One of my annual holiday traditions, TV-wise, is to pull out this Yuletide episode of "The Red Skelton Show." It's one of those episodes that slipped into the public domain and thus is available on umpteen many video anthologies. The embittered Skelton simply sat on the legal part of his legacy and refused to have those episodes shown in reruns since the show's final cancellation in 1971. A comic treasure chest, withheld eternally from the public. Once every few blue moons, however, his daughter and other heirs will put out some gigantic box set of previously unreleased episodes, going for big bucks on Amazon.
Anyway, "Freddie & The Yuletide Doll" is an absolute treasure of pantomime comedy, reaching out to those who are lonely during the holiday season, with that clown of all clowns Freddie The Freeloader sleeping on a park bench Christmas Eve night. The last minute shoppers rush around and some skaters put on a show, among other bits of normal Yuletide business. Freddie awakens to find snow is in full form, and does his morning routines and avoids some near-run-ins with the cops. A shopper has accidentally left a Raggedy Ann doll and Freddie indulges in some engaging pantomime with it, swinging it to and fro until the third swing shows a real-life version of Ann (played by Cara Williams) has magically replaced it in Freddie's hand. They engage in much utterly endearing ballet bits and other getting acquainted stuff. The only verbal business in this program are about ten familiar songs, Christmas and otherwise ("Winter wonderland," "When You Wish Upon a Star"), their lyrics depicting the story's progression. Alas, it is over too soon as the romantic pair swings around some more only to have the lifeless doll reappear. A final, regretful song ("I Was a Fool to all in Love") plays over the soundtrack, and Freddie slowly and gloomily walks off into the distance.
Quite enchanting it all is, and you'll feel lucky you watched it. Note: I see by this site that there were two separate productions of this episode, one made the year after; I'm merely presuming this is the original that I saw.
Anyway, "Freddie & The Yuletide Doll" is an absolute treasure of pantomime comedy, reaching out to those who are lonely during the holiday season, with that clown of all clowns Freddie The Freeloader sleeping on a park bench Christmas Eve night. The last minute shoppers rush around and some skaters put on a show, among other bits of normal Yuletide business. Freddie awakens to find snow is in full form, and does his morning routines and avoids some near-run-ins with the cops. A shopper has accidentally left a Raggedy Ann doll and Freddie indulges in some engaging pantomime with it, swinging it to and fro until the third swing shows a real-life version of Ann (played by Cara Williams) has magically replaced it in Freddie's hand. They engage in much utterly endearing ballet bits and other getting acquainted stuff. The only verbal business in this program are about ten familiar songs, Christmas and otherwise ("Winter wonderland," "When You Wish Upon a Star"), their lyrics depicting the story's progression. Alas, it is over too soon as the romantic pair swings around some more only to have the lifeless doll reappear. A final, regretful song ("I Was a Fool to all in Love") plays over the soundtrack, and Freddie slowly and gloomily walks off into the distance.
Quite enchanting it all is, and you'll feel lucky you watched it. Note: I see by this site that there were two separate productions of this episode, one made the year after; I'm merely presuming this is the original that I saw.
