'Twas the Night Before Christmas

TV Movie
1974
TV-G
25m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

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Watch Twas The Night Before Christmas: Father And Albert

8 Videos

28 Photos

Animation Comedy Family Fantasy Musical

When a town learns that Santa Claus has struck it off his delivery schedule due to an insulting letter, a way must be found to change his mind.When a town learns that Santa Claus has struck it off his delivery schedule due to an insulting letter, a way must be found to change his mind.When a town learns that Santa Claus has struck it off his delivery schedule due to an insulting letter, a way must be found to change his mind.

Directors
- Jules Bass
- Arthur Rankin Jr.
Writers
- Clement Moore
- Jerome Coopersmith
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Jules Bass
- Arthur Rankin Jr.
Writers
- Clement Moore
- Jerome Coopersmith
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Albert
(voice)

John McGiver

Mayor
(voice)

George Gobel

Father Mouse
(voice)

Patricia Bright

Sarah Trundle
(voice)
…

Scott Firestone

Son
(voice)
…

Bob McFadden

Substation Operator
(voice)
(as Robert McFadden)
…

Allen Swift

Santa Claus
(voice)
(as Alan Swift)

The Wee Winter Singers

Christine Winter

Daughter
(voice)
…

Directors
- Jules Bass
- Arthur Rankin Jr.
Writers
- Clement Moore
- Jerome Coopersmith
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Junctionville, New York is a fictional town meant to honor author Clement Moore, who was born in New York. It is apparently a seaside town, as one little boy, Davy Thomas, is shown sitting on a seaside cliff dropping a drawing of Santa into the ocean. Its maritime nature may have been based on Newport, Rhode Island, where Clement Moore died.

Goofs
As Father Mouse and Albert enter the Trundles' house to see the model of the new clock tower, we see a clock that reads 10 o'clock in the long shot. After Father Mouse and Albert finish bouncing down in the next shot, the clock reads 11:10.

Quotes
Father Mouse: [voiceover] Here's our first example of how you've ruined everyone's Christmas with your opinions.

Alternate versions
Some TV networks edit out the song "Give Your Heart a Try" because of the word "gay" at the beginning.

Connections
Featured in Logos from Around the World: United States of America (aka 'Murica) (2016)

Soundtracks
Overture
Music by Maury Laws
Lyrics by Jules Bass

User reviews37

Review

Featured review

9/10

Another Christmas treasure from Rankin/Bass

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