Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer DVD
Sony Video
Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Television Special
Length: 55 minutes
Director: Kizo Nagashima
Year: (1964)
Britt Gillette's Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer DVD Review
One of a plethora of animated Christmas classics created in the 1960's - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) come to mind - this rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is unique in that it uses stop-motion animation instead of cartoons to tell its story. Sam the Snowman (voiced by Burl Ives) brilliantly narrates the tale of an awkward reindeer and his struggle with discrimination. Along the way, he sings a number of holiday classics such as "Silver and Gold," "Holly Jolly Christmas," and of course - "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".
The story begins when Rudolph's father, Donner, tries to cover up his son's shiny, bright red nose with a disguise. When Rudolph attends a flight training school for young reindeer, he encounters Clarice - a young doe who thinks that Rudolph is cute. This revelation causes Rudolph to leap into the air and fly around the sky like a seasoned aviator. But when he lands, the nose disguise falls off and Rudolph's red honker is exposed to the scorn and ridicule of the young bucks in flight school. Clarice is the only one who doesn't view Rudolph as an outcast freak, but her father quickly escorts her out of the presence of such a "monster".
Following this episode, Rudolph runs away only to meet up with an outcast Elf named Hermey who has committed the unforgivable sin of not wanting to make toys. Contrary to the social conventions of his time, Hermey wants to be a dentist. Feeling unwanted, Rudolph and Hermey decide to run away together. But in due time, they encounter the dangerous Abominable Snow Monster - a giant, hairy beast who crushes anyone who leaves Christmastown. Aiding in their rescue is Yukon Cornelius, a burly prospector who chops off a piece of ice with his pick ax, allowing Rudolph, Hermey, and himself to float away from the Abominable Snow Monster (who can't swim).
After floating through the night, the three characters discover The Land of Misfit Toys - an island of handicapped, screwed-up toys rejected by elf quality-control managers and forced to live away their best years in an icy wasteland. Our three heroes can relate to the misfit toys, and Rudolph promises to inform Santa of their status the next time he sees him.
When Rudolph sneaks away in the middle to return home, he meets up with Clarice (who ran away from home to search for him), and the two of them get cornered by the Abominable Snow Monster. But Yukon Cornelius faces down the Monster, and together with Hermey, he coaxes the beast into a trap - where Hermey neutralizes the Monster by pulling out his teeth.
Meanwhile, Christmastown is covered with a thick fog, and Santa ponders the cancellation of Christmas. But when he sees Rudolph's bright red nose glowing in his workshop, Santa asks Rudolph to guide his sleigh through the night. With Rudolph taking the lead, Santa swoops down on Christmas Eve just in time to rescue the depressed residents of The Land of Misfit Toys and deliver them all to expectant boys and girls who will love them for who they are.
This breakthrough Claymation classic is essential for any child's Christmas experience (and that of adults who grew up watching much-anticipated annual holiday special on TV). That's why this ranks as a definite "must-see" by any standard. But undoubtedly, we all owe a special thanks to Montgomery Ward - the giant retail chain that created Rudolph as part of a promotional gimmick one fabled Christmas season decades ago. For after all, it just wouldn't be Christmas without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer…
Britt Gillette
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Read more Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer DVD Reviews (MRQE)
Read more Rudolph
The Red-Nosed Reindeer DVD Reviews (MRI)
Posted on 3 December 2004