7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 3.6 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
Weary St. Nick foregoes his gift-giving journey, leaving Mrs. Claus and two elves to revive the Christmas spirit in Santa and the world's children.
Starring: Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving, Bob McFaddenFamily | 100% |
Animation | 86% |
Holiday | 50% |
Musical | 44% |
Fantasy | 26% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: Dolby Digital Mono
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
You know A Charlie Brown Christmas, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Frosty the Snowman. Perhaps even A Muppet Family Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas and Frosty's Winter Wonderland. And I'm sure you recall the most famous Christmas television special of all: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. But you may not remember The Year Without a Santa Claus, a 1974 Rankin/Bass stop-motion holiday classic that, for one reason or another, has faded from cultural consciousness. I know I didn't. The Miser Brothers were still squabbling in the recesses of my brain, but nearly everything else about the special had completely escaped me. Sadly though, after sliding the film's latest release into my Blu-ray player, it didn't take me long to remember why I abandoned The Year Without a Santa Claus so many years ago.
Bass and Rankin's expressive, hand-crafted artistry has never looked better...
Like the Blu-ray editions of A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and other classic holiday television specials released by Warner, The Year Without a Santa Claus glides onto shelves with a relatively impressive, source-bound 1080p/VC-1 transfer that, all things considered, should thrill its nostalgic fanbase. Bass and Rankin's stop motion palette is richer and more vibrant than it's ever been, black levels are consistently strong (save three or four poorly lit, coal-tinted sequences), contrast is generally bright and stable, and detail is outstanding for a thirty-six-year old production. Take note of the tiny hairs on each puppet's head, the glistening flakes of snow that litter the film's winter wonderland, the little leaves in Mother Nature's glen and the tiny textures that pepper the various costumes and set pieces. Even a quick glance at the disc's standard DVD counterpart reveals just how dramatic a high definition upgrade the Blu-ray offers. Yes, grain permeates every scene and minor print blemishes aren't uncommon, but the whole of the film has been effectively remastered and faithfully presented in all its stop motion glory. Edges are sharper, colors are purer, the grain is distinct (rather than soupy) and the whole of the encode is more proficient. The Blu-ray transfer doesn't fall victim to significant compression artifacts, ringing, aliasing or banding, and the special's softer shots (of which there are many) are more satisfying. Only a few lingering oddities prove to be a nuisance -- a dark vertical line here, an intrusive hair there -- and each one is inherent to the film's source. A full, frame-by-frame restoration could have eliminated such issues, sure, but a top-dollar overhaul wasn't exactly a viable option in this case (or, honestly, a necessity). All in all, I doubt The Year Without a Santa Claus will ever look better than it does here.
There's not a lot to say about Warner's 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. It's decent, that much is sure. It lacks the prowess and power of a proper lossless mix, which is a shame. (If only in principle. Even a miracle mix couldn't magically grant Santa Claus' simplistic sound design the head-turning aural wonders of a modern production). And it's fraught with flat, front-heavy dialogue, effects and music, which considering the television special's age and humble roots, really shouldn't surprise anyone. Don't get me wrong, voices are reasonably clean and clear, the LFE channel gets in a few commendable (albeit telegraphed) shots before the credits roll and the rear speakers at least justify their inclusion here and there (despite the fact that their role is a thankless one). Still, dynamics are pinched and underwhelming, the special's soundfield isn't direct or immersive, pans are a wee bit cumbersome, fidelity is spotty and the film struggles with every one of its thirty-six years. Lossy or no, the track isn't bad at all -- it sounds a tad better than its DVD counterpart, and that has to count for something -- but an adequate offering is a far cry from an ideal mix.
The Blu-ray edition of The Year Without a Santa Claus doesn't offer much supplemental content -- a pair of "Behind the Story" featurettes are the extent of it -- but two other childhood classics, Rudolph's Shiny New Year and Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey are included for good measure. The biggest disappointment though? The bonus films are presented in lowly standard definition. What a shame.
Let's be honest: The Year Without a Santa Claus isn't Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It isn't A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas or really an essential Christmas classic. It's slow, thirty minutes too long and, in retrospect, a tad uneventful. Does any of that render the special worthless? Of course not. Nostalgia goes a long way, and I'm sure many a family will still enjoy its quaint charms. After all, I'm just one guy with one opinion and one bored little five-year-old boy. Just because my son and I didn't embrace its frothy adventure doesn't mean you and yours won't love every second. Thankfully, Warner's Blu-ray release is a solid one. Its standard Dolby Digital audio track isn't going to draw anyone in and its supplemental package leaves a lot to be desired, but its video transfer is quite impressive and the disc even includes two additional holiday specials, "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" and "Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey." Granted, the bonus films aren't presented in high definition -- a major buzzkill as far as I'm concerned -- but your kids won't mind (at least not as much as you will). Is it all worth the price of admission? That depends entirely on whether you consider The Year Without a Santa Claus to be a timeless childhood classic or a fanciful relic of a bygone age.
1976
1980
1985
1974
1979
1970
1979
1981
1976
1977
1975
1976
Deluxe Edition
1969
Deluxe Edition
1964
1978
1991
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2009
1967
1948
Diamond Edition
1950