Taking a break from commercials for a second, I’d like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to an under appreciated Christmas special – The Stingiest Man in Town. Released in 1978, it was Rankin & Bass’ animated musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol (though a live action version of the show had previously been produced in 1956). Here I will analyze 2 scenes that helped make this special truly unique.
Now needless to say the story of A Christmas Carol has been done to death. We know the plot, we know the characters and we all know what’s going to happen at the end. Many adaptations over the years have tried to get around this by incorporating some other franchise’s beloved character, such as Mr. Magoo or Mickey Mouse. Or putting a modern spin on the story such as 1988′s Scrooged or…pretty much any Christmas Lifetime movie! And such gimmicks have been very successful at introducing Dickens’ story to new generations.
The Stingiest Man in Town doesn’t have any flashy franchise mascots (though it did stick in a charming “Humbug” character voiced by Tom Bosley for narration and comic relief). Nor does it try to change the story’s setting or time period to appeal to a hip, jaded crowd. What it does have is a rather ambitious soundtrack which dares to explore the characters’ psyches in ways most adaptations have rarely dared. Dickens’ original dialogue is put to effective use in one hard-hitting number where Scrooge’s cruel words are thrown back at him. Jacob Marley’s eternal punishment is sung in spooky but effective detail.
But it’s not all spooks and scoldings. There’s plenty for the kiddies too, but even then the songs are quite thought-provoking. At one point Tiny Tim is going through his “I’m not sure Santa is real” phase and his family’s answer isn’t your typical parental platitude of “Yes of course Santa’s a real guy” response. Instead, he’s described as “a spirit in the world of generosity” who exists “as long as hearts can realize how good it feels to give.” In other words, Santa is real as long as we, the parents and children, follow his example of generosity in our lives.
Personally I think this is a much better lesson to teach doubting kids than just breaking it to them that Dad’s the one whose been eating the cookies. After all, why do we tell kids about Santa in the first place? Just to mess with them? Well yes, but it’s also to introduce them to someone who cares enough about them to give. And that message of generosity shouldn’t have to end just because they found out he’s “not real.”
1. “Yes, There is a Santa Claus”
Later on, Scrooge is regretting his cruel rejection of his nephew Fred’s present: “He gave me a gift…and I tossed it away…I never understood such things.” At that point, our comic relief character demonstrates (in song of course) that gifts have been an important part of Christmas from the start, when three kings offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a newborn baby born in humble surroundings. Now of course as a kid I was taught the Nativity story and how we give gifts is to commemorate the kings’ kind gestures. But frankly I think something’s been lost in translation over the years. Gold is certainly valuable but it’s not what kids ask for at Christmas time (unless the latest Barbie doll or video game is gold encrusted or something!). And we didn’t even know what myrrh or frankincense were (though I figured the latter had something to do with that monster guy)! Bottom line, it’s a hard part of the story to identify with.
And our comic relief friend agrees; these gifts were nice but it’s not what Jesus was about. This was an all-powerful deity who chose to express his love for human beings by becoming one himself. And though he could have come as a King with material wealth, he instead chose the form of a child born into poverty who only desires one thing… “a heart that really loves him.” And that is what is truly important at Christmastime or any time, no matter what our beliefs: the least and most vulnerable among us who just need to know they are not forgotten in this world. : )
2. “The Birthday Party of the King”
As a child I didn’t fully appreciate or recognize these complex messages in a quasi anime children’s cartoon. But I was drawn in by the endearing characters and gorgeous music and that’s what motivated me to seek it out again years later, only to learn something new from something old. And that’s what nostalgia’s all about. 
Happy Holidays!
