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The Little Drummer Boy

  • TV Movie
  • 1968
  • Not Rated
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
Holiday AnimationHoliday FamilyStop Motion AnimationAnimationDramaFamilyFantasyHolidayMusical

An orphan drummer boy who hates humanity finds his life changed forever when he meets three wise men en route to Bethlehem.An orphan drummer boy who hates humanity finds his life changed forever when he meets three wise men en route to Bethlehem.An orphan drummer boy who hates humanity finds his life changed forever when he meets three wise men en route to Bethlehem.

  • Directors
    • Jules Bass
    • Arthur Rankin Jr.
    • Takeo Nakamura
  • Writer
    • Romeo Muller
  • Stars
    • José Ferrer
    • Paul Frees
    • June Foray
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    6.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Jules Bass
      • Arthur Rankin Jr.
      • Takeo Nakamura
    • Writer
      • Romeo Muller
    • Stars
      • José Ferrer
      • Paul Frees
      • June Foray
    • 43User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is coming to town
    Trailer 0:43
    Watch The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is coming to town

    Photos43

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    Top cast6

    Edit
    José Ferrer
    José Ferrer
    • Ben Haramed
    • (voice)
    • (as Jose Ferrer)
    Paul Frees
    Paul Frees
    • Aaron's Father, the Magi
    • (voice)
    June Foray
    June Foray
    • Aaron's Mother
    • (voice)
    Ted Eccles
    Ted Eccles
    • Aaron
    • (voice)
    • (as Teddy Eccles)
    Greer Garson
    Greer Garson
    • Our Story Teller
    • (voice)
    • (as Miss Greer Garson)
    Wiener Sängerknaben
    • Themselves
    • (voice)
    • (as The Vienna Boys Choir)
    • Directors
      • Jules Bass
      • Arthur Rankin Jr.
      • Takeo Nakamura
    • Writer
      • Romeo Muller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    6.5
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    Cricket on the Hearth
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When restoring the film in 1998 for its 30th anniversary, it was found that the original master 35mm elements for the film were lost. As such, 16mm B-roll footage had to be used instead. Although the sound quality was improved, a majority of the sound effects were lost and a crucial piece of narration by Greer Garson was mistakenly replaced by a scratch track of Paul Frees voicing the line.
    • Goofs
      In some copies of the video, the narration switches from Greer Garson to Paul Frees. At the very end, where the Greer Garson narration begins "and as Aaron looked at the babe..." the voice is that of Paul Frees. This mistake is due to the fact that when restoring the film in 1998 for its 30th anniversary, it was found that the original master 35mm elements for the film were lost. As such, 16mm B-roll footage had to be used instead. Although the sound quality was improved, a majority of the sound effects were lost and a crucial piece of narration by Greer Garson was mistakenly replaced by a scratch track of Paul Frees voicing the line.
    • Quotes

      Our Story Teller: Aaron's heart was filled with joy and love. And he knew at last that the hate he had carried there was wrong. As ALL hatred will ever be wrong. For more powerful, more beautiful by far than all the eons of sadness and cruelty and desolation which had come before, was that one tiny, crystalline second of laughter. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

    • Crazy credits
      The Rankin-Bass logo at the end plays in complete silence.
    • Alternate versions
      The original 1968 release contained several bumpers narrated by Greer Garson thanking the original sponsor, the American Gas Association with one bumper containing a photo of herself. These have since been edited out of prints since the 1970's.
    • Connections
      Featured in Desert Winds (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      The Little Drummer Boy
      Written by Katherine K. Davis and Henry Onorati

      Arranged by Harry Simeone

      Performed by Wiener Sängerknaben (as The Vienna Boys Choir)

    User reviews43

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Story of the true meaning of Christ(mas)
    I hadn't seen this in years and watched it recently since I now have the Christmas DVD collection. It never occurred to me until now, as an adult, that this brings out the true meaning of Christmas. It is such a simple story yet touched me in a way no other 'Christmas special' (as others are so loosely called) has. It puts Christ back into Christmas and as far as I'm concerned, and in that sense, it's the best special ever created. As an added bonus, the choir music is angelic and very touching. It is a shame that in this day and age, nothing comes close to stories like these any more. Our country is slowly and methodically being turned into a God-less society and it's quite apparent in the media. I hope many of us will take a stand again and return to the simple morals and values that were once mainstream.
    • sflagal
    • Dec 18, 2005
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1968 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El niño del tambor
    • Production company
      • Rankin/Bass Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      25 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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