Oddball Films Media
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Dec 16, 2012
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Venue: Oddball Film & Video, 275 Capp St. San Francisco
Admission: $10.00 RSVP to: 415-558-8117 or programming@oddballfilm.com
Admission: $10.00 RSVP to: 415-558-8117 or programming@oddballfilm.com
Highlights Include:
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The Fairy Snow Queen gives a sort of dreadful life to Santa’s dolls on Christmas eve. Jack-in-the-box, toy soldiers, musical doll, and other dolls dance and sing for Santa to the music of The Nutcracker Suite and Sleeping Beauty. Snoopy the Brownie (Whaa?) tells us he visits toys every night to see if they’re being well treated by the children who own them. Don’t miss the gay uniformed “ toy soldier” and the creepy over-the-top human Jack-in-the box! Proof that Sid Davis - father of the cautionary mental hygiene film- really was the king of childrens nightmares.
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A seasonal pleasantry consisting of three animation segments, employing tricks in movie magic by National Film Board of Canada artists and animators, including famed animator Norman McLaren and with specially arranged music. Three scenarios are presented: A jester mimes introductions to each act, the first of which is a play on Jingle Bells in which a boy and a girl of paper cutouts move to the music. There follows a dime-store rodeo -- a whirring, hopping, ballet of tin toys done in animation to jazz composition. The third act is a tall tale of a Christmas tree trimmer who needs a star to top his tree and builds a space vehicle to pluck one from the sky.
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Mickey Plays Santa Claus (B+W, 1931)
Very early short featuring the famous little rodent- Mickey and Minnie are getting ready for the holidays when a basket of kittens is left on their doorstep. Despite being overrun by the mewling little guys, Mickey decides to throw them a Christmas party. The Mouse has not been as charitable since…
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On their road to riches, Laurel and Hardy give door-to-door Christmas tree selling a try. When a simple misunderstanding with a grumpy homeowner (the great James Finlayson) escalates from petty vandalism into full scale mutual destruction. Tit-for-tat was never so venomously delightful - it's comedy gold!
Toys (Color, 1966)
Toys (Color, 1966)
"This stop-motion animation takes a dark look into the war toys often given to children at Christmas time. Starting off as harmless objects, the toys quickly take on the gestures of real soldiers, mimicking the actions and penalties of a real war. This critical commentary on war and glamorized violence creates a real and frightening battle." -National Film Board of Canada
Plus!
Holiday commercials featuring Kodak movie cameras, and early kinescopes of General Electric Christmas lighting!