The holiday season is officially upon us, and people have begun their annual traditions of watching their favorite Christmas movies. As you read this, television screens everywhere are playing such classics as Home Alone, A Christmas Story, and the various How The Grinch Stole Christmas adaptations. Every year people watch and rewatch their favorite holiday flicks like Elf and The Polar Express. However, some Christmas films are unwatched, and even unknown by many. One of these is the 1970’s classic Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas.
After the overwhelming success of The Muppet Show, Jim Henson and his company of puppeteers set out to make a television adaptation of Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas written by Russell Hoban. The result, despite its budget and simplistic appearance, was an astounding masterpiece, and one of the best Christmas films of all time.
The film follows two poor otters: Emmet Otter and Ma Otter. They spend their days doing anything they can to make money: laundry, odd jobs, etc. One day they both catch wind of a talent contest, and face the tough decision to take the risks for a chance to win the cash prize.
On the surface, Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas may seem like any ordinary children’s Christmas film. However at the time it was technologically groundbreaking, and many new techniques and mechanisms had to be made in order to bring the script to life. New kinds of puppets were created, along with ways to operate them via remote control. The film also features innovative ways to create certain effects and illusions. The music is also something to note, perfectly matching the tone and style of the film. Paul Williams was tasked with creating songs inspired by the book, and the outcome is perfection. The cinematography and editing are both clever and blend very well together, adding even more life to the film. Through the film’s clever writing, some scenes are very emotional and poignant, and others are heartwarming and genuinely hilarious.
In a season filled with Grinches, elves, and Bing Crosby, many people are unaware of or overlook Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas, and they are sorely missing out. It’s a delightful, fascinating, surprising watch that the whole family can enjoy, and I highly recommend seeking it out for yourself.