songs do nothing for them or Sinatra.

BUT OVERALL this is the best Sinatra Xmas CD out there. ... Read more

Asin: B000002MU5
Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Holiday    4. Pop    5. Traditional Pop    6. Vocal Jazz   

Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 November, 1995)
list price: $7.98 -- our price: $7.98
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Features

• CD-single

Reviews (14)

to get the video to work use basic computer knowledge
First to those who couldn't get the video portion to work, you can't used the old program thats on the cd.You just have to have quicktime installed, then find the mov file and double click on it.Of course it won't play in a dvd player, its not a vcd or a dvd, it's an old school mulimedia cd.I just watched the video.Quality of the video is terrible if you enlarge it so just watch it in the small window.Anyway, enough of my rambling.The one song disc is great.Bowie and Crosby sound great together.This single is a must for Bowie fans.Wish there was more than just one song though.

Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
Great holiday song; doesn't get radio airtime it deserves.Trying to find the score for this arrangement for a church duet.Any help would be appreciated!

need this on dvd single
This cd single featuring Bowie and Bing is an old version from a technology standpoint and needs to be released on upgraded DVD single, but it's priceless as probably the all time best version of any celebrity Christmas song.A reviewer incorrectly stated that this was when Bowie was Ziggy.Obviously way wrong since Ziggy was "killed off" in '73.This recording was in'77;Bowie had done many very successful non-Ziggy projects during the intervening years. ... Read more

Asin: B000001J79
Sales Rank: 40484
Subjects:  1. Christmas / Chanukkah    2. Pop   

The Christmas song
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 August, 1999)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

Like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," Nat Cole's "The Christmas Song" stands as one of two or three pillars of holiday music. This collection of songs and greetings includes another technologically induced daughter-father duet on Mel Torme's classic hit as well daddy Cole's 1961 version of the tune. Fans of both Natalie and her dad will put this on the top of their wish lists. Two previously unreleased tracks--"God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and "O Come All Ye Faithful"--will prompt a lot of lovers of Christmas music to fall in love again with Cole's incomparable style and timeless voice. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (30)

"CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING"!
stuck on a tropical island on Christmas day?make a wish & you'll get this!that's right, the chorus to "Caroling, Caroling" might as well be the sound of a million gifts opening on Christmas day & yella cookies baking.i've heard this every year since birth & perhaps before...it's that eternal.nothing melts the heart like Nat's velvet voice, so it's custom-made for Christmas.besides being the finest Christmas record, it's also one of the finest records ever.i'd really love a copy of this on vinyl for added warmth.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" is the opening line of this album,originally released in late 1963. THE CHRISTMAS SONG is one of the late Nat King Cole's best all-time recordings next to RAMBLIN' ROSE,UNFORGETTABLE and I DON'T WANT TO BE HURT ANYMORE. This Capitol Records album still sells well every holiday season. Originally available in both mono and stereo,the LP had 14 tracks. It was re-issued in 1999 with six bonus previously unreleased tracks(posthumously,Cole passed away in 1965). On the cover,Cole is comfortably seated by a fireplace with a Christmas tree surrounded by wrapped gifts nearby. I hear THE CHRISTMAS SONG over the satellite feed at my workplace. This album won a gold Grammy because a minimum of one million copies,but less than two million,of the album were sold in 1963. Some copies of this album display the RIAA(Recording Industry Association of America) Gold Record Award logo on the cover.

All heart.
Singing traditional Christmas songs with dignity and feeling, this Nat King Cole holiday album gloriously captures the spirit of the season.Without fireworks, improvisations, catchy rhythms, or unusual variations, Cole gives us songs full of love in his relaxed and unpretentious style.Accompanied by two orchestras and choruses, which are directed by Ralph Carmichael, Cole still manages to keep his style simple and the songs "clean,"sometimes slowing the lyrics in order to make them more expressive of the meaning.

"The Christmas Song," written by Mel Torme has always been Cole's biggest Christmas hit, beautifully sung to an accompaniment of piano and strings."O Holy Night," with a 27-string orchestra, maintains its sense of quiet awe, instead of becoming loudly triumphant (as it is in many other recordings), while "Adeste Fidelis," sung partly in Latin, speaks to the listener on a personal level and invites him/her to "come, let us adore him," instead of demanding it.The jaunty "I Saw Three Ships" and "The First Noel" are sung with an a capella chorus, and two less-recorded songs, "A Cradle in Bethlehem," from England, and "Caroling, Caroling," written in the US by A. E. Burt add new songs to the Christmas repertoire.

