Jack Frost
Told and
Sung by Buddy Hackett
Original
Airdate: December 13, 1979
Airs annually on AMC’s Best Christmas Ever
Available on DVD
One of the biggest strengths of the Rankin/Bass specials is
how they take any holiday icon and craft something creative and engaging around
it. This special continues that trend by
developing the well-known winter sprite, Jack Frost. Despite already being personified in the Frosty sequels, this special is a new
attempt of characterizing him, and he turns out to be more engaging than
ever. It also helps that he stars in a
creatively crafted world with an entertaining, and at times mature, story to
tell.
Told by the official Groundhog Day groundhog, Pardon-Me Pete,
the story offers many imaginative information on how Jack Frost works. Rather than being the perfectly visible nymph
he was in previous specials, he’s an invisible being who creates winter weather
with his breath. Even more impressive is
how dependable he is for the people of a town called January Junction. Ruled over a pompous, tyrannical Cossack
king, Kubla Kraus, the town is rendered completely poor because of him. They
need him to make their own money out of ice to last through the winter. There’s also a lot to admire in the
creativity of the environment he lives in to create winter. His home is a common winter storm cloud
filled with many buildings made of clouds and other little figures that help
bring about winter. Snip makes snowflakes for all countries. Holly
is a tiny little girl in charge of white Christmases. Then there's Father Winter, the
most powerful winter being who creates strong winter gusts and rules over
everyone in the storm cloud. There's one big thing that makes Jack Frost himself such an endearing lead. Even though he’s
good at his job and is appreciated for it, especially from a girl named Elisa, it hardly means
anything to him since no one can see him, making him feel lonely. This fact makes Jack a sympathetic lead and
is relatable to the idea that it’s hard to love your job if no one can
personally thank you for it. The main
story has Jack try and do something about his loneliness when he convinces
Father Winter to make him human. If Jack can get a house, a horse, gold, and
a wife by the end of winter, he will remain human forever.
As Jack goes through life as a human, through living with
Elisa’s family as a tailor, the story makes an interesting move that’s more
true to life. Sometimes what we want to
do simply doesn’t work out as we plan.
For one thing, because Jack has spent so much time as an invisible
winter sprite, he can’t properly adjust to being a human and needs help from Snip and Holly. Also,
given Kubla Kraus’ tyrannical rule over January Junction, it’s near impossible
for him to get a house, horse, and gold right away. In fact, regarding Kubla Kraus, he’s a
well-rounded character as well. Even though he keeps everything Jack and
the January Junction citizens need for himself, he’s not happy about it. No one wants to be with him due to his greed and attitude, including his
Cossacks and the mice. As a result, he has to make his own army, animals, and
even a little puppet companion named Dommy.
He may be the villain, but this depth makes him creative, funny, and
interesting. Anyway, Jack also finds it hard to obtain a
wife when an old boyfriend of Elisa’s, a knight named Sir Ravenal, shows up. What’s more, when Kubla Kraus kidnaps Elisa
to make her his wife, one thing he doesn’t have, and Jack tries to save her,
Sir Ravenal turns out to be the big hero while Jack is captured. Then, when Kubla Kraus plans to attack
January Junction, Jack willingly gives up his humanity to become a winter
sprite to keep Kubla and his army snowbound and January Junction safe. This
position is where he shines the best.
Jack’s powers are just what stops Kubla Kraus and his iron army, and he even gets six extra weeks after cleverly tricking Pardon-Me
Pete into seeing his shadow on Groundhog Day.
Eventually though, Jack does shine as a human in an entertaining climax
where he uses Dommy to trick Kubla Kraus’ armies into marching down a
mountainside. He also gets rid of Kubla Kraus himself, with help from Father
Winter, claiming a house, horse, and gold in the process. However, we end with a twist that you might
not see coming given how romances in family shows usually play out. Jack does NOT win over his love interest
when, just as winter ends, Elisa is wed to Sir Ravenal. Not only is this a more logical outcome since
Elisa knew the knight more than the humanized Jack Frost, but it also gives the
story a lot of credibility. It shows that people don’t always end up with
their first love interests in real life.
It’s still a bittersweet ending since Jack ends up back where he started
away from the people he grew strong bonds with. Nevertheless it's pleasing that he’s
happy with doing what he’s most comfortable with and most talented at doing, which is the
only way winter can exist after all.
Ultimately, not only does this special end up being highly creative and entertaining,
but also true to life in some ways, thus giving it true universal appeal.
I’ve seen bits and pieces of many of later Rankin/Bass
Christmas specials throughout my life, but this set of reviews has encouraged
me to give them all a proper watch from start to finish. With Jack Frost, I found a lot to admire. The mythos behind how winter works are
creative; the title character has some good depth and relatability; the villain
is threatening but not without human weight to his actions; and the story has some mature
and realistic twists to it. Along with a
cast of lovable characters, and even some catchy songs, this is easily one of Rankin/Bass’ best works, and a special
that’s sure to make any winter wonderful.
Highly Recommended
The Ranking
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
- The Year Without a Santa Claus
- Frosty the Snowman
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Jack Frost
- The Stingiest Man in Town
- Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
- Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
- The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow
- Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
- ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
- Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
- The Little Drummer Boy Book II
- Cricket on the Hearth
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next special where Rankin/Bass gives the story of Pinocchio the Christmas special treatment with Pinocchio's Christmas.
If you would like to check out other Rankin/Bass special reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
