I was four years old when this cartoon film premiered on television, but even though I am now 48, I still recall being transfixed by Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. A large part of my enjoyment comes from the beautiful musical soundtrack (and yes, it is beautiful - think of these songs, and compare them to the trash that passes for "music" today!), with poignant, and sometimes funny, music and lyrics by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne. These songs linger in your memory long after the film is over.
You can always tell a good song because you hum the melody to yourself after the show is over, and want to hear it again. This score delivers in spades. It doesn't talk down to children, and it tells them of the pain of being alone at Christmastime, the sadness of relationships that end, or might end, by death, as well as the Christian cheer of Christmas, which is all too often forgotten in the pursuit of material wealth and gifts for under the tree.
I was glad the DVD finally came out so I could share this memorable Christmas film with my own children and watch the same emotions fill their faces as must have filled mine back in 1962.
You can always tell a good song because you hum the melody to yourself after the show is over, and want to hear it again. This score delivers in spades. It doesn't talk down to children, and it tells them of the pain of being alone at Christmastime, the sadness of relationships that end, or might end, by death, as well as the Christian cheer of Christmas, which is all too often forgotten in the pursuit of material wealth and gifts for under the tree.
I was glad the DVD finally came out so I could share this memorable Christmas film with my own children and watch the same emotions fill their faces as must have filled mine back in 1962.