Told by
Greer Garson
Sung by the
Vienna Boys Choir
Original Airdate: December 19, 1968
Airs annually on Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas
Airs annually on Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas
Widely available on DVD and Blu-ray
It’s rare to find a Christmas special devoted to its
religious aspect. Interestingly,
Rankin/Bass has a few specials that cover the holiday’s origins. This
special, based on a song about a boy who plays his drum as a gift for Baby
Jesus, is the best-known of that kind. It
takes the basic idea of the song and turns it into a very impactful story with
an effective play on the emotions.
Much of this special’s power lies within the depths of the little drummer boy, Aaron. He may seem like a typical little boy who loves to play his drum for his animal friends, Baba a lamb, Joshua a camel, and Samson a donkey, but hardships follow him wherever he goes. The opening scene sells this idea when he’s captured by the greedy and flamboyant caravan king, Ben Haramed, and forced to join by playing his drum for the taxpayers. It’s heavy enough that Aaron is forced into labor for a man who gets his pay dishonestly, but the special doesn’t just settle for that. Even darker elements lie within Aaron’s backstory. It starts off happy as we see Aaron receive his drum from his parents and enjoying it immensely. Then it turns dark with no stops pulled when some time later, bandits invade and burn his home, and graphically murder his parents. The daringness of getting this dark is impressive for showing that sometimes, horrifying moments can happen without notice. The big thing to take from all this is how these events leave a lasting impression on the now orphaned Aaron. Unlike the dark shooting scene in Cricket on the Hearth which happened and was never mentioned again, Aaron’s backstory shapes his worldview for the special. Because of this heinous act, he vows to hate all humans and spend his life traveling through the desert with animals. The fact that he’s only a child sells the tragic feel of what Aaron is put through. You can imagine the painful rage and turmoil he feels when he’s forced to perform for people with a painted smile, and their cheers remind him of the bandits who ruined his life. However, since this special is set during the first Christmas, its second half eases Aaron’s many tragedies in the most faithful way possible when the Star of Bethlehem appears. After Ben sells Joshua to the three wise men following the star, Aaron, Baba, and Samson leave the caravan and follow the star for the purposes of rescuing their camel comrade. From there, the special displays how effective the spirit of Christmas is when they find Joshua in the manger where everyone marvels at the birth of Jesus. As for how this spirit works on Aaron, it happens when a chariot comes out of nowhere and fatally injures Baba. Desperate to save him, with the encouragement of the wise men, Aaron gives Jesus the only gift he has, a song on his drum. The performance is a truly moving scene. Not only does it lead to Jesus healing Baba, but him smiling at the gift is what gets Aaron to let go of his hatred of humans. This simple moment is a moving symbol of how even in the darkest of lives, God will guide us to hope and peace ,which is the true meaning of Christmas that will never change. It could’ve been stronger if Aaron didn’t need to give his gift for his own needs. He’d most likely let go of his hatred if the chariot didn’t appear and he did what he did out of the simple desire to offer Jesus a gift. Either way, the message is still apparent. With that, we’re overall left with one of Rankin/Bass’s most powerful and emotionally-gripping stories.
In addition to Aaron’s engaging depths and plot doing justice to the meaning of Christmas, the overall aesthetic of the special makes it feel so grand and biblical. These strengths are mostly noticeable through how it’s told. Storyteller Greer Garson adds a dramatic layer, especially when describing Aaron’s inner turmoil or the event of witnessing Jesus’ birth. Her narration makes the special feel like a gospel reading you’d hear during Mass. The grand feel is also elevated by the songs. There are two light-hearted songs like “When the Goose is Hanging High” to demonstrate Ben Haramed’s greed, and “Why Can’t the Animals Smile?” which Aaron plays while trapped performing for people. Then you have the songs performed by the Vienna Boys Choir which tie directly into Jesus’ birth. Their singing talents capture the feel of the moment through “One Star in the Night” as Aaron, his animal friends, and adjacent shepherds follow the star. In addition, their cover of the title song makes Aaron’s performance wonderous, and they really nail the pa-rum-pum-pum-pums. Like the overall story, the little parts of this special’s craftsmanship work as a testament to Christmas’ origins.
