SOURCE-DVD
As a kid where I grew up there was no cable. So all those HBO classic most kids of my generation grew up seeing often I either never saw or rarely saw. Emmett Otter is one of those specials that I got lucky and saw often.
The tiny rural school I went to for my first 5 years of schooling would do a big Xmas party the last day before Xmas break started. While the teachers and parents were getting the rooms ready all us kids would be hauled into the school library and shown Emmett Otter, taped off HBO by the school librarian. I looked forward to seeing it each year. Then I went on to Jr High and forgot about it.
So finding the dvd cheap earlier this year I was excited. Put it on one morning while eating breakfast and I can see why this is a beloved Xmas special for Generation X kids.
Emmett Otter and his mother are poor. But happy. She does laundry to make money. Emmett uses his dead father's toolbox to do small repairs and jobs.
Emmett and his friends form a jug band. Emmett needs a washtub to make a washtub bass out of . But the only one he has access too is his mothers and he doesn't want to put a hole in it. But Emmett knows his band could win the big contest and winning it will get him the money his mom and him so badly need.
Emmett's mother on the other hand needs money to make a new dress, she also is entering the contest. Hoping to win enough money to buy Emmett a guitar. To get the money to buy dress making materials she has to sell the tools.
And our big bads are the River Bottom band. A group of ruffians that are also in the contest.
Loaded with songs this is one of my favorite Henson Workshop product. The work that went into making Emmett Otter and his world seem real is mind blowing. Besides the part where Emmett and his Mother are dancing on ice ,the rest of the puppet work looks so good you forget they are puppets.
Now Emmett and his band lose the contest, his mother loses and River Bottom Band wins. Still someone sees Emmett's band and his mother and they get offered a job playing at a local joint on the weekends.
I haven't seen this aired on TV in decades. Looking around it is currently on Amazon Prime video. And you can rent it off Youtube. But dig further and you can find a VHS rip on Youtube for free. If you haven't seen this go watch it. Yea the plot is one we have seen 100 times. It is the work that went into this special and the music that makes it stand out.
Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas gets a B+