Santa and the Three Bears

Santa and the Three Bears
Directed by Tony Benedict
Barry Mahon (live-action sequences)
Produced by Tony Benedict
James Kernodle
Barry Mahon
Written by Tony Benedict
Starring Hal Smith
Jean Vander Pyl
Christina Ferra-Gilmore
Bobby Riha
Beth Goldfarb
Brian Hobbs
Music by Joe Leahy
Edited by Milton Krear
Production
company
Tony Benedict Productions
Key Industries, Ltd.
Distributed by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Release date
 7 November 1970 (USA)
Running time
 46 min.
Country United States
Language English

Santa and the Three Bears is a 1970 animated featurette, which aired on television regularly during the holiday season. It was later released on video in 1992 by Kids Klassics and distributed by GoodTimes Home Video in the VHS format with the original live-action sequences at the beginning and end of the film edited out.

Originally this 46 minute feature contained live-action sequences which ran for 2 minutes at the beginning of the film, and 2 minutes at the end of the film. These live-action sequences featured actor Hal Smith and two young children (Brian Hobbs and Beth Goldfarb) sitting in a cabin and conversing by the fireplace and Christmas tree, and a short montage of mechanical toys, Christmas decorations, and a pet kitten during the opening and closing credits.

The film was originally pitched to TV networks, who rejected it as it lacked a villain, but was then shown in theaters instead. This special has been rerun on TBN, USA Network, FOX Family (Now Freeform), and on KTLA channel 5 in Los Angeles.

Plot summary

Two young bears, Nikomi and Chinook, know nothing of Christmas until the local park ranger tells them about the legend, and they become curious to meet Santa Claus. Their mother, Nana, is preparing for Winter hibernation and cynically tells her children that there is no Santa, but they are determined to believe. Mother finds it impossible to begin their sleep, since the young cubs wish to stay awake until Santa arrives.

Voice cast

  • Hal Smith as Grandfather/Santa/Mr. Ranger
  • Jean Vander Pyl (credited as Jean van der Pyl) as Nana
  • Christina Ferra-Gilmore (credited as Annette Ferra) as Nikomi
  • Bobby Riha as Chinook
  • Joyce Taylor
  • Ken Engels
  • Beth Goldfarb as Beth
  • Brian Hobbs as Brian
  • Lenard Keith
  • Kathy Lemmon
  • Roxanne Poole
  • Michael Rodriguez

See also


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