The Stingiest Man in Town: Difference between revisions
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telecast on Dec. 23 1956 on the NBC anthology series ''The Alcoa Hour'' |
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'''''The Stingiest Man in Town''''' ([[1978 in film|1978]]) is a [[Christmas special]] created by [[Arthur Rankin Jr.]] and [[Jules Bass]], which featured traditional [[animation]] rather than the [[Animagic]] most often used by the company. It was an animated [[remake]] of a long-unseen, but quite well received, live-action musical special (also called ''The Stingiest Man in Town'') which had originally starred [[Basil Rathbone]], [[Martyn Green]], and [[Vic Damone]]. The live-action version had been telecast |
'''''The Stingiest Man in Town''''' ([[1978 in film|1978]]) is a [[Christmas special]] created by [[Arthur Rankin Jr.]] and [[Jules Bass]], which featured traditional [[animation]] rather than the [[Animagic]] most often used by the company. It was an animated [[remake]] of a long-unseen, but quite well received, live-action musical special (also called ''The Stingiest Man in Town'') which had originally starred [[Basil Rathbone]], [[Martyn Green]], and [[Vic Damone]]. The live-action version had been telecast on Dec. 23 1956 on the [[NBC]] anthology series ''[[The Alcoa Hour]]'', and was published on DVD in 2011, by VAI. |
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As with previous Rankin-Bass specials, animation duties were provided by a [[Japan]]ese studio, in this case [[Top Craft]], which would later provide animation assistance for [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film)|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]'' and the TV series ''[[Adventures of the Little Koala]]''. Given that ''The Stingiest Man in Town'' was actually broadcast in Japan on Christmas Eve of 1978 (under the title ''Machi Ichiban Kechinbo''), it is listed as an [[anime]] in some sources. The Japanese version was directed by [[Katsuhisa Yamada]], better known for work on such bona fide anime as ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' and ''[[Devil Hunter Yohko]]''. |
As with previous Rankin-Bass specials, animation duties were provided by a [[Japan]]ese studio, in this case [[Top Craft]], which would later provide animation assistance for [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film)|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]'' and the TV series ''[[Adventures of the Little Koala]]''. Given that ''The Stingiest Man in Town'' was actually broadcast in Japan on Christmas Eve of 1978 (under the title ''Machi Ichiban Kechinbo''), it is listed as an [[anime]] in some sources. The Japanese version was directed by [[Katsuhisa Yamada]], better known for work on such bona fide anime as ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' and ''[[Devil Hunter Yohko]]''. |
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Revision as of 18:52, 26 December 2011
The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) is a Christmas special created by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, which featured traditional animation rather than the Animagic most often used by the company. It was an animated remake of a long-unseen, but quite well received, live-action musical special (also called The Stingiest Man in Town) which had originally starred Basil Rathbone, Martyn Green, and Vic Damone. The live-action version had been telecast on Dec. 23 1956 on the NBC anthology series The Alcoa Hour, and was published on DVD in 2011, by VAI.
As with previous Rankin-Bass specials, animation duties were provided by a Japanese studio, in this case Top Craft, which would later provide animation assistance for Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and the TV series Adventures of the Little Koala. Given that The Stingiest Man in Town was actually broadcast in Japan on Christmas Eve of 1978 (under the title Machi Ichiban Kechinbo), it is listed as an anime in some sources. The Japanese version was directed by Katsuhisa Yamada, better known for work on such bona fide anime as Mazinger Z and Devil Hunter Yohko.
Plot
The 1978 version, based on the famous Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, is a tale of Ebenezer Scrooge told through the perspective of narrator B.A.H. Humbug (voiced by Tom Bosley) obviously a word play on Scrooge's catch phrase, "bah humbug". Scrooge (performed by Walter Matthau) is portrayed as the tightwad Charles Dickens intended him to be with his consistent resistance to assist the poor or even have Christmas dinner with his nephew Fred, performed by Dennis Day and his family. In hopes of resuscitating the goodness of his one-time friend, the ghost of Jacob Marley (voiced by Theodore Bikel), Scrooge's former business partner, visits Scrooge in his mansion, exhorting him to change his ways. Scrooge deems this to be madness and soon prepares for bed.
Nevertheless, Scrooge's attitude soon changes after a fateful night wherein three ghosts also visit him and take him through his past. Within these pernicious shadows (which Scrooge created because of his avarice) and maliciousness toward his fellow men, Scrooge sees a younger caricature of himself, voiced by Robert Morse and realizes how cryptic he has become. The Ghost of Christmas Present (performed by Paul Frees) proceeds to take Scrooge to the home of his diligent employee Bob Cratchit and discovers just how much poverty Cratchit and his family wallow in. Cratchit's crippled son Tiny Tim (voiced by Bobby Rolofson) touches Scrooge's heart and instigates a transformation within his personality. The production concludes with Scrooge manifesting his enhancements as he assists those less fortunate than himself.
Songs
The production features an unusual amount of songs, far more than in other animated productions of the story. It is very nearly through-sung. It is possible that this is because the animators wished to retain as many songs as possible from the 1956 live-action version.
