Prancer (1989)

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.

Director:

John D. Hancock (as John Hancock)

Writer:

Greg Taylor

Stars:

Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman, Rutanya Alda

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sam Elliott	...	John Riggs
Cloris Leachman	...	Mrs. McFarland
Rutanya Alda	...	Aunt Sarah
Abe Vigoda	...	Orel Benton
Michael Constantine	...	Mr. Stewart / Santa
Rebecca Harrell Tickell	...	Jessica Riggs
John Duda	...	Steve Riggs (as John Joseph Duda)
Ariana Richards	...	Carol Wetherby
Mark Rolston	...	Herb Drier
Johnny Galecki	...	Billy Quinn
Walter Charles	...	Minister
Victor Truro	...	Mr. Young
Marcia Porter	...	Mrs. Fairburn
Loren Janes	...	Mr. Soot
Robert Zimmermann	...	Wagnall

Storyline

Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides him in her barn and feeds him cookies, until she can return him to Santa. Her father finds him and decides to sell him to the butcher, not for venison chops, but as an advertising display.

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Plot Keywords:

reindeer | christmas | holiday | farm | barn | 

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Taglines:

They lost the true spirit of Christmas...And found it locked in the heart of one little girl.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jessica und das Rentier

Filming Locations:

New Carlisle, Indiana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,914,486, 19 November 1989, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$18,587,135

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex-Odeon Films, Nelson Entertainment, Raffaella Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The end of the film was supposed to use "Chant of the Hebrew Slaves" from Giuseppe Verdi's "Nabucco," but producer Raffaella De Laurentiis had a working relationship with composer Maurice Jarre that she wanted to continue, and declared to director John D. Hancock that Jarre would compose the ending whether he liked it or not.

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Goofs

Jessica and Carol stand atop a sledding hill and proclaim "We're the first ones!" As they start down the hill the camera angle changes and you can clearly see multiple sled trails.

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Quotes

John Riggs: [to Steve at the dinner table] If you're gonna eat like an animal, take your food out to the barn.

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Connections

Followed by Prancer Returns (2001)

User Reviews

My favorite holiday movie

Prancer is one of those special movies that come along every once in a great while that truly touches your heart. It doesn't rely on gimmicks or special effects, but relies on the characters themselves. Jesse, the central character in the story, finds an injured reindeer near her home, and believes it to be Prancer. And she nurses the reindeer back to health in order to deliver him back to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. The true meaning of the movie is said by the preacher in the church during the Christmas service. Today's kids grow up so fast, and loose the child-like faith that Jesse has in a few short years. They then don't believe in anything that science doesn't prove. But Jesse, against impossible odds, sticks to her beliefs, and in the end brings back the faith of those who lost theirs long ago. Prancer is one of those holiday movies to buy for both your kids and yourself.