It’s a few weeks into December, when a sudden snowstorm brings out the winter hijinks that cute, cuddly animated forest creatures are known for. They watch a bouncing snowball and sing a few rounds of jingle bells, then it’s back to the nest, to watch football.
Snow Foolin’
Dec 27
In this condensed version of the infamous holiday classic, the children of Mars are restless, and the leader means to do something about it! A crinkly, wizened sage suggests that their planet too could use some good cheer, so an expedition is sent to earth to bag a fat man in a red suit, and bring him to live on the red planet. Once Santa and two earth kids are brought to Mars, things don’t go quite as the leaders planned. Full of old-fashioned holiday cheer, cheesy music, terrible special effects and even worse acting.
A Visit to Santa
Dec 22
It’s Christmas eve and Santa is just getting around to reading his fan mail. Two kids want to visit, so Santa figure why not? he’s not doing anything else. Santa sends his ‘magic helicopter’ to get the kids and bring them to the North Pole. Turns out, Santa doesn’t hang in a workshop, but instead lounges about in a living room, where his rear securely is placed in an easy chair. He shows them around a store, shows off a model train layout, and scoots them back home. Incredible holiday fun for the easily amused, this film thrilled children when it was released in 1963.