The orchestra and choruses here, while large, are used to highlight Nat King Cole's vocal interpretations, instead of making their own statements, and the use of bells, bell lyre, flutes, and harp often add depth to the background while adding emphasis to the lyrics.Traditional and restrained, Cole's album honors the season and its message, an album one could listen to all day without tiring.Mary Whipple
... Read more

Asin: B00000JPM5
Subjects:  1. Christmas / Chanukkah    2. Pop   

Voice of Christmas
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (06 October, 1998)
list price: $24.98 -- our price: $24.98
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Editorial Review

Bing Crosby is the father of the Christmas album. He sired the whole shooting match in 1942 when he recorded Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" for the Decca soundtrack of Holiday Inn, and the season has never been the same since. "White Christmas" isn't just Crosby's signature tune, it's also that of Christmas, selling millions around the world and inspiring countless recording artists to create their own holiday versions every year. This long overdue two-disc package features the original recording of "White Christmas" (often replaced by a later version on reissues) as well as all the seasonal songs Crosby cut over three decades. And with extensive liner notes and guest artists such as the Andrews Sisters, The Complete Decca Christmas Songbook is a slam-dunk gift buy for the whole family. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Father Christmas' Complete Decca Recordings
Bing's complete Decca Christmas collection!What more could you ask for?Well if you want to be particular I would have loved to see all of the songs that have appeared on the legendary Merry Christmas/White Christmas album(s) (there have been several varations over the years) but I guess songs like Danny Boy and Faith of Our Fathers don't technically qualify as Christmas songs.That said it's as close to perfect as you can get.

It's worth noting that if your looking for Bing's later Christmas recordings you'll have to look to the Capital collection "Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics."The latest version has been updated and now includes the famous Bowie duet.

Get it for $9.99
I agree with the reviewers - this is the ultimate Crosbyalbum for Christmas.But if you want to save some bucks and you are a BMG music service member, you can get it for $9.99, shipping included, during their holiday sale.(If you're not a member, go join and you'll get this CD + 10 more for free.)

*THE ULTIMATE CROSBY CHRISTMAS COLLECTION.*
There is no finer collection of Bing Crosby's Christmas music than this one. Collected over the course of two discs (one red, one green) are ALL of Bing's holiday recordings, both secular and religious, which were commercially released by the Decca label. The tracks span the years 1935 to 1956, from Bing's glowing vocal peak on tunes such as Silent Night and Adeste Fideles (1935) to the mellow, burnished voice of Silver Bells (1950) and Snow (1954 - w/ Peggy Lee, Danny Kaye, and Truely Stevens).

Bing's well known affiliation with Christmas music began in 1935 when Decca Records chief Jack Kapp suggested that Bing record Silent Night and Adeste Fideles for commercial release. Bing insisted that he did not want to profit financially from religious music, but the issue was resolved when it was arranged for profits to go to charity. Featured here are these gorgeous versions of Silent Night and Adeste Fideles, plus later versions, all excellent and with interesting differences. White Christmas, Irving Berlin's famous composition, first recorded by Bing in 1942 (for the Crosby/Astaire film Holiday Inn), is the biggest selling single of ALL TIME, and is also here in several different incarnations.

Aside from the classics I've already mentioned, this set provides many other fantastic treasures including Bing's moving 1956 reading of I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day, his spirited 1949 medley of Deck The Halls/Away In A Manger/I Saw Three Ships, and refreshingly lesser-known treats such as 1955's The First Snowfall. Also worth mentioning are the several Christmas tunes that Bing recorded with The Andrews Sisters, all of which are present here, including their hip, swingin' take on Jingle Bells. Another winning combination of vocals takes place when Miss Peggy Lee joins Bing for a jazzy duet on 1952's Little Jack Frost Get Lost. Add in Bing's fine renditions of evergreens such as I'll Be Home For Christmas and The First Noel, as well as his sprightly readings of children's favorites like Here Comes Santa Claus and It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, and you've got yourself an absolute treasure trove of Yuletide cheer.

No one accustomed to recordings of this vintage will be disappointed with the sound quality here, which is really quite good. With beautiful packaging, including a fold out insert with extensive liner notes, pictures of original record sleeves, and session information for all 44 tracks, The Voice Of Christmas is, without a doubt, the ultimate holiday collection of the most celebrated Christmas crooner of all time.

