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knocking down her flowers, and asks her if she can have a job to help raise money to buy a bag of oats for
Prancer. Mrs. McFarland agrees to pay her to clean a room in her house, and they become friends. The newspaper editor, inspired by Jessica's faith, writes an article which is then read by the local pastor in the middle of his sermon. Jessica, who's attending with Steve, finds out she has been outed to the entire town. She becomes mad at Carol, who she thinks squealed. She later finds the article in the newspaper.
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While walking home, Jessica encounters a live reindeer in the woods. He runs away, disappearing into the darkness. Later, while walking home from school, she finds his tracks and follows them into the woods once more. She hears a gunshot, and continues to walk. John eventually finds her and brings her into his truck, but almost hits the reindeer who is now standing in the road. Noticing he's wounded, he grabs his rifle, intending to shoot him. As
Jessica pleads for him not to do so, he disappears.
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lot. Jessica, afraid he will kill him, runs away in the snowy night determined to rescue him. Steve runs after her, telling her he loves her even though he doesn't understand her sometimes. Hearing how she feels, he decides to help her free
Prancer. He tries to break the lock open, while she gets the
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Meanwhile, John is reading the newspaper. Before he finds the article, he discovers
Prancer has escaped from the barn and let all the other animals out too. While he tries to round them up, Prancer goes inside the house and wreaks havoc. Townspeople begin to converge on the farm, wanting to see him.
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Later while dreaming of
Prancer, Jessica is startled awake by the scene of the plastic reindeer falling from earlier. She hears a noise and sees that the window to the barn is open. Investigating, she finds the reindeer is now inside among the other animals. Afraid John will find him, she moves him
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Afraid he will be unable to provide for
Jessica, John discusses a plan for Sarah to take her in to raise temporarily. She overhears this, but initially does not know the full details. She and Carol go sledding and knock down some flowers at a house owned by a reclusive widow named Mrs. McFarland.
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The reindeer used for the film was a pregnant reindeer named Boo. Pregnant reindeer keep their antlers for longer, and she was needed so she wouldn't shed hers before filming was over in late winter. She was selected for her rapport with
Rebecca Harrell. She was at the premiere of the film on
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And what really redeems the movie, taking it out of the category of kiddie picture and giving it a heart and gumption, is the performance by a young actress named
Rebecca Harrell, as Jessica. She's something. She has a troublemaker's look in her eye, and a round, pixie face that's filled with
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picture and letter to give to the real Santa before
Christmas Eve. He takes them to the editor of the local newspaper. Jessica shows Prancer to Carol, and Steve walks in the barn as well. Jessica makes them promise not to tell anyone about him. Eventually, she apologizes to Mrs. McFarland for
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Eight-year-old
Jessica Riggs and her older brother, Steve, are being raised by their widowed father, grieving and cantankerous John. Their apple farm has fallen on hard times. John is temporarily being helped by his sister-in-law, Sarah.
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While walking home after a school Christmas pageant, Jessica and her ex-best friend, Carol, witness a plastic reindeer fall from a Christmas decoration hung above the main street in town. She concludes it was
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to a shed. Certain that he is the "real" Prancer, she takes it upon herself to nurse him back to health. She calls a veterinarian named Dr. Orel Benton who initially refuses, but comes over to tend to him.
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idea to climb to the top of Prancer's cage and let him fly out. Steve is worried for her safety and yells at her to come down. She attempts to open the cage but falls, injuring her head in the process.
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s good-natured holiday cheer -- and a terrific performance from its young star -- are enough to make this yuletide adventure a moderately rewarding watch."
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John grabs his rifle, threatening to shoot him when a local butcher stops him, offering to buy Prancer. The butcher keeps him as a sales tool for his
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Jessica stays in her bedroom, becoming despondent. John goes to her and she asks him to read a passage from "
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based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The critical consensus reads, "
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with several re-packagings in 2003 and 2004, and a newer release on October 7, 2014.
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837:'Prancer' Star Kept the Ruby Earrings Sam Elliott Gifted Her for Decades
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1131:Films about father–daughter relationships
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759:Hancock, John D. (November 17, 1989),
555:as Prancer (vocal effects; uncredited)
434:that she has Prancer, and gives him a
453:Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
379:Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
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858:Kazek, Kelly (December 12, 2019).
