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IMDbPro

Prancer

  • 19891989
  • GG
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
Rebecca Harrell Tickell and Boo in Prancer (1989)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:09
1 Video
18 Photos
DramaFamilyFantasy
A farm girl nurses a wounded reindeer she believes is one of Santa's, hoping to bring it back to health in time for Christmas. Her holiday spirit inspires those around her, something her dis... Read allA farm girl nurses a wounded reindeer she believes is one of Santa's, hoping to bring it back to health in time for Christmas. Her holiday spirit inspires those around her, something her disheartened father is having trouble understanding.A farm girl nurses a wounded reindeer she believes is one of Santa's, hoping to bring it back to health in time for Christmas. Her holiday spirit inspires those around her, something her disheartened father is having trouble understanding.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
    • John D. Hancock
    • Greg Taylor
  • Stars
    • Sam Elliott
    • Cloris Leachman
    • Rutanya Alda
    • John D. Hancock
    • Greg Taylor
  • Stars
    • Sam Elliott
    • Cloris Leachman
    • Rutanya Alda
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 52User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Prancer
    Trailer 2:09
    Watch Prancer

    Photos18

    Rebecca Harrell Tickell in Prancer (1989)
    Rebecca Harrell Tickell and Boo in Prancer (1989)
    Sam Elliott, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, and Boo in Prancer (1989)
    Rebecca Harrell Tickell and Boo in Prancer (1989)
    Rebecca Harrell Tickell and Boo in Prancer (1989)
    Cloris Leachman and Rebecca Harrell Tickell in Prancer (1989)
    Johnny Galecki, Rebecca Harrell and Ariana Richards on the set of "Prancer".
    Rebecca Harrell and Cloris Leachman on the set of "Prancer".
    Sam Elliot and Rebecca Harrell on the set of "Prancer".
    Sam Elliott and Rebecca Harrell Tickell at an event for Prancer (1989)
    Rebecca Harrell Tickell and Boo in Prancer (1989)
    Rebecca Harrell Tickell and Boo in Prancer (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sam Elliott
    Sam Elliott
    • John Riggs
    Cloris Leachman
    Cloris Leachman
    • Mrs. McFarland
    Rutanya Alda
    Rutanya Alda
    • Aunt Sarah
    Abe Vigoda
    Abe Vigoda
    • Orel Benton
    Michael Constantine
    Michael Constantine
    • Mr. Stewart…
    Rebecca Harrell Tickell
    Rebecca Harrell Tickell
    • Jessica Riggs
    John Duda
    • Steve Riggs
    • (as John Joseph Duda)
    Ariana Richards
    Ariana Richards
    • Carol Wetherby
    Mark Rolston
    Mark Rolston
    • Herb Drier
    Johnny Galecki
    Johnny Galecki
    • Billy Quinn
    Walter Charles
    • Minister
    Victor Truro
    • Mr. Young
    Marcia Porter
    • Mrs. Fairburn
    Loren Janes
    Loren Janes
    • Mr. Soot
    Robert Zimmermann
    • Wagnall
    Shirley Starnes
    • Mrs. Hofsetter
    Michael Luciano
    • Bert
    Jesse Bradford
    Jesse Bradford
    • Boy #1
      • John D. Hancock
      • Greg Taylor
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie is set in Three Oaks, Michigan, where town exteriors were filmed. Filming also occurred at the Old Republic House in New Carlisle, Indiana, La Porte, Indiana, and at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois.
    • Goofs
      When Prancer is crossing the pond about 32 minutes into the movie, a crew member can clearly be seen in the background during the shot.
    • Quotes

      Jessica Riggs: He's magical, Carol!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Back to the Future Part II/All Dogs Go to Heaven/Henry V/Prancer/Sidewalk Stories (1989)

    User reviews52

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    An Authentic Feeling of Childhood
    Few movies inhabit the world of childhood quite as authentically as "Prancer." Until the very last moments, it doesn't matter whether young Jessica's belief that she has found one of Santa's reindeer is literally true. The fact that she could believe such a thing so strongly, and selflessly act on her belief to help the lost reindeer, is compelling enough on its own. Children occupy a world where naive clarity mingles with a confusing knowledge of how much of adult life remains unknown. "Prancer" creates an atmosphere that lets adults dip back into that almost-forgotten way of experiencing the world.

    Sam Elliott delivers a fantastic performance as Jessica's father, a farmer who has recently lost his wife and will soon probably lose his farm. He is on the verge of losing his family, and the father-daughter relationship at the heart of the movie feels unaffectedly real. Cloris Leachman's turn as an embittered neighbor deserves note as well.

    The film's greatest flaws occur in its last two minutes. First, a critical continuity error shows that the reindeer has shed a jingle-bell harness just before the sound of the harness is supposed to indicate the animal's presence. Finally, at the very end, the movie shatters its ambiguity about the literal truth of the reindeer's identity. In doing so, it negates the foundation of the story's authenticity and dramatic power, and trivializes the final reconciliation between Jessica and her father. If the reindeer is not a supernatural being, then Jessica is a silly little girl and the audience has been had. But if the reindeer is a magical beast from Santa's stable, then it is not a leap of faith for Jessica's father to accept her improbable belief in the animal. By revealing the answer one way or the other, "Prancer" cheapens itself and significantly undermines the emotional power of an otherwise subtle and moving drama.
    helpful•19
    8
    • scott-551
    • Dec 23, 2003

    FAQ1

    • Why didn't Prancer fly away when Jessica opened the top of his cage?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 17, 1989 (United States)
      • United States
      • Canada
      • Official site
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Starved Rock State Park - Route 178, Utica, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cineplex Odeon Films
      • Nelson Entertainment
      • Nelson Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 43 minutes
      • Color

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