"Cricket on the Hearth" is a fully-animated musical color special based on the Dickens Christmas story about a toymaker, his daughter and a cricket who adopts them.
A 1960 children's book, The Cricket in Times Square, would also explore the world from a cricket's point of view. It, too, was made into a TV film in 1973, animated by the great Chuck Jones. Christmas and 4th of July sequels also followed.
To this day (2022), metal sculptures of crickets are sold to be placed on the hearths of fireplaces, for good luck.
Danny Thomas, a respected entertainer and television producer, assembled an impressive group indeed for this special. Ed Ames was a popular singer, actor and former golden gloves boxer. Roddy McDowall, already acting for decades, was in the middle of his work on the Planet of the Apes franchise. Marlo Thomas, Danny's daughter, was not only the star of TV's That Girl, she would produce an award winning animated show, Free to Be You and Me, in 1974. And the Norman Luboff Choir was a renowned vocal ensemble.
Well known voice actor Paul Frees provided many of the characterizations here. He was especially famed for his portrayals of sinister, nefarious denizens.