Product Review

He's back and he's drumming better than ever! The further adventures of the Little Drummer Boy begin just after the Christ child is born, just after he plays his drum for him (pa-rup-pup-pup-pum). At the manger, wise king and percussion fan Melchior invites the Little Drummer Boy to visit a friend of his, Simeon, who has been making pure silver bells to help announce the prophesized birth of the son of God. Unfortunately, Simeon had put all of his money into the bells and can't pay his taxes, so the singing and dancing head tax collector (Zero Mostel) confiscates the big bells. It's up to the boy and the king to help Simeon get them back. This 23-minute Christmas story from Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass utilizes the filmmaking duo's absolutely charming puppet animation (or "animagic," as they like to call it) that was made famous in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Though the soundtrack plays the Little Drummer Boy's signature song (pa-rup-pup-pup-pum) a couple too many times (and never plays "Silver Bells") there is one show-stopping tune that the tax collectors sing that makes the whole thing worthwhile. The only questionable bit is the vaguely right-wing message that it's OK to cheat tax collectors. --Andy Spletzer