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1141:Films directed by John D. Hancock
406:from the order given in the poem
1121:English-language Canadian films
588:The film's young lead actress,
1221:American Christmas drama films
592:, garnered a nomination for a
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1176:Films scored by Maurice Jarre
666:We Wish You a Merry Christmas
1206:1980s English-language films
1116:Canadian fantasy drama films
1106:American fantasy drama films
989:Let's Scare Jessica to Death
939:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
673:Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
27:1989 film by John D. Hancock
1081:1980s Christmas drama films
360:The film was followed by a
215:November 17, 1989
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1136:Films about deer and moose
652:O Little Town of Bethlehem
540:Sandra Olson as Town woman
414:The Night Before Christmas
1091:1980s fantasy drama films
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624:The film was released on
498:as Mr. Stewart/Mall Santa
409:A Visit from St. Nicholas
387:Prancer: A Christmas Tale
46:Theatrical release poster
39:
18:Prancer: A Christmas Tale
1111:Canadian Christmas films
1101:American Christmas films
543:Dan Atherton as Town man
1156:Alliance Atlantis films
700:List of Christmas films
531:Michael Luciano as Bert
351:Starved Rock State Park
76:Raffaella De Laurentiis
1196:Santa Claus's reindeer
1191:Films shot in Michigan
1181:Films shot in Illinois
705:Santa Claus's reindeer
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427:Jessica later tells a
375:USA Home Entertainment
1186:Films shot in Indiana
1166:Films set in Michigan
1086:1980s Christmas films
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343:New Carlisle, Indiana
1216:1980s Canadian films
1211:1980s American films
1161:Films set in Indiana
1151:Orion Pictures films
1126:Films about children
997:Bang the Drum Slowly
738:Caryn James (1989).
603:Great Balls of Fire!
339:Three Oaks, Michigan
187:Cineplex Odeon Films
182:Nelson Entertainment
1201:Santa Claus in film
1053:Suspended Animation
1013:California Dreaming
840:, December 25, 2022
816:. November 17, 1989
641:November 17, 1989.
496:Michael Constantine
323:Michael Constantine
104:Michael Constantine
1171:Films set on farms
975:Films directed by
905:TCM Movie Database
745:The New York Times
725:"AFI|Catalog"
680:How Great Thou Art
594:Young Artist Award
566:Critical reception
492:as Dr. Orel Benton
377:in 2001. In 2022,
149:Dennis M. O'Connor
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572:review aggregator
510:as Carol Wetherby
486:as Mrs. McFarland
347:La Porte, Indiana
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16:(Redirected from
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1096:1989 drama films
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508:Ariana Richards
484:Cloris Leachman
466:Rebecca Harrell
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370:Prancer Returns
362:direct-to-video
355:Utica, Illinois
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335:Ariana Richards
315:Cloris Leachman
307:Rebecca Harrell
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867:. Retrieved
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818:. Retrieved
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687:O Tannenbaum
659:Silent Night
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520:Mark Rolston
502:Rutanya Alda
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327:Rutanya Alda
299:John Hancock
297:directed by
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231:Running time
208:Release date
137:Misha Suslov
109:Rutanya Alda
56:John Hancock
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768:January 17,
608:Roger Ebert
528:as Minister
472:Sam Elliott
381:released a
311:Sam Elliott
303:Greg Taylor
268:$ 7 million
235:103 minutes
89:Sam Elliott
72:Produced by
66:Greg Taylor
52:Directed by
1076:1989 films
1070:Categories
711:References
620:Home media
490:Abe Vigoda
319:Abe Vigoda
295:drama film
287:is a 1989
273:Box office
219:1989-11-17
171:Production
99:Abe Vigoda
62:Written by
814:"Prancer"
798:August 4,
783:"Prancer"
537:as Boy #1
349:, and at
289:Christmas
240:Countries
173:companies
143:Edited by
869:April 2,
694:See also
636:Reindeer
574:website
504:as Sarah
436:Polaroid
412:(a.k.a.
257:Language
160:Music by
82:Starring
1037:Prancer
936:at the
933:Prancer
922:Prancer
911:Prancer
903:at the
900:Prancer
889:Prancer
762:Prancer
580:Prancer
561:Release
548:Prancer
546:Boo as
404:Prancer
385:called
367:called
292:fantasy
284:Prancer
260:English
217: (
35:Prancer
1056:(2001)
1048:(2000)
1040:(1989)
1032:(1988)
1024:(1987)
1016:(1979)
1008:(1976)
1000:(1973)
992:(1971)
383:remake
365:sequel
333:, and
265:Budget
249:Canada
1021:Weeds
645:Songs
583:'
432:Santa
894:IMDb
871:2023
846:2023
822:2017
800:2023
770:2016
459:Cast
429:mall
393:Plot
925:at
914:at
892:at
628:by
626:DVD
416:).
353:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
