I partially recreated the format of the text on the actual back of the record sleeve; but I didn't go too much out of my way. For example the main body of text is actually divided into two columns.
THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN'T
The Oringinal Soundtrack recording of
CHILDHOOD PRODUCTIONS Classic Motion Picture
A&R Coordinator: Fred Allen
Mono CAL-1086
Stereo CAS-1086
THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN'T will, in time, become one of the great Christmas classics. It is the whimsical story of a hardhearted landlord named Mr. Prune, who has bought the land and buildings at the North Pole for the purpose of foreclosing on Santa Claus.
Prune wants his rent, which he knows Santa Claus doesn't have. If the rent is not delivered by midnight of December 24th, Christmas just won't happen.
Mr. Prune is brilliantly played by Rossano Brazzi, who has deserted his romantic roles to do his first motion picture as a comic villain in a fantasy. In the story he is opposed by a penniless lawyer named Sam, played by Paul Tripp, the autor of the story.
Sam decides that one way to raise money to pay the rent would be for Santa to get a job. He takes Santa to several buisiness establishments, and in each case Santa makes mistakes on the job. He is a terrible cashier, an impossible clerk and a total failure as a worker in a flour mill. Finally, Sam gets a brilliant idea - why not get a job for Santa in a department store? A department store could use a Santa Claus as Christmas time, especially if Santa Claus were the real thing.
Prim's Department Store (Mr. Prim is played by Sonny Fox) seems a good place to begin. Santa takes the job and succeeds magnificently, but Mr. Prune buys the store and fires Santa.
It looks very much as if Christmas won't happen. The children of the world, however, come to Santa's rescue. From all over they rush in to contribute the money in their piggy banks. Mr. Prune receives his rent, and Santa goes on his usual Christmas Eve travels.
Underneath it all, Mr. Prune is not a bad fellow. He had a hard life as a child, and the one thing he always wanted - a sailboat - was denied him. Thus, he grew up disliking Christmas and children. This information is discovered by Santa's cheif clerk (played by Mischa Auer) and Santa's seven little dwarf helpers.
One of the stops that Santa makes on Christmas Eve is at Prune's house. Prune is awakened, and Santa presents him with the gift he has wanted since childhood - the toy sailboat.
Prune is so overcome by this gesture that he permits his house to be decorated for Christmas, and then he goes out into the snow to invite everone in for a giant celebration.
Paul Tripp not only wrote the story, but with Ray Carter also wrote the engaging songs which illuminate the entire production.
There are many "firsts" in THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN'T. This is the first motion picture script that Paul Tripp has written, the first time he has ever starred in a movie, the first comic villain that Rossano Brazzi ever played, and, most significantly, the first motion picture that Rossano Brazzi ever directed.
Barry Yellen, President of Childhood Productions, personally produced this feature. In less than two years he has built Childhood into one of America's largest independant producers and distributors of motion pictures for children. All productions have been universally acclaimed as ideal family film fare.
Children, as well as parents, will be captivated by this charming story done so well by a fine cast of actors. We believe this album will provide many happy hours of golden entertainment.
CINDERELLA CAL/CAS-1085 THE BIG BAD WOLF CAL/CAS-1087
Marca(s) Registrada(s) Printed in U.S.A.