The Little Drummer Boy (TV special)

1968 Christmas TV special

The Little Drummer BoyOfficial logoGenreChristmasBased on"The Little Drummer Boy" Katherine Davis Jack HalloranWritten byRomeo MullerDirected by Jules Bass Arthur Rankin Jr. Starring Teddy Eccles Jose Ferrer Paul Frees June Foray Narrated byGreer GarsonTheme music composerMaury LawsCountries of origin United States Japan Original languageEnglishProductionProducers Jules Bass Arthur Rankin Jr. CinematographyTakeo Nakamura (uncredited)Running time25 minutesProduction companyRankin/Bass ProductionsOriginal releaseNetworkCTV Television NetworkNBCReleaseDecember 19, 1968 (1968-12-19)RelatedThe Little Drummer Boy, Book II The Little Drummer Boy is a stop motion television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, based on the song of the same name. It was first televised in Canada on December 19, 1968, on the CTV Television Network, followed four days later by its American nationwide telecast on NBC. A sequel was broadcast in 1976.

[edit] A Jewish boy named Aaron lives a peaceful life on a farm with his parents and three animals – a donkey named Samson, a lamb named Baba, and a camel named Joshua. Aaron is given a drum on his birthday, which makes the animals dance with joy when he plays it. One night, bandits attack the farm and kill Aaron's parents. Aaron survives, but is left emotionally scarred and vows to hate all mankind. Aaron's drumming abilities catch the attention of Ben Haramed, who kidnaps him and makes him join the caravan with rather inept performers against his will. When performing in Jerusalem, Aaron becomes infuriated by the townspeople's amusement and lashes out at the townspeople, accusing them of being thieves and knaves, for which Ben verbally castigates him before they continue on their way. Some time later, the troupe comes upon the Magi caravan who are following a bright star in the sky. Seizing his chance, Ben greedily attempts to perform for the Magi Melchior, Casper, and Balthazar, but they are uninterested as they try to make haste to get to the star's destination. One of the caravan camels becomes too weak to continue traveling and the Magi has no extra camel, so Ben seizes Aaron and bargains with them that they use Joshua in exchange for some of their gold. Aaron refuses to take any gold from Ben and leaves for Bethlehem with Samson and Baba. Later Aaron and his two remaining animal companions Samson and Baba escape, climb the tallest hill and join up with the Magi as they follow the star and then journey toward Bethlehem. There, upon recognizing Joshua and trying to reunite with the camel, Baba is struck by a Roman chariot. Aaron takes the injured lamb to the Magi to be healed, but they insist that maybe the baby can help. Having no gift to give to the baby, Aaron decides that his "gift" to Him and His parents will be his playing his drum for them. As a sign of gratitude, Baba is healed and rushes into Aaron's arms, filling Aaron's heart with joy at last.

[edit] Greer Garson as "Our Storyteller" Teddy Eccles as Aaron Jose Ferrer as Ben Haramad Paul Frees as: Ali Aaron's father Melchior Gaspar Balthazar Samson Baba Joshua Guards Male townspeople Chariot Driver Missal & Jamil (Tumblers) June Foray as: Aaron's mother Female townspeople The Vienna Boys' Choir singing the title song.

[edit] "The Little Drummer Boy" – The Vienna Boys' Choir "The Goose Hangs High" – Ben Haramad "Why Can’t the Animals Smile?" – Aaron "One Star in the Night" – The Vienna Boys' Choir "The Little Drummer Boy (Reprise)" – The Vienna Boys' Choir A vinyl version of the soundtrack was issued in 1968, paired with The Mouse on the Mayflower to promote the specials; copies were sent to radio disc jockeys. A composite edit of the title track and its reprise were later included on the compilation album Rudolph, Frosty and Friends Favourite Christmas Songs (1996).

[edit] An original release advertisement. The Little Drummer Boy received an approval rating of 75% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on thirteen reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "The Little Drummer Boy is a mature addition to the Rankin-Bass catalogue, with a powerful conclusion that compensates for the special's dour storytelling and unpolished animation." Contemporary reviews rated it highly, with a 1970 viewer survey ranking it among the best Christmas specials to air that year.

[edit] In 1998, restoration of The Little Drummer Boy by Golden Book Video/Sony Wonder was hindered because the film's original 35mm negative went missing during the transfer of elements from Broadway Video/Family Home Entertainment, according to Rankin/Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt. A 16mm print was located, as well as an unreleased stereo soundtrack. However, the latter was missing several sound effects, most notably a piece of narration in the final scene, which instead used a scratch track by Paul Frees. There have been no known efforts by the subsequent owners or distributors of the film to locate the missing elements and produce a proper restoration.

[edit] In 1976, Rankin/Bass produced a sequel, titled The Little Drummer Boy, Book II, again sponsored by the American Gas Association. It premiered on December 13, 1976, on NBC, and like its predecessor, has also aired on Freeform and separately on AMC as of 2018. Warner Bros. is the show's current distributor through their ownership of the post–September 1974 Rankin/Bass Productions library via Telepictures. In this sequel, written by Jules Bass (under the pseudonym Julian P. Gardner), Aaron and his animal friends team up with Melchior, one of the Magi, to protect silver bells, made to ring for Christ's arrival, from a band of greedy Roman soldiers. Warner Archive released The Little Drummer Boy Book II, in a collection called Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection.

Voice cast[edit] Greer Garson as Our Storyteller Zero Mostel as Brutus David Jay as Aaron Bob McFadden as Plato Ray Owens as Melchior Allen Swift as Simeon and The Soldiers

The Little Drummer Boy’s charm lies in its distinctive stop‑motion craft, a technique that feels quaint compared to today’s CGI. That tactile, hand‑crafted aesthetic gives the story a warm, almost nostalgic texture that resonates with families who grew up watching it on Saturday mornings. The rhythmic drumming motif doubles as a subtle lesson: even the simplest offering can be profound when delivered with heart. Because the special is short—just 25 minutes—it slots neatly into a busy Christmas Eve schedule, making it a perfect pocket‑sized tradition for parents who want a festive story without a long commitment. Its blend of gentle narration and memorable music ensures it remains an accessible entry point for younger viewers who may not yet appreciate the original carol.

When hunting for a quality copy of the 1968 classic, look beyond generic compilations. Original Rankin/Bass releases often carry a matte finish and include the iconic 1970s promotional artwork—good signs of authenticity. For DVD or Blu‑ray, check that the edition offers a restored picture and the original mono soundtrack; some budget releases downgrade the colour balance, dulling the stop‑motion textures. Streaming platforms may host the special, but verify it’s the unedited version; occasional cuts were made for later broadcasts. Bonus features like behind‑the‑scenes documentaries or commentary from the original voice cast add real value, turning a simple viewing into a mini‑history lesson for the whole family.

Many recall a second Little Drummer Boy adventure, yet the 1976 follow‑up, often simply called Book II, diverges sharply from the original’s quiet reverence. While the first special centres on a lone, humble offering, the sequel introduces a more bustling plot with added characters and a louder musical score, which some fans feel dilutes the original’s intimacy. Another myth is that the original was an American‑only production; in fact, Japanese animators played a crucial, uncredited role in the stop‑motion work, contributing to the seamless movement that defines the piece. Understanding these nuances helps viewers appreciate the 1968 special as a standalone gem, rather than a piece of a larger franchise.