How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) (TV)

Directors:

Chuck Jones
Ben Washam (co-director)

Writers:

Dr. Seuss (book)
Irv Spector (additional story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 December 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Plot:

A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Dog | Hermit | Whip | Christmas Special

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
June Foray	...	Cindy Lou Who (voice) (uncredited)
Thurl Ravenscroft	...	Singer (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Chuck Jones
Ben Washam		(co-director)

Writing credits
Dr. Seuss		(book)
Irv Spector		(additional story) and
Bob Ogle		(additional story)

Produced by
Chuck Jones	....	producer
Dr. Seuss	....	producer (as Ted Geisel)

Cinematography by
Nick Vasu		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Lovell Norman
John O. Young		(as John Young)

Production Design by
Maurice Noble

Production Management
Earl Jonas	....	production manager

Art Department
Don Foster	....	graphics

Animation Department
Hal Ashmead	....	background artist
Philip DeGuard	....	background artist
Oscar Dufau	....	layout artist
Ken Harris	....	animator
Robert Inman	....	background artist (as Bob Inman)
Don Morgan	....	layout artist
Tom Ray	....	animator
Phil Roman	....	animator (as Philip Roman)
Richard Thompson	....	animator
Don Towsley	....	animator
Lloyd Vaughan	....	animator

Music Department
Albert Hague	....	composer: songs
Eugene Poddany	....	composer: additional music
Eugene Poddany	....	conductor
Dr. Seuss	....	lyricist

Other crew
Les Goldman	....	production executive

Production Companies

• The Cat in the Hat Productions
• MGM Television

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD) (as MGM/UA Home Video)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

26 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | USA:TV-G | UK:U | Germany:o.Al. | USA:Unrated

Company:

The Cat in the Hat Productions

Trivia:

Boris Karloff's voice changes when he speaks for the Grinch. Originally he spoke in his "Narrator" voice throughout. After recording was complete, the highs in his voice were mechanically removed for the Grinch, giving him the gravelly voice heard in the finished version.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the Grinch gains his strength to prevent the sleigh from falling off Mt. Crumpet, he lifts the sleigh over his head. Max the dog is left on the snow at first (when the sleigh is first raised), but then jumps up to the runner a moment later.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville - did not. The Grinch hated Christmas - the whole Christmas season. Now, please don't ask why; no one quite knows the reason. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. Or it could be that his head wasn't screwed on just right. But I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Indestructible Man (#5.9)" (1992)

Dr. Suess + Chuck Jones equals to a classic cartoon.

This has been a favorite Holiday cartoon since I was a kid.

Not only is it based off of a Dr. Suess book, the whole cartoon is done with Chuck Jones' Style.

Plus Boris Karloff is the voice of the grinch, and the Grinch song is sang by the guy who originally did Tony the Tiger.

The story involves this town of Whoville with citizens known as Whos. They love Christmas a lot. But the Grinch who lived high on a mountain top did not. He hates Christmas and the Whos so much he plans to steal it from the Whos. By dressing up as Santa Claus and rob every thing the Whos own.

Has the stuff you'd find in an average Chuck Jones cartoon. Including the style of the characters, Wille Coyoate like gizmos and Gadgets, and plenty of comedic elements.

The story to it is perfect. It's very memorable and enjoyable to see again and again.

It's highly recommend to Dr. Suess, Chuck Jones, Animation, and Holiday Fans.

It's a great Holiday Toon.