Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (1974)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A young girl named Virginia keeps getting picked on because she believes in Santa Claus. She asks one adult after another but none of them are willing to tell her so she writes a letter to a local newspaper where Frances Church posts an answer. Based on the famous 1897 story, this animated tale is a pretty good little film even if the 25-minute running time does feel a tad bit long at times. I think the film would have been much better had five-minutes or so been cut out. Early on there's a pretty long sequence where Virginia keeps asking the same question over and over and I must admit that after a while it got a bit boring. Outside of that this here is a pretty good little film and of course it has a great message behind it. The original article response to the girl is read at the end of the movie and I'm sure it will have the same impact on young children as it did when first published. The animation looks extremely good and there's no doubt that the Virginia character is quite enjoyable.

"He will continue to make glad, the heart of childhood." So answered New York Sun editor Francis Church at the end of his editorial to one Virginia O'Hanlon one day in 1897 to her question of is there a Santa Claus. Taking a break from the "Peanuts" specials, director Bill Melendez put the same charm he visualized in those on this one to sentimental effect with once again children voicing the kid characters. I loved the scene between that street cop Virginia asked about the red-suited man and that cop's superior on the phone and his reply to Virginia about what that superior said about Santa. And how nice was it to hear Jim Backus as the narrator here. Since I don't want to spoil anything, you'll have to watch this to find out who he's supposed to be in relation to the story. So, yes, that's a recommendation...

Peanuts director Bill Melendez takes a time-out with this Xmas special based on a true story, but doesn't stray too far from the Peanuts style. He doesn't stray at all, as a matter of fact.

Virginia is a little girl living in New York City in 1897. She is mocked by her classmates for still believing in Santa Claus so she writes a letter to a newspaper editor asking for confirmation. He replies with a resoundingly 'yes'.

It looks and sounds a LOT like Peanuts with the simple animation and phonetic dialogue. I could swear I saw ol' Chuck among those kids too. File this somewhere in the middle of your Xmas viewing list.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 HOLIDAY FILMS & SPECIALS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.

I remember loving this as a child but as an adult I found the animation in this special flat and dull! But that is the worse thing I can say about this cartoon!

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus is a Christmas special that aired on ABC, premiering on December 6, 1974. It is based on the story of Virginia O'Hanlon, a seven-year-old girl who wrote to The New York Sun in 1897, and the response by its editor, Francis Church.

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" is a phrase from an editorial called Is There a Santa Claus?. The editorial appeared in the September 21, 1897, edition of The (New York) Sun and has since become part of popular Christmas folklore in the United States. It is the most reprinted editorial in any English-language newspaper.

As charming as this special is there is a huge flaw and that is the animation is terrible. Even by 1974 standards the animation was sub- par. Now the little one's might not mind but older kids and most adults will. The animation should have been better.

As for the story itself it is a well told. Running less than 30 minutes the special moves a quick pace. I remember loving this as a child but as an adult