How the Toys Saved Christmas

La freccia azzurra (, known as How the Toys Saved Christmas in the U.S.) is a 1996 Italian animated film directed by Enzo D'Alò, based on a tale by Gianni Rodari.
In the original version, the story took place during the Epiphany Eve, because in the Folklore of Italy the Befana is a good witch that gives presents and candies to the children during the night between 5 and 6 January.
==Plot==
On the Epiphany Eve, La Befana falls ill and must take off for a night, recruiting Scarafoni to help deliver all the toys that must go to the Italian children. No one but the toys knows that Scarafoni plans to auction off the toys to the highest bidder, which means that the toys won't make it to the children who have been good all year and therefore deserve them. The toys decide to deliver themselves: the story follows them as they struggle to avoid the heartless Scarafoni and to find their true homes.
Meanwhile, a young boy named Francesco whishes to receive as an Epiphany present the model of the Freccia Azzurra (Blue Arrow), the train where his late father used to work on. While Scarafoni is out looking for the escaping toys, a couple of burglars, Lesto and Scarpa, kidnap Francesco and force him to sneak inside the Befana's shop and taking away all the money. Francesco, instead, uses the telephone inside the shop to call the police who arrest the burglars; Befana understands that Francesco is not involved in the attempted robbery and, with much gratitude, exonerates Francesco.
Of all the toys, the plush dog Spicciola wishes to be given to Francesco. During the evening, after a fight against Scarafoni that splits him from the group, Spicciola turns into a real dog. The next morning, Spicciola finds Francesco and the two bonds immediately.
In the end, all the toys manage to deliver themselves to the children in their homes, but Scarafoni still has the money. However, everyone rushes to the toy shop and find Scarafoni with the money and manage to get it back from him, as Scarafoni is sent to prison. Befana, after having found that her illness was provoked by Scarafoni himself, who gave her a light poison instead of medicine, hires Francesco as her new helper, joined by Spicciola.
==U.S. version==
In 1997, the film was imported to the U.S. and released direct-to-video by Buena Vista Home Video, under the title "How the Toys Saved Christmas" (although, as shown in the previews, originally going to be titled "The Toys Who Saved Christmas").
The film featured Mary Tyler Moore as the voice for the Befana, who was named "Granny Rose" and is described as Santa Claus' helper, Tony Randall as Scarafoni (whose name suggest "scarafaggio" that means cockroach), who was named "Mr. Grimm", Michael Caloz as Francesco, who was named "Christopher Winter", and Sonja Ball as Spicciola the dog, renamed Jingles. Instead of being set during the Epiphany Eve, the film is set on Christmas Eve.
The film also had some scenes from the original Italian release deleted or placed before other scenes, along with some music scores taken out and new music added in.
==Cast==
Character 	Original Italian 	English Dub (Miramax version)
Scarafoni/Mr. Grimm 	Dario Fo 	Tony Randall
La Befana/Granny Rose 	Lella Costa 	Mary Tyler Moore
Capitano Mezzabarba/Skipper 	Vittorio Amandola 	Richard M. Dumont
Pastello Verde/Green Pencil 	Pino Ammendola 	Terrence Scammell
Spicciola/Jingles the Dog 	Monica Bertolotti 	Sonja Ball
Generale/General Lajoie 	Rodolfo Bianchi 	Rick Jones
Francesco/Christopher Winter 	Alida Milana 	Michael Caloz
Penna d'Argento/Chief 	Rino Bolognesi 	Terrence Scammell
Arturo/Mr. Potter 	Giorgio Borghetto 	Bruce Dinsmore
Pilota/Pilot 	Marco Bresciani 	Thor Bishopric
Filippo Maria/Alfred 	Alessio de Filippis	Susan Glover
Capotreno/Conductor 	Oliviero Dinelli 	Richard Dumont
Capo della polizia/Chief of Police	Pino Ferrara 	Walter Massey
Macchinista/Train Driver 	Christian Iansante 	Arthur Holden
Statua/Statue 	Michele Kalamera 	Gary Jewell
Carlotta/Holly 	Ilaria Latini 	Holly G. Frankel
Barbara/Polly 	Ilaria Latini 	Maggie Castle
Pastello Rosso/Red Pencil 	Sergio Luzi 	Bruce Dinsmore
Pastello Giallo/Yellow Pencil 	Neri Marcorè 	Rick Jones
Scarpa/Rocko 	Roberto Pedicini 	Mark Camacho
Carlo Alberto/Milford 	Davide Perino 	Jane Woods
Mago/Wizard 	Carlo Reali 	Gary Jewell
Mastro Romualdo/Mr. Tinker 	Nello Riviè 	Walter Massey
Babbo Natale/Santa Claus 	Renzo Stacchi 	Neil Shee
===Additional Voices===
*Original: George Castiglia (Aristide), Daniela Cavallini (Silvana, Attrice), Roberto Certomà (Marito povero), Laura Cosenza (Moglie povera, Cassiera), Pino Ammendola (Pastello Blu), Vittorio Battarra (Capostazione), Marco Bolognesi (Don Juan), Stefano de Filippis (Franco), Luigi Ferraro (Soldato), Sergio Luzi (Pastello Nero), Neri Marcorè (Attore, Padre dei bambini ricchi), Alida Milana (Francesco), Elena Perino (Marina), Francesco Pezzulli (Roberto, Vetturino), Renzo Stacchi (Simone, Poliziotto), Roberto Stocchi (Orso giallo), Gaetano Varcasia (Topo, Pastello Bianco, Pastello Marrone)
*English: Michael Rudder (Trainman, Theodore), Joanna Noyes (Maid, Ticket Seller), Mark Camacho (Rascal), Rick Jones (Duck)
==External links==
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Category:1996 films
Category:1996 animated films
Category:1990s children's fantasy films
Category:Italian animated films
Category:Italian films
Category:Italian Christmas films
Category:Films directed by Enzo D'Alò
Category:Sentient toys in fiction
Category:Miramax films
Category:Miramax animated films
Category:Films about toys
Category:Animated films about dogs
Category:Animated films about bears
Category:Animated films about birds
Category:Films about race and ethnicity
Category:Indigenous films
Category:1990s Christmas films
Category:Cookie Jar Group Films
Category:Films based on European myths and legends
Category:1990s children's animated films
Category:Warner Bros. films
Category:Warner Bros. Family Entertainment films
Category:Warner Bros. animated films