This is one of those films that for maybe only a sliver of time was iconic and absolutely unforgettable. It came out when I was four years old, my mother loved the song, as so many people did. This film was the very essence of my childhood imagination and joy, also my sorrows, as this was the generation where many kids experienced the relatively new increase in divorce and fractured families, as my family did. This film deals with change and growing up - and I for one was greatly enriched and strengthened all my life because of it. It is beautifully done and still stands up fairly well, especially as a snapshot in time and history with ideas and lessons that are timeless for any child or adult. Some others like this (if you can find it) The Electric Grandmother, based on the story I Sing The Body Electric by Ray Bradbury (also a Twilight Zone episode), The Velveteen Rabbit etc were of a time when it seemed such shorts were created to inspire and educate, to bring beauty and music and imagination to kids. We have great films like this today, of course, but it seems these were more rare to find in the days before VCRs, Cable, the Internet etc.