P.S. - For those who would like a fine companion disc dealing with Bing's later Christmas recordings, including his 1977 duet with David Bowie, the best bet is Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics. ... Read more

Asin: B000009RCX
Subjects:  1. American Popular Song    2. Christmas    3. Christmas / Chanukkah    4. Holiday    5. Pop    6. Standards    7. Swing    8. Traditional Pop    9. Vocal Pop   

Someday at Christmas
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (09 August, 2000)
list price: $6.98
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Reviews (12)

christmas 4rom stevie
a nice christmas album from stevie which was recorded in 1967 while still in his teens after his "i was made to love her" album.what is good about this album is the amount of written original material besides the traditional material.the motown originals on this album are:'someday at christmas'/'one little christmas tree'/'the day that love began'/'bedtime for toys'/'twinkle twinkle little me'/'a warm little home on a hill'/'what christmas means to me'...wonder gives dramatic performances on the traditional pieces such as 'ave maria'as stevie also puts his harmonica spin on the song,and'the little drummer boy'.the written motown originals are just as good or better than the traditional songs.on 'that's what christmas means to me'-the motown signature sound is evident on this moderate upbeat number.stevie's performances on the slow paced motown written originals such as 'the day that love began'and 'a warm little home on the hill'is legend.this is a nice holiday album from stevie.

How can you go wrong with Stevie and Christmas?
Maybe Stevie can't go wrong, but other producers and songwriters can.Too bad this album was made before Stevie took control of his own career.If he wrote his own original songs and produced the music, this album could have been much, much better.Instead you get one classic Motown style original ("What Christmas Means To Me"), and few great interpretations of classic Christmas songs (highlighted by "Silver Bells" and "Ave Maria"), but the rest of the original songs are sappy and flat.The string section and choral arrangements sound like something you would expect from Johnny Mathis or Andy Williams, not from Stevie Wonder.It is still a good album, just not as good as you might expect.

No Christmas without Stevie...
I love this collection. Its difficult to descibe what his songs bring to Christmas. Most inspiring rendition of Schubert's Ave Maria. The day that love began and One little Christmas tree will bring a tear to your eye. Thats what Christmas means to me is so full of life and a very enjoyable track. Someday at Christmas is so appropriate to listen to in these belicose times. Silver Bells rings in Christmas time. If I had to pick a favourite song in the collection it would have to be Bedtime for toys. This is a wonderful collection. I only wish that artists, who record Christmas collections at the drop of a hat, would listen to this collection to realize what Christmas can mean with a beautiful rendition like this. ... Read more

Asin: B000001AF9
Sales Rank: 80866
Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Holiday    4. Motown    5. Pop    6. Pop-Soul    7. Pop/Rock    8. Soul   

Merry Christmas
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $9.98
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Reviews (35)

I have never had a Christmas without it.
I first heard this album on 8-track. I remember hearing it for the first time while decorating a tree over 25 years ago. I have not had a Christmas to date without it.The entire album has the feeling of Christmases long ago. The orchestra along with Johnny's voice makes you feel comfy and warm. You can count on hearing at least one of the songs on this album while your doing your christmas shopping. Everyone loves this album, and I am buying 2 for my children to have when they leave home.

Good, Consistent Christmas CD
This is a very pleasant Chrismas CD to listen to.All the music is well done (my worst rating is Good (i.e., 3 Stars) and very Christmas-like.Of the 12 tracks, I've rated five of them as Very Good, and the remaining seven tracks as Good (I use Media Player's five Star rating system where two stars (not three stars) is OK).My specific track ratings are:

1. Winter Wonderland -- 4 Stars
2. Christmas Song -- 3 Stars
3. Sleigh Ride -- 4 Stars
4. Blue Christmas -- 3 Stars
5. I'll Be Home for Christmas -- 4 Stars
6. White Christmas -- 4 Stars
7. O Holy Night -- 3 Stars
8. What Child Is This? -- 3 Stars
9. First Noel -- 3 Stars
10. Silver Bells -- 4 Stars
11. It Came upon a Midnight Clear -- 3 Stars
12. Silent Night -- 3 Stars

You Had To Be There In The Beginning
...in order to really feel any affection for this recording, in my opinion. Otherwise, this Christmas classic definitely shows its age. The young Mathis voice was nasal, not as high as some like to mention, but not yet rich, either. But, this was the first Christmas recording for the venerable Mathis, the people who are old enough to have bought the first one on vinyl love it. And it's true enough, the more familiar songs are here, although "Deck The Halls" remains sadly absent.

To experience the voice of a more mature Mathis, buy Give Me Your Love For Christmas, with great Ernie Freeman arrangements, or listen to a couple of the songs on this recording get a fresh touch on the new Mathis recording, The Christmas Album. ... Read more

Asin: B0000024QF
Sales Rank: 52815
Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Holiday    4. Pop    5. Traditional Pop    6. Vocal    7. Vocal Pop