Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas is a 1977 Christmas television special starring Bing Crosby and his family with special guests Twiggy, David Bowie, Ron Moody, Stanley Baxter and Trinity Boys Choir. It includes a duet by the unusual pairing of Crosby and Bowie on "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy".
It was Crosby's final Christmas special. Crosby died during principal photography. The special was introduced by his widow Kathryn Crosby and was broadcast in the United States on CBS on November 30, 1977, and in the United Kingdom on ITV on December 24, 1977.
Overview
Bing Crosby is surprised to receive a letter from a long-lost relative, Sir Percival Crosby, inviting the family to spend Christmas in England. Bing, his wife Kathryn and their three children – Harry, Mary and Nathaniel – fly off to Britain, reviewing their family history in song and hoping that the invitation is not a case of "mistaken identity". At Sir Percy's grand home, they meet Hudson, the butler; Mrs. Bridges, the cook; and Rose, the maid, (all of whom are impersonations by Stanley Baxter, of characters from Upstairs, Downstairs.) Percy's neighbour, David Bowie, stops by to play the piano, and Bing and Bowie chat about their musical tastes before singing a duet of "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy". Kathryn chats with Mrs. Bridges in the kitchen as the children continue looking for written proof of their relation to Sir Percy.
Meanwhile, in the library, Bing is surprised to encounter the house's former owner, Charles Dickens, played by Ron Moody. They are soon joined by Twiggy, who comments on Dickens' wide array of memorable characters and several of Dickens' heroes and villains including Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim (from A Christmas Carol), Fagin and The Artful Dodger (from Oliver Twist), Nell Trent and Daniel Quilp (from The Old Curiosity Shop), then the trio sing "What Would You Be Without Me?" (from The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd).
Twiggy and Mary search the house's attic and find some Crosby family artifacts, and Bing and Twiggy sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Bing introduces David Bowie's music video to his current single "Heroes" from his album of the same name. Afterward, Sir Percy (also played by Moody) finally arrives home and performs a rendition of "Side by Side by Side" with Bing and Kathryn. The family ghost, a court jester named Leslie who resembles an old pal of Bing's, stops by to crack a few jokes, and the Trinity Boys Choir soon arrives to join the family and guests on a medley featuring "Jingle Bells", "Sleigh Ride", "Winter Wonderland", "Jingle Bell Rock", "Silver Bells", "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" and "Carol of the Bells".
The special concludes with Bing alone in the living room wishing the audience "hope and optimism" for the new year followed by the swan song performance of "White Christmas", his signature tune and the biggest hit of his career.
Cast
The Crosby Family
Bing Crosby
Kathryn Crosby
Harry Crosby
Mary Crosby
Nathaniel Crosby
Special Guests
Twiggy – Herself/Tiny Tim/The Artful Dodger/Nell Trent
David Bowie – Himself
Ron Moody – Charles Dickens/Ebenezer Scrooge/Fagin/Daniel Quilp/Sir Percival Crosby Stanley Baxter – Hudson/Mrs. Bridges/Rose/Leslie Townes Hope Trinity Boys Choir
Songs
"Crosby Ancestry Song" – Bing Crosby and family
"Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" – Bing Crosby and David Bowie
"Where Would You Be Without Me?" – Bing Crosby, Twiggy, and Ron Moody
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Bing Crosby and Twiggy
"Heroes" (music video) – David Bowie
"Side by Side by Side" – Bing Crosby, Kathryn Crosby, and Ron Moody
Trinity Boys Choir Christmas Medley: "Jingle Bells" "Sleigh Ride" "Winter Wonderland" "Jingle Bell Rock" "Silver Bells" "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" "Carol of the Bells" "White Christmas" – Bing Crosby
"Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"
The recording of "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" by Crosby and Bowie is the special's musical highlight and has become a Christmas classic in the United States and United Kingdom. It has been referred to by The Washington Post as "one of the most successful duets in Christmas music history".