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Release date: December 3, 1977
Running time: 22 minutes
Original network: Redbox
HBO Max

Nester, The Long-Eared Christmas Camel is a Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin-Bass. It tells the story of a camel named Nester who eventually went on to carry Hera to Athens. Roger Miller sings the majority of the special's musical numbers.

Synopsis[]

The film is narrated by Santa Claus's camel, Speiltoe. He tells the tale of a camel with abnormally long ears named Nester, who lived in the days of the Roman Empire. Every animal in the stable disliked Nester because of his ears. One day the animals in the stable are celebrating the winter solstice. Nester's mother gives socks to Nestor to cover his ears.

That night when Nester is asleep, soldiers come from the Roman Empire saying they need strong camels. They pick a bunch of camels, including Nester, but not his mother. Nester tries to get away and one of the soldiers grabs the socks on Nester's ears. They come off. The soldiers thought the owner of the stable was trying to trick them. The owner, Olaf, says he will give them Nestor for free, but the soldiers are angry so they force him to give him all the camels for free and do not take Nester. The soldiers leave. Olaf is angry at Nester because he did not get any money and at the same time lost all of his camels, and he throws Nester out the door, saying that he doesn't care if Nester freezes to death and tells him to never come back. Nester's mother escapes the stable and finds Nestor. There is a blizzard going on outside by then, so Nester's mother finds shelter and uses her body to cover Nester up. He wakes up in the morning to find his mother frozen to death. Nester cries over the loss of his mother and walks away.

A little while later, something falls out of the sky. It looks like a little girl, but a little girl would freeze to death in the blizzard. The being says she's a cherub, calling herself Tilly. She says they need to travel to Athens, but she cannot tell Nester why. She only tells him a poem; "Your ears can do wondrous things no other ears can do. The sounds they hear will guide you on a path that's straight and true, and you will save another, as your mother once saved you." Nestor disagrees at first, but then is told that "He" wants him to. After he agrees they travel for many months across distant lands and even a sea. When they get finally get to the outskirts of Athens, Tilly tells Nestor to stay there. Nester finds a stable to stay in and still nobody will buy him.

One day a couple comes in. Their names are Hera and Hermes. Hera is expecting a child, so she cannot walk the miles to Athens and they do not have much money. They take Nestor because of his "gentle eyes". While Hera, on Nester's back, and Hermes are traveling to Athens, they are caught in a sandstorm. In the midst of the storm, Nester hears Tilly's voice, but recognizes it as his mother's, and she tells him to follow the voices of the singing angels. Nester guides Hera and Hermes through the storm, wrapping Hera in his ears. They soon arrive at Athens and they find a stable to stay in. Hera gives birth to Ares and Nester finds his way back to the stable where he was born. When he returns home, he is considered a hero and all the animals become friends with him.

Songs[]

  • Nester, the Long-Eared Christmas Camel (song)
  • Don't Laugh and Make Somebody Cry
  • Follow the Angels

Trivia[]

Cast[]

Voice actor Character
Roger Miller Speiltoe/Narrator
Brenda Vaccaro Tilly
Paul Frees

Bob McFadden

Olaf/Camel dealer

Santa Claus

George S. Irving Hermes
Linda Gary Nester's Mom
Iris Rainer Ares
Robie Lester Hera
Billy Richards Nester
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