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

Directors:

Kizo Nagashima
Larry Roemer

Writers:

Robert May (story)
Romeo Muller

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	...	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)
Janis Orenstein	...	Clarice (voice)
Alfie Scopp	...	Charlie-In-The-Box / Other Reindeer (voice)
Carl Banas	...	Head Elf / Spotted Elephant / Other Toys (voice)
Corinne Conley	...	Doll / Others (voice)
Peg Dixon	...	Mrs. Donner / Others (voice)

Directed by
Kizo Nagashima
Larry Roemer

Writing credits
Robert May		(story)
Romeo Muller

Produced by
Jules Bass	....	co-producer
Arthur Rankin Jr.	....	producer

Original Music by
Johnny Marks

Sound Department
Bernard Cowan	....	recording supervisor
Ralph Friedman	....	sound recording engineer
Bill Giles	....	sound recording engineer
Walter Gustafson	....	sound effects
Alan Mirchin	....	sound recording engineer
Bob Elder	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Tadahito Mochinaga	....	animation supervisor

Music Department
Maury Laws	....	musical director

Other crew
Vincent Apollo	....	remastered version
Kirsten Hansen-Love	....	remastered version
Antony Peters	....	continuity design
Gary Scarpulla	....	remastered version
Todd Sokolove	....	remastered version

Production Companies

• Rankin/Bass Productions
• Videocraft International

Distributors

• Broadway Video (1992-1998) (USA) (all media)
• Family Home Entertainment (FHE) (1992-1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Classic Media (1999-) (USA) (all media)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2005) (USA) (TV) (HDTV premiere and analog simulcast)
• CBS Television Network (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Classic Media (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• General Electric Fantasy Hour (1964) (USA) (TV)
• Golden Books Family Entertainment
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964-2005) (USA) (TV)
• Telepictures Corporation
• Time-Life Video

Other Companies

• 7-Up  sponsoring
• General Electric (GE)  sponsoring (1964)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

47 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Trivia:

Rudolph was to have been delivered to Donner and his wife by stork, but when General Electric brought in Burl Ives as the narrator, the scene was scrapped and never filmed, so that it now appears that Rudolph was born naturally.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Rudolph is in front of King Moonracer he states "When and if we ever get back [to Christmas town] we'll tell Santa". This is in response to Moonracer asking them to get Santa to distribute all the misfit toys. "Dolly for Sue" in response to Charlie's comment about having to wait another year says "But Rudolph promised we'd go this time." Rudolph never made such a promise.

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 "Farscape: Unrealized Reality (#4.11)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Fame and Fortune

The Ultimate TV Christmas Classic, and God Bless Burl!

I've seen and loved all of the great Rankin/Bass Christmas shows, and I have most of them on video, but this first one, "Rudolph," is still the best, and still the one that holds the warmest memories for me.

In terms of Holiday atmosphere, it can't be beat. The late Johnny Marks' songs are all winners, and "Rudolph" and "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" are now firmly established Christmas classics. And holding it all together is Burl Ives' warm, friendly singing and narration. His sincerity and joviality just naturally make you want to "pull up an ice block and lend an ear." I'm now 41 years old, I know all the dialogue practically by heart, and yet I still watch "Rudolph" practically every Christmas. And, what's more, I still love it.

Finally, a word to Julie Landry, of Orlando, on her review. I myself was dyslexic as a child. And yes, I got picked on because of it. But, in deference to your opinion, I see "Rudolph" as a story of how even a perceived outsider can fit in. As a successful Senior Librarian today, I'm living proof that outsiders can succeed. But, then, Rudolph proved that long before I did.