Home > Animation >

The Little Drummer Boy Book II

Watch Now

The Little Drummer Boy Book II (1976)

December. 13,1976
|
6.5
| Animation Family
Watch Now

Aaron, the drummer boy, struggles to protect a bellmaker's great silver bells from seizure by Roman soldiers

...

Watch Trailer

Cast

Similar titles

Reviews

VeteranLight
1976/12/13

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

More
WillSushyMedia
1976/12/14

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

More
AshUnow
1976/12/15

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

More
Usamah Harvey
1976/12/16

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

More
meisterburger23
1976/12/17

Interesting sequel but the original is a bit better in my opinion.No offensive but the only song worth watching in this special is Money Money Money, It's very catchy and cute. It's a different version of the story of the Little Drummer Boy and I personally like it.Aaron returns in this sequel with one of the three kings Gasper to help a bell maker Simeon retrieve some bells from some evil Romans and their leader Brutus. The good guys get the bells back and Simeon plays his bells for all to hear.Since this is a sequel it is good and cute, I recommend it if you are a fan of the original7/10

More
Christmas-Reviewer
1976/12/18

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 Christmas MOVIES.BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW Christmas MOVIES AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!The Little Drummer Boy, Book II is a Christmas television special produced in stop-motion animation by Rankin/Bass. As the title suggests, it is a sequel to the 1968 special The Little Drummer Boy. Originally broadcast on NBC on December 13, 1976, it is notably the only Rankin/Bass special to receive an Emmy nomination; it was nominated for the 1977 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program.This special however is not based on the song "The Little Drummer Boy" but it is an original story all on its own! However the story doesn't work all that well. The special also borrows lyrics from two other Christmas Carols one of them being "Do You Hear What I Hear". That history of that song is actually more interesting that "The Little Drummer Boy Book 2". The song "Do You Hear What I Hear" is a song written in October 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Baker. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of the Christmas holiday. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artistsNow the special in general is worth watching but I highly doubt most people will go out of their way to see it again upon their initial first viewing. It is however a great tool to use to help introduce children to the events after the birth of Jesus,

More
Horst in Translation ([email protected])
1976/12/19

The title already gives away that this 22-minute Christmas movie is the sequel to the original "Little Drummer Boy" from almost 10 years earlier. And while that one did not receive any awards recognition, this one here was nominated for an Emmy. Still, it is not as good as the original and not even close in terms of Christmas donkey Nestor, who was released slightly as the 3rd entry to the franchise. I am generally not too big on the animation style of Rankin/Bass and this may be one of the main reasons why I did not enjoy this one here that much, despite Academy Award winner Greer Garson who does a solid job with the narration. It is not a failure, but I did not find it (the film and most of the music) particularly moving, sweet or memorable compared to the other entries. Thumbs down unfortunately, hoped I would like this more and the Roman soldiers certainly did not help.

More
rebeljenn
1976/12/20

The sequel to 'The Little Drummer Boy' follows Aaron (the drummer boy) with the wise men on a quest to rejoice the birth of Jesus. This time, they are against Roman thieves who make their lives difficult and who end up capturing Aaron and his animals. Although it is a pretty good follow-up to 'The Little Drummer Boy', it lacks the same originality and lessons that the original film has. (This one follows the origins of the song 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'.) I would rate this as a 5/10 as it does go a little bit slow in places, and it seems to lose the plot, but it is still quite good. Catch this on television next Christmas.

More