Father Christmas (1991)

Father Christmas on vacation and on the job.

Director:

Dave Unwin

Writers:

Raymond Briggs (books), Dianne Jackson (treatment),

Stars:

Mel Smith

Cast

Cast overview:
Mel Smith	...	Father Christmas (voice)

Storyline

After a hard night's work, Father Christmas decides to go on a "blooming vacation", builds his sledge into a caravan and holidays in France, Scotland and Las Vegas before coming home and settling down, with a bit of grumbling, to answer the mail, get the gifts ready, deliver them and get to the Snowmens' party on time--only he's forgotten something.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | france | party | scotland | surrealism | 

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Genres:

Family | Short | Animation

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 1998 (France)

Also Known As:

Sacré Père Noël

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blooming Productions, TVC London, Channel 4 Television Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Father Christmas says "blooming" 72 times.

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Connections

References The Snowman (1982)

User Reviews

The Bad Americanized Version

This version of Raymond Brigg's Father Christmas is a Butchered Americanized version. Narrated by an American actor, this version looses all the charm of the English version voiced by Mel Smith, the Original Father Christmas! This is NOT that version! This is a censored chopped version that just doesn't translate well over to American audiences.

In Father Christmas, Santa is not the Politically Correct Santa that prudish Americans would like you to see. He is a cantankerous Santa whom complains, and grumbles all the while that he is doing things. So much so, that he takes a vacation to Scotland, where he drinks at a Pub/bar. Vegas, were he gambles and smokes around bikini clad women. This Santa is shown as a normal person. At a couple times, they even show his butt, to which my God daughters think is the most hilarious thing. It gives a very strong impression that he is a real person. The American version is trying for that rankin/bass whimsical Christmas thing, but it just doesn't work with English Humor. Even the Finally song sung by the American actor shows a more benevolent, Richard Attenburough figure. The Elf-boss (Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer) is more cantankerous than the actor in this one. The original is more like an annoyed Bob Hoskins.

If you can, look for the F.H.E version of this movie online on Ebay. It's well worth it and extremely entertaining for both children and adults. It's no worse than the Grinch (Jim Carey version). Children won't notice some of the slightly more adult scenes that show only long enough for adults to register it. English humor abounds in this version.

To aid you in the search for the original are two ASIN numbers below:

English version number: ASIN: B000006672 Great Version!!!

Americanized Version Number: ASIN: 0767800400 Butchered!!!