User Reviews

This sing-a-long should probably get a 10 when you factor in the budget limitations. What they came up with was excellent. The ADA Crusaders give an adequate rendition of the song, if you isolate it. But the singing perhaps fits in with the overall "old fashioned" effect strived for. The art work used in the film is so charming and brings such atmosphere to the song, that it is a true match made in Heaven! The cut out sleigh and riders have some similarities to the work of Lotte Reiniger, although the people don't move. Does the sleigh actually move, or is it the background that does? The exquisite diorama background is extensive. There is also a revolving snowman and a spinning windmill(models, not animation). Superimposed effects are used as well with a trio of spinning Christmas trees, and a heavy snowfall. The words for the sing-a-long, do move a little too fast at times, and there is a minor technical glitch in the song at the end. Of the original 4 stanzas and one refrain of the very famous Christmas song(although 1st written for Thansgiving), 2 are heard here along with the refrain. Some versions have the word bob-tailed "bay", here it is "nag", others say, two-forty "as" his, here it is, two-forty "for" his.

Jingle Bells (1950)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

This five-minute short from Neil E. McGuire is just a sing-along for Jingle Bells. Going back through time and watching older movies is always fun for a number of reasons but one is just getting to see normal things back then that most people probably wouldn't know about today. When I think of these sing-along short I always remember the scene in HUD where the entire technique of a crowd singing is perfectly shown. This short here is quite charming enough and I think it would make for an entertaining way to get the family together if you're one who still actually sings. The visuals are pretty simple as some people are riding through the snow on a (you guessed it) one horse open sleigh. The words at the bottom of the screen are easy to read as well. Again, this certainly isn't anything ground-breaking but if you enjoy this type of thing then it's good enough.