The Little Drummer Boy (film)

This article deals with the television special. For the song it was based on, see The Little Drummer Boy.

The Little Drummer Boy is a Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, based on the song of the same name. It was first televised December 19, 1968 on NBC, and was followed by a sequel in 1976.

Plot

In the special, the narrator (Greer Garson) tells the story of a young Jewish boy named Aaron, who is a misanthropic orphan who only finds enjoyment from playing his drum for his animal friends: Samson the donkey, Joshua the camel and Baba the lamb. At one time, Aaron was a happy child who lived with his parents who gave him a drum for his birthday. But one night, bandits of the desert steal all the livestock, kill Aaron's parents (before they can try to intervene), and burn their house down, causing him hate all humanity. Because his drumming can make the three animals to dance, Aaron is forced to join Ben Haramed's caravan with rather inept performers. When performing in Jerusalem, Aaron becomes infuriated by the townspeople's amusement and lashes out at them for being thieves and knaves.

Some time later, the troupe comes upon the Magi's caravan who are following a bright star in the sky. Seizing his chance, Ben greedily attempts to perform for the Magi, but they are uninterested as they try to make haste to get to the star's destination. One of the caravan camels becomes too weak to continue traveling, so Ben bargains with them that they use Joshua in exchange for some of their gold. Later, Aaron and his remaining animal companions escape and join up with the Magi as they journey toward Bethlehem. There, upon recognizing Joshua and trying to reunite with him, Baba is hit by a Roman chariot and Aaron takes the dying lamb to the Magi to be healed. However, they can do nothing. One of the men insists that maybe the baby could be of help. Having no material possession to give to the baby, Aaron decides that his "gift" to him and his parents will be his playing his drum for them. As a sign of gratitude, Baba is healed and runs into Aaron's arms. Aaron finally feels kindness for the first time since the death of his parents.^[1]

Voice cast

• Greer Garson as the Storyteller
• Teddy Eccles as Aaron
• Jose Ferrer as Ben Haramad
• Paul Frees as Ali, Aaron's father, the Three Wise Men, Meshaw, Jamilie, and other male roles
• June Foray as Aaron's mother
• The Vienna Boys' Choir singing the title song.

Credits

• Produced and Directed by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass
• Written by Romeo Muller
• Based upon "The Little Drummer Boy" by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone
• Music by Maury Laws
• Lyrics by Jules Bass
• Designed by Charles Frazier and Don Duga
• Musical Director: Colin Romoff
• Recording by Phil Kaye and Jim Harris
• Production Supervisors: Takeo Nakamura (uncredited) and Hiroshi Tabata (uncredited)

1976 sequel

In 1976, Rankin/Bass produced a sequel, titled The Little Drummer Boy, Book II, again sponsored by the American Gas Association. It premiered on December 13, 1976, also on NBC, and like its predecessor, has also aired on Freeform.^[2] In this sequel, written by Jules Bass (under the pseudonym Julian P. Gardner), Aaron and his animal friends team up with Melchior, one of the Magi, to protect silver bells, made to ring for Christ's arrival, from a band of greedy Roman soldiers.^[3] Warner Archive released The Little Drummer Boy Book II, in a collection called Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection.

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Little Drummer Boy (film)

• The Little Drummer Boy on IMDb