Santa and the Three Bears

One of the best memories I have of my childhood is watching this movie every year with my Mom. A tradition in my house, this innocent tale about Santa made me a true believer. I got the DVD and watched it for the first time with my 3-year-old this Christmas, and at one point had to leave the room I got so choked up. It is so rare to find anything written for kids that is this innocent and clever anymore. No off-color potty humor jokes, or awkward moments of adult content hidden under the guides of child entertainment. Watching this movie today makes you very aware of an innocence lost among today's youth. Seeing my child react the same way I did at her age to this movie reminded me of the sense of wonder I had every year after watching this film. I was saddened to see it is no longer shown on TV. It figures. Get yourself a copy before it is too late and this film is lost forever! The film quality has really degraded over the years. I was really sort of shocked and saddened when I saw it, but it made me cherish the copy I have even more. I feel like I need to take extra care of it before this movie becomes extinct!

"Santa and the Three Bears" certainly lacks the flashier artwork, pace, and musical scores of other Christmas specials, before, during, and after its production. But, the tale told in "Santa and the Three Bears" is simply told, an almost-buried virtue in television programming which, wrongfully, believes it has to be flashy and quick in order to maintain a child's attention. In that, it remains a much more timeless and welcome work that only reveals its specialness as the years go by.

I saw "Santa and the Three Bears" when I was 10 years old. I loved it then and I love it now. The musical score is humble yet haunting, particularly the scenes in which the cubs prepare for Christmas and the hibernation of the bears just before Santa arrives. Again, a simple, simply-told, "bare bones" approach to storytelling that has the vastly-underrated Hal Smith playing a live-action and the animated Santa Claus (along with Mr. Ranger). I never tire of watching this because, unlike so many of its kind that hammer home the accepted notion of Christmas as a time of love, togetherness, and wishes fulfilled, "Santa and the Three Bears" stresses the importance of magic and wonder that come from belief in something unseen. Could it be God :-)? What a wonderful message to impart on people who cultivate cynicism as a badge of honor and do not see the impact that belief, magic, and wonder can play and produce in our lives. No other animated cartoon, in my memory, ever presented that message so gracefully, artfully, charmingly,and, for the third time (like the special itself), simply told.

I'm glad "Santa and the Three Bears" is out on DVD. Also, Nana is another example of the completely overlooked vocal proficiency of the fine character actress, Jean Van Der Pyl (also the voice of Wilma Flintstone).

Sure, its syrupy in the extreme, but this holiday cartoon tale about two bear cubs awaiting Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is rather charming in its naiveté. Following a live-action prologue (which features two kids, a grandpa, and a really sleepy cat), this becomes a semi-musical animated treat with Jean Vander Pyl (Wilma Flintstone herself!) voicing Nana, the mother bear. She tries to get her cubs to hibernate, but they're too excited about seeing Saint Nick. This matinée item is geared strictly towards the under-10 crowd, though I found it simple and reassuring, if treacly. Tony Benedict co-directed from his own script (and also co-produced). Although it resembles a Hanna-Barbera offering, the movie is actually the product of Ellman Film Enterprises and Key Industries Ltd.

Why would I add this to my Christmas list? Curiosity, for the most part, as it was produced and directed by Barry Mahon. Yes, the same Barry Mahon that gave us Blood of the Zombie, The Diary of Knockers McCalla, Nudes on Tiger Reef, and over 50 more films that make this one an unusual choice. I really wanted Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny, but have not found it yet.

No zombies, no knockers, and the ax is just for cutting down a Christmas tree, not chopping off heads. Two cute bears cubs refuse to hibernate after the Ranger tells them about Christmas. They want to wait for Santa.

Hal Smith, who played Santa in Billy Wilder's The Apartment, and voiced Santa in many productions over the years, is the voice of the ranger and Santa here.

This is a really well done cartoon with great music and a story that kids of all ages will appreciate.

Not one of my favourite Christmas specials, but while it is easy to see why it may not work for some it is also just as easy to see why others will love it.

'Santa and the Three Bears' did feel a bit padded and over-stretched. Less of the "bears-questioning" scenes, which did get a little repetitive (if admittedly sweet) and a shorter length (do agree that half an hour or a little less would have been more suitable) would have helped.

However, the animation is colourful and beautifully drawn and the bookending beginning and ending juxtaposing very nicely. The music is pleasant and tuneful, if perhaps not exceptional.

The treacle and syrup in the writing is very high, but it also has a lot of charm and heart and made it easy to relate to the characters. The story is simple, but very sweet and touching, it was difficult to not be moved by it.

The bears are incredibly cute, and on the right side of it hopefully, while the voice acting from talented and prolific actors is very good.

Overall, not one of the best Christmas specials but not close to being one of the worst. One of the imperfect but underrated ones more like. 8/10 Bethany Cox