The Twelve Tasks of the Festive Season — Task the Eleventh: The Polar Express, Part 2
– Read a classic holiday book from your childhood (to a child if you have one handy).
Alas, I didn’t have a child handy, and Holly was singularly unimpressed, so I just settled down on my couch and read Andersen’s fairy tale of love conquering eternal ice all by myself!
The story also makes for very atmospheric visuals, of course …
Russian / U.S. animated adaptation (1959 / redub 1998):
https://youtu.be/cV1M1y595_U
German TV (2014 – Trailer):
The animation from the Russian fairy tale production goes all the way back to the 1950s. It’s interesting to see it revoiced. The original redub had Sandra Dee as Gerda and Tommy Kirk as Kay.
Oh, really? Go figure — thanks for sharing!
Yep. I have a copy of it on VHS. Art Linkletter introduces the story. The premise is that he’s at a Hollywood party, and the children are clamoring for a story. So, he shows them the magic picture frame, and the movie comes up. The original production is Russian, made by Soyuzfilm. I love the Art Deco design sensibilities.
Yes, so do I — it’s very well done!