October 13, 1998
Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night is a 1998 American direct-to-video animated feature film, inspired by the tale of the creation of the Christmas carol "Silent Night". It was directed and produced by Buzz Potamkin and stars the voices of Phil Hartman, Jim Cummings, Marie Osmond, Tom Arnold and Lea Michele, and the songs were written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night marks the final film role of Hartman, who was murdered by his wife five months before the film's release.
Storyline
In 1818, two mouse musicians named Buster and Chauncey visit the Alpine town of Oberndorf, Austria, where they plan to perform for the country's Queen during its annual Christmas pageant, which is organized by Oberndorf's Mayor Huffenmeier. At Oberndorf, an orphan girl named Christina is given asylum on the local church as she intends to go to Vienna where her aunt and uncle live, but a pair of thieves, who claim to be the Duke of Raoche and his niece Lady Gretchen, watching over the preparations for the pageant, have their sights set on seizing the riches stored inside the church. Buster and Chauncey also get settled in the church for the preparations, but a cat chases them causing a mess inside the church that Mayor Huffenmeier blames Christina for, but the church priest, Father Joseph, doesn't think Christina caused the mess. However, the Duke and Lady Gretchen manage to steal the riches and also kidnap Christina, leaving her necklace on the place where the riches were so Father Joseph and Mayor Huffenmeier believe she stole them. Buster and Chauncey later help Christina escape and the Duke and Lady Gretchen are caught, with the riches being recovered, proving that Christina is innocent all along, but the previous chase caused damage to the church's organ. Later on, the melody Chauncey has been playing repeatedly on his violin inspires the organist. Father Joseph, who has written a poem, uses the melody to compose "Silent Night" and perform it for the first time. The Queen then offers to take Christina to Vienna and Christina says goodbye to her new friends, Buster and Chauncey.
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Fast Swish CRT053905
- Hollywoodedge, Fast Swish CRT053906
- Hollywoodedge, Funny Multi Swishes CRT054102/Sound Ideas, SWISH, CARTOON - TWIRLING SWISH, LONG/MEDIUM/SHORT 01/02
- Hollywoodedge, Funny Swish CRT053904
- Hollywoodedge, Several Rapid Swish CRT054101
- Sound Ideas, HIT, CARTOON - HEAVY TIMP RISE
- Sound Ideas, SLIDE, CARTOON - FIDDLE SLIDE AND QUICK RUN UP
- Sound Ideas, THUMP, CARTOON - TUBE THUNK 01