Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) (TV)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Directors:

Kizo Nagashima
Larry Roemer

Writers:

Robert May (story)
Romeo Muller (writer)

Release Date:

6 December 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Plot:

A misfit reindeer and his friends look for a place that will accept them.

Plot Keywords:

Reindeer | Snowman | Toy | Misfit | Abominable Snowman

Cast

Burl Ives	...	Narrator: Sam the Snowman (voice)
Billie Mae Richards	...	Rudolph (voice) (as Billy Richards)
Paul Soles	...	Hermey (voice)
Larry D. Mann	...	Yukon Cornelius (voice) (as Larry Mann)
Stan Francis	...	Santa Claus / King Moonracer (voice)
Paul Kligman	...	Donner / Clarice's Father / Comet the Coach (voice)
Janet Orenstein	...	Clarice (voice)
Alfie Scopp	...	Head Elf / Other Elves / Jeering Reindeers (voice)
Carl Banas	...	Charlie-In-The-Box / Spotted Elephant / Other Toys (voice)
Corinne Conley	...	Doll / Others (voice)
Peg Dixon	...	Mrs. Donner / Others (voice)

Runtime:

47 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | UK:U (video rating) | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Trivia:

Yukon Cornelius' stalwart sled dogs include a Cocker Spaniel, a Poodle, a Saint Bernard, a Collie, and a Dachshund.

Goofs:

Continuity: The head elf's voice is clearly a different actor when he's conducting the choir.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Sam the Snowman: If I live to be 100, I'll never forget that big snow storm a couple of years ago. The weather closed in and, well you might not believe it, but the world almost missed Christmas. Oh, excuse me, call me Sam. What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a talking snowman before?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Curious George (2006)

Soundtrack:

The Most Wonderful Day of the Year

Richard on Rudolph

Videocraft International Limited; The General Electric Fantasy Hour; all those remarkable numbers; Romeo Muller's script; the legendary Hermey, the elf who wanted the world of dentistry rather than the magic of the North Pole; Burl Ives as the irreplacable Sam the Snowman, who tells our tale; the beautiful vocal of tones of ol' neon-nose himself, as uttered by Billie Mae Richards --- and that ultimate stop-motion animation paradise, the Island of Misfit Toys.

Any proper exploration of the Enchanted World of Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass must begin here.... with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer --- television's longest continuously aired animated Christmas special. It was the cornerstone of everything R/B would eventually accomplish over the next 4 decades; it did instill some negative feelings in me --- for a time. But until I read Rick Goldschmidt's recently published in-depth chronicle of this 1964 television landmark, featuring Muller's complete screenplay, I realized that there was much about the film I didn't know. How fortunate we are that Rick was able to open our eyes and set the record straight.

To the dum-dums of the Television Academy: I've bugged you about this for several years; now, more than ever, Arthur and Jules need to be there --- there being the Television Academy Hall of Fame. I hope those who still watch and enjoy Rankin/Bass' Rudolph will agree with me and bug the TV Academy into putting the boys there. 'Nuff said.