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. . . Christmas, which continues even into this our Modern 21st Century. During CHRISTMAS CRACKER, a mad Canadian scientist plots to desecrate the Christmas Star. This sad loser apparently thinks that IF he can travel through space, snatch the distant sun, shrink it down to shoe-box size and use it as a home decoration, the Three Wise Men will never be led to Bethlehem to give the Carpenter's Son the gold needed to fund Vatican City. Without this necessary seed money, it is possible that we'd all be Druids Today, making annual pilgrimages to Stonehenge. Grant Monroe Adams Jefferson Washington Lincoln dresses up as a court jester here to make a mockery of Western Civilization and American Values.

This Oscar-nominated animation short is comprised of three segments linked by a court jester dancing that looks like still photos being flipped. First one has a couple of kids made of cut-up construction paper dancing a jig to "Jingle Bells" that reminds me of how the "South Park" television series have made that look a little fashionable today. Good first segment. Second one has these photo flips of toys racing around. Among them: a clown, some cars, some animals, etc. Pretty entertaining though it's just mainly just toys moving at high speed, nothing else. Last drawn segment has a man looking for what to put on top of his tree. He doesn't get satisfaction until he attempts to get a star from space which he uses his rocket module for. I was amused at the results of this one and was glad this was the last segment as it was the best one. So for all that, I highly recommend Christmas Cracker.

This short was nominated for an Academy Award and is absolutely one of the strangest works to be produced under the auspices of the NFBC. It's actually three very brief pieces with a framing sequence-at least I think it is! Norman McLaren's fingerprints are all over this one! Known for very odd work, it's an acquired taste. I happen to like McLaren's work, but even I find this one a bit far out. If you like McLaren's very eccentric stop-motion, you'll probably like this. Otherwise it may be a bit too strange for you. Recommended if you like the unusual or Norman McLaren.