This short film, less than three minutes long, started popping up on local T.V. shows in the mid fifties and seems to have left a particular impression on people in the Chicago area, where it first played on "Garfield Ghoose and Friends," and later was shown on "Bozo Circus." One source says it first played on the station in 1956.
It became popular on the show along with a jazzy cartoon of "Frosty The Snowman", and another stop motion feature that would appear to come from the same filmmakers as "Hardrock"; though the creation of these shorts seems shrouded in mystery. "Hardrock" has emerged as the most popular of the three.
The song and film tell the story of Santa's three favorite elves. Hardrock, Santa's thin, umber-competent driver; Coco, who shoulders the daunting task of navigating Claus' worldwide run; and Joe, a frankly useless chap whose inclusion is in keeping with the pure fellowship of the season.
The film is dark, even spooky; perhaps an inadvertent precursor to
"The Nightmare Before Christmas." Yet what emerges from this crude,
sub Harryhausen dollsmanship is somehow heartwarming and
haunting, industrial strength kitsch as potentaint as the heartiest Christmas
Punch.
While the song was also covered by Gene Autry (perhaps the
song was conceived as a Rudolph follow up), the choral version here
is a big part of the effect. This is music that not only doesn't anticipate,
but could never conceive the rock and pop that was just around the
corner. Which somehow, in this context, makes it all the cooler.
All of the virtues of "Hardrock" can also be found in "Susie
Snowflake", yet one suspects it will always be these three who
rule the island of misfit guilty pleasures. Who were these singers
and animators? Perhaps this is the best kind of mystery, the kind
that deserve to remain unsolved.