Classics: A Rankin Bass Christmas By Lauren Ennis

With the release of the enduring classic special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in 1964 animation studio Rankin Bass Productions became synonymous with holiday entertainment. Even decades later, the studio’s stop-motion television specials remain some beloved holiday viewing as they continue to be passed from one generation to the next. In the spirit of the season, this week I’ll be turning the spotlight on three Rankin Bass films that will have you wishing that the holiday season could last all year long.

You better watch out, you better not cry...

Santa Claus is Coming to Town: No Christmas viewing list would be complete without a visit from the man of the hour himself; Santa Claus. This 1970 film functions as a delightful origins story for Santa as it relays how an abandoned infant defied the odds by growing up to become a living legend. The story begins with an elf family, the Kringles, finding a baby on their doorstep. The Kringles, a family of once successful toy-makers, take the child in and give him the name Kris Kringle. When he grows up, Kris takes his place in the family business and becomes determined to restore his family to their former place as the ‘first toymakers to the king’. Along the way he uses his stock of toys to spread joy and hope to those he encounters until he finds himself in Somber Town, where the citizens’ lives are dominated by work and chores and toys have been banned. When he dares to question the town’s despotic mayor, the Burgermeister Meisterburger, Kris soon finds himself on the wrong side of the law and embarks upon an adventure that will transform him from entrepreneur to outlaw to saint. The film expertly utilizes the then innovative technique of stop-motion animation to bring Kris and his whimsical world to life. The engaging voice performances (including performances by screen legends Mickey Rooney and Fred Astaire) and toe tapping tunes ensure that audiences of all ages will find something to love. This Christmas join Kris and the Kringles in Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Jack Frost nipping at your nose..

Jack Frost: While this film may be less well known than some of its counterparts, Jack Frost is still a prime example of Rankin Bass at its finest. Rather than maintaining a narrow focus upon one holiday or religious tradition, the film celebrates the entire winter season. As a result, the film makes for ideal seasonal viewing for diverse audiences which remains timely for more than just one brief month. The story follows winter sprite Jack Frost, who longs to become human. Jack’s life is further complicated when he finds himself falling for a mortal woman and becomes torn between his dream of a mortal life and his duty as a winter sprite. After Jack pleads his case Father Winter reluctantly relents and allows him to become human on the condition that he will return to his true form unless he can secure a house, a horse, gold, and a wife by spring. The tale then evolves into a fish out of water story reminiscent of The Little Mermaid as Jack struggles to adjust to mortal life while also trying to earn the affection of the woman he loves. The film utilizes the studio’s signature animation to full effect as it transforms the screen into a glittering winter wonderland. The voice actors all turn in amiable and engaging performances and also aptly perform the film’s heartwarming songs. The film’s child-friendly story and songs are sure to engage young viewers while the story’s morally conflicted hero and bittersweet ending lend the film a maturity and emotional weight that are all too rare in family entertainment. For some fun in the snow spend your holiday with Jack Frost.

Never send a man to do a woman's job

The Year Without a Santa Claus: Although Santa’s name may be in the title, it’s his gutsy wife and loyal staff who take center stage in this musical adventure. Easily one of the Rankin Bass’ most unconventional efforts, the film also holds the distinction of standing out as one of the studio’s most beloved releases. Rather than focusing upon Santa himself the story instead turns the spotlight on those around him who help make the magic of Christmas happen from behind the scenes. The story begins with Santa entering a state of depression after learning that many people have ceased to believe in him. Dejected, Santa then takes to his bed determined to cancel Christmas. Fortunately for viewers, however, Mrs. Claus refuses to give in without a fight and hatches a scheme to get Santa out of bed and back into his sleigh by Christmas. The film showcases an array of offbeat characters who break the typical norms of holiday films including well-meaning but bumbling elves Jingle and Jangle, homesick reindeer vixen, the sharp-witted Mother Nature, and the outrageous Miser Brothers (whose endlessly engaging shenanigans have more than earned them their cult following). The film also features a series of toe tapping tunes with the Misers’ Vegas-style numbers and the whimsical title tune particularly standing out. The story is especially noteworthy for its more complex portrayal of Santa and Mrs. Claus, who step outside their usual cheery roles as Santa is confronted with an existential crises which in turn prompts Mrs. Claus to reevaluate her place in the family business. This holiday season don’t go without The Year Without a Santa Claus.