If you long for a Christmas special that breaks from the usual Santa adventures and modern family traditions, check out this one. For its respect for the day’s religious background, and the daring risks with the story, tone and characters, it’s a Christmas special unlike any other, blessing those who are pure in heart.
Much of this special’s power lies within the depths of the little drummer boy, Aaron. He may seem like a typical little boy who loves to play his drum for his animal friends, Baba a lamb, Joshua a camel, and Samson a donkey, but hardships follow him wherever he goes. The opening scene sells this idea when he’s captured by the greedy and flamboyant caravan king, Ben Haramed, and forced to join by playing his drum for the taxpayers. It’s heavy enough that Aaron is forced into labor for a man who gets his pay dishonestly, but the special doesn’t just settle for that. Even darker elements lie within Aaron’s backstory. It starts off happy as we see Aaron receive his drum from his parents and enjoying it immensely. Then it turns dark with no stops pulled when some time later, bandits invade and burn his home, and graphically murder his parents. The daringness of getting this dark is impressive for showing that sometimes, horrifying moments can happen without notice. The big thing to take from all this is how these events leave a lasting impression on the now orphaned Aaron. Unlike the dark shooting scene in Cricket on the Hearth which happened and was never mentioned again, Aaron’s backstory shapes his worldview for the special. Because of this heinous act, he vows to hate all humans and spend his life traveling through the desert with animals. The fact that he’s only a child sells the tragic feel of what Aaron is put through. You can imagine the painful rage and turmoil he feels when he’s forced to perform for people with a painted smile, and their cheers remind him of the bandits who ruined his life. However, since this special is set during the first Christmas, its second half eases Aaron’s many tragedies in the most faithful way possible when the Star of Bethlehem appears. After Ben sells Joshua to the three wise men following the star, Aaron, Baba, and Samson leave the caravan and follow the star for the purposes of rescuing their camel comrade. From there, the special displays how effective the spirit of Christmas is when they find Joshua in the manger where everyone marvels at the birth of Jesus. As for how this spirit works on Aaron, it happens when a chariot comes out of nowhere and fatally injures Baba. Desperate to save him, with the encouragement of the wise men, Aaron gives Jesus the only gift he has, a song on his drum. The performance is a truly moving scene. Not only does it lead to Jesus healing Baba, but him smiling at the gift is what gets Aaron to let go of his hatred of humans. This simple moment is a moving symbol of how even in the darkest of lives, God will guide us to hope and peace ,which is the true meaning of Christmas that will never change. It could’ve been stronger if Aaron didn’t need to give his gift for his own needs. He’d most likely let go of his hatred if the chariot didn’t appear and he did what he did out of the simple desire to offer Jesus a gift. Either way, the message is still apparent. With that, we’re overall left with one of Rankin/Bass’s most powerful and emotionally-gripping stories.
In addition to Aaron’s engaging depths and plot doing justice to the meaning of Christmas, the overall aesthetic of the special makes it feel so grand and biblical. These strengths are mostly noticeable through how it’s told. Storyteller Greer Garson adds a dramatic layer, especially when describing Aaron’s inner turmoil or the event of witnessing Jesus’ birth. Her narration makes the special feel like a gospel reading you’d hear during Mass. The grand feel is also elevated by the songs. There are two light-hearted songs like “When the Goose is Hanging High” to demonstrate Ben Haramed’s greed, and “Why Can’t the Animals Smile?” which Aaron plays while trapped performing for people. Then you have the songs performed by the Vienna Boys Choir which tie directly into Jesus’ birth. Their singing talents capture the feel of the moment through “One Star in the Night” as Aaron, his animal friends, and adjacent shepherds follow the star. In addition, their cover of the title song makes Aaron’s performance wonderous, and they really nail the pa-rum-pum-pum-pums. Like the overall story, the little parts of this special’s craftsmanship work as a testament to Christmas’ origins.
If you long for a Christmas special that breaks from the usual Santa adventures and modern family traditions, check out this one. For its respect for the day’s religious background, and the daring risks with the story, tone and characters, it’s a Christmas special unlike any other, blessing those who are pure in heart.
Highly Recommended
The Ranking
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Cricket on the Hearth
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next special, another household work from Rankin/Bass, Frosty the Snowman.
If you would like to check out other Rankin/Bass special reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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