Holiday Favorites 2012: David Gil, 'Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas'

Welcome to Holiday Favorites, a series in which Slackerwood contributors and our friends talk about the movies we watch during the holiday season, holiday-related or otherwise.

This installment comes from David Gil, Marketing Manager for the Violet Crown Cinema:

There are a number of films that I enjoy re-watching when the holiday season rolls around. I never really thought about which ones were my favorite until I was asked to pick one to write about. Immediately I thought of films like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon, which may top the list though Love Actually (I’m not ashamed to admit it) is gaining momentum with each passing year. Yet, as I sit down to write this, there seems to be one title that I keep going back to: Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.

Jim Henson adapted the Russell [and Lillian --ed.] Hoban book into a television special the year I was born, which may explain in part my connection to it. The story is about Emmet Otter and his Ma, who, despite having no money, dream of buying each other the perfect Christmas gift. Think O. Henry’s "The Gift of the Magi" but with a twist… and the wonderful music of Paul Williams. This film was a staple on early HBO during the holidays and I would watch it every chance I got because once Christmas was over, I wouldn’t see it again for another year. The sets, the songs, the puppetry were all classic Henson on par with the creativity and originality of the first three Muppet films.

The special was released on DVD several years ago and it contained a Behind the Scenes segment that I also remember seeing when I was young. There was something about that piece that, as a child, fascinated me more than the movie itself. It was something along the lines of Mr. Rogers revealing the secrets of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe or peeking behind the curtain at the Rock-A-Fire Explosion at Showbiz. What wasn’t included was the original narration by Kermit The Frog, which was cut out some years ago because of legal issues. Though I prefer the original version, I’m grateful that I can watch this holiday classic whenever I wish and no longer have to wait a year for its return.

Want to watch? Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is available on DVD and iTunes.  Here's a taste -- the jug band performs "Barbecue":

[Still via Museum of the Moving Image]