I absolutely enjoy watching “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” each year during the holidays. It’s been a tradition since I was a child and a tradition as I became an adult. It’s a holiday classic that can be enjoyed by the young and the young at heart. And I definitely recommend it!
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TITLE: Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
FILM YEAR: 1977
DURATION: 53 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition
COMPANY: Jim Henson Studios
RATED: TV-G
Directed by Jim Henson
Based on the Book by Lillian Hoban and Russell Hoban
Written by Jerry Juhl
Executive Producer: David Lazer
Producer: Jim Henson
Associate Producer: Marilyn Stonehouse
Music by Paul Williams
Cinematography by Peter Benison
Edited by Geoff Craigen
Production Design by William Beeton
Set Decoration by Stephen Finnie
Costume Design by Sherry Ammott, Calista Hendrickson
Starring:
Jerry Nelson as Emmet Otter, Weasel, Doc Bullfrog, Melissa Rabbit and Yancy Woodchuck
Frank OZ as Chuck
Marilyn Sokol as Ma Otter
David Goelz as Wendell, Pop-Eyed Catfish, Will Possum
Richard Hunt as Charlie, Lizard, George Rabbit
Eren Ozker as Gretch Fox, Hetty Muskrat, Mrs. Mink, Old Lady Possum
Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Harrison Fox, Harvey, Snake
When a Christmas Eve talent contest is announced, Emmet Otter joins a jug band and his Ma decides to sing a song as they risk it all to make each other’s dreams come true. Jim Henson directed this Christmas classic based on based on the book by Russell and Lillian Hoban.
For Day 37 of my holiday film marathon, I wanted to go to a film that I don’t think I have reviewed but have watched a plethora of times.
This is the 1977 Jim Henson film “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas”, a classic Christmas special ala Henson style, with a good story and music that you can’t forget, even after many years have passed.
The film revolves around Emmet Otter and Alice Otter. The family doesn’t have much money and barely making it since the death of Pa Otter. Emmet dreams of having a guitar with mother of pearl inlays, but for now, he tries to take on odd jobs such as fixing Old Lady Possum’s fence and Sam Turtle’s stairs, thanks to his father’s old toolbox. While his Ma, Alice makes money washing people’s clothes and having to hock her beloved piano.
But they each learn about the annual Waterville talent contest where they can win the grand prize of $50 cash.
For Alice, if she wins, she would buy Emmet the guitar he always wanted. While Emmet would use his money ($12.50) to buy his Ma a decent Christmas present, something he was never able to give to his Pa when he was alive.
Emmet and his friends want to create a band, but in order to do that, he would need an instrument and would need to use his mother’s washtub to make a washtub bass. Without telling his mother, he takes her washtub and puts a hole in the washtub in order to make it a washtub bass and becomes a member of the Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band along with his friends Wendell, Harvey and Charlie and together, they work on trying to perform “Barbeque”
Meanwhile, Alice wants to participate in the competition but needs a new dress. So, she takes Pa Otter’s old toolbox and hocks it in order to make a dress.
With Emmet and Alice Otter planning to enter the competition (without each knowing and also hocking the most important things that bring them an income), who will take first place?
Meanwhile, the ruffians of Riverbottom are creating havoc in town. What happens when they hear about the talent contest?
Watching this special, sure things do look its age, considering it was made in 1977, but fortunately since its puppetry and awesome sets designed, you can still watch and enjoy this special, as it’s a holiday classic.
I absolutely enjoy watching “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” each year during the holidays. It’s been a tradition since I was a child and a tradition as I became an adult. It’s a holiday classic that can be enjoyed by the young and the young at heart. And I definitely recommend it!
PURCHASE THIS FILM ON AMAZON PRIME