Classics: A Review of the Haunting of Hill House By Lauren Ennis

“There’s no place like home”, is a phrase most often spoken with warmth and nostalgia. For the residents of Hill House, where all who walk there walk alone, however, this nostalgic adage takes on a chilling meaning. In 2018’s hit horror series The Haunting of Hill House an unsuspecting family learns just how unlike any other place their new home is as they are confronted with terrors that will haunt them for years to come. At once an innovative, modern, take on the classic haunted house story and a raw exploration of the inner demons that haunt us all The Haunting of Hill House makes for a viewing experience that is simply to die for.  

The modern dream home

The story cleverly plays with the concepts of time and memory as it shifts between the summer of 1992 and the present day. The flashbacks chronicle the sinister events of the fateful summer that the Crain family spent at the mysterious Hill House while the present day scenes relate the ways in which those events continue to impact the family years later. The family, made up of handyman Hugh (Henry Thomas and Timothy Hutton), his architect wife, Olivia (Carla Gugino), and their five children first arrive at the house with the intention of ‘flipping’ the gilded-age manor and then selling it for a profit. What the family did not plan on, however, was that their new home would have plans of its own. As the series progresses, the family are confronted with ghosts of both the supernatural and metaphorical variety as they struggle to escape the ‘not sane’ Hill House with their sanity and lives intact.

Although haunted house stories seem to invade our televisions each Halloween The Haunting of Hill House earned its status as an instant horror classic by telling a story in which its characters are even more haunted than the titular house. Rather than focusing upon the expected array of scares, the series maintains a tight focus upon the Crain family as it explores the fascinating question of what exactly happens after a horror movie ends and the survivors finally leave a haunted house. As the series progresses, and viewers witness the ways in which the Crains struggle to rebuild their shattered lives, the story evolves into a meditation on trauma. The script’s focus upon family provides additional emotional resonance as the characters reveal the ways in which family can be both our salvation and our own personal curse. Through its focus upon such familiar themes as family and trauma the series transcends the limits of the horror genre and becomes a universal tale of the places, people, and experiences that haunt us and the need to exorcize our own demons. Even as it explores the darkest corners of the human psyche, the series offers plenty of traditional scares including decaying former residents, soul-switching possession, and a certain bent-necked lady that are guaranteed to leave you sleeping with the lights on. For a frighteningly good viewing experience that will have your pulse and mind racing join the Crain family as they experience The Haunting of Hill House.

Wakey Wakey...

The ominous halls of Hill House come to eerie life thanks to the excellent work of the cast. Henry Thomas and Timothy Hutton aptly portray how the traumatic events at Hill House transformed Hugh from a cheery and ambitious family man to the tormented shadow of himself that he has been reduced to in the present. Carla Gugino skillfully conveys the dual nature of Oliva’s personality as she portrays Olivia’s warm and vivacious persona, while still ensuring that she remains an ethereal enigma to viewers. Paxton Singleton and Michiel Huisman create a fascinating contrast in their dual roles as the carefree and fun-loving pre-haunting Steve and the isolated, materialistic, man he has become. Lulu Wilson and Elizabeth Reaser are well cast as responsible older sister Shirley in seamless performances that perfectly complement each other. McKenna Grace and Kate Siegel nearly steal each scene that they appear in as caustic clairvoyant Theodora. Julian Hilliard and Oliver Jackson-Cohen are endlessly endearing as well-meaning but misunderstood Luke. Violet McGraw and Victoria Pedretti are heartbreaking in their portrayals of sensitive Nell, who always seems to be lost amidst her preoccupied family.

We are family, get up everybody and scream!

Through its careful balance between supernatural and real-life horrors The Haunting of Hill House breathes fresh life into the horror genre. The twisting narrative and multi-faceted characters ensure that viewers will remain on the edge of their seats even when there isn’t a jump scare prompting them to leap off. The excellent performances, engrossing cinematography, and stunning visuals ensure that the ten-hour series is a non-stop thrill ride. Part modern family drama and part old-fashioned horror story, The Haunting of Hill House is a wholly original viewing experience and a must-see for horror fans. For a series that is certain to leave you paralyzed with fear pay a visit to Hill House.