'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Blistering performances.

I don't remember ever seeing this as a child and I grew up in that era. In fact, I was 6 years old. Yes, it's only 25 minutes long, but you think it would have came on during the Holidays every year. And back then, we didn't have the number of TV/Cable channels that we do now. It was only the major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, etc). Still, I'm just now watching this. It's kind of cute for a 70's animation and it has a decent lesson in it, if you brake something, then you must try to find a way to fix it. This is a good one for young children. And who can forget the famous Christmas poem by Clement Moore? I used to know all the words, but I couldn't recite them as well last night when I watched it. Are you new to watching this one as well? See how well you remember the famous poem! Definitely a great CLASSIC for the Holidays!

I have always loved animation and Christmas specials. Rankin/Bass had already done some of my absolute favourites like Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty The Snowman and Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, and I remembered Twas the Night Before Christmas from childhood. So I thought to myself, why not revisit it? I am so glad I did. It really is a treasure. I personally would loved for it to be a tad longer, however the story still charms and the message still resonates. The animation perhaps is not the best I've seen from Rankin/Bass but it does have a certain warmth to it.I just love the music. All the Rankin/Bass specials have great music, and Twas the Night Before Christmas is no exception. The incidental music sparkles and of the songs Even a Miracle needs a hand makes me sing along and I have to say I forgot how emotional Give your heart a try was.Twas the Night Before Christmas has very good writing also, with the reciting of the poem Twas the Night Before Christmas bringing me back to my mum reading it at Christmas Eve to help us sleep and several parts coming across as touching. You really relate to the characters as well, even Albert, who wouldn't love talking mice though? The voice acting is very dynamic, with Joel Grey especially impressive. In conclusion, a Christmas treasure that brought all those memories back. 9/10 Bethany Cox

There were those Xmas classics that one watched as a child because I really enjoyed them. Then there were those that I watched mainly because there was nothing else on and it put me in the Xmas mood. I would have to say this one falls in the latter. Not that it is bad, but it just does not really hold up to others such as Frosty, Rudolph and the Grinch in terms of enjoyment, comedy and good animation. This one is a bit off looking and I did not care for the way Santa looked in this one as a kid. Still, I was a kid and presented with an image of Santa and this one looked different so as a kid you can understand why I felt it was not right. The story is a bit different as someone has written Santa a nasty letter, a letter so bad that he has decided he will not be delivering presents this Xmas. Which seems a bit rough punishing all for the letter of one, I mean he could simply give the perpetrator some coal as he sees all and knows all. Well a man tries to show Santa how much he is appreciated in the form of a song coming out of a clock, and some mice must help this endeavor work. Like I said, it is not necessarily bad, just not one of my holiday favorites.

This film is just as good as any other Christmas film. This is a heart warming film that you can stand to watch a hundred times. One of the most rare underrated Rankin Bass films you will ever see. This portrays the story better than any other film ever!!!! When you watch this film you will feel better ;although, you can't put your finger on what you feel better about, you'll feel better. It's one of those films you'll see every once in a while that when you start to watch it you wait until its over much like "A Christmas Story". If you get your hands on this video you'll be glad you did you won't even want to return it. If it is a DVD format go and buy it, even though its kind of a kiddy movie, you'll love to watch it.