Frosty the Snowman (1969) (TV)

Directors:

Jules Bass
Arthur Rankin Jr.

Writer:

Romeo Muller (writer)

Release Date:

7 December 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Plot:

A living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.

Plot Keywords:

Snowman | Magician | Magic Hat | Christmas | Train

Cast

Jimmy Durante	...	Narrator (voice)
Billy De Wolfe	...	Professor Hinkle (voice)
Jackie Vernon	...	Frosty the Snowman (voice)
Paul Frees	...	Santa Claus / Traffic Cop / Additional Voices (voice)
June Foray	...	Teacher / Karen / Additional Voices (voice)

Runtime:

22 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | UK:U

Company:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Trivia:

Jimmy Durante's final film (not counting documentaries and one short film appearance).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the train heading for the North Pole stops to let another train cross, it stops *after* it has already crossed the track.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: I suppose it all started with the snow. You see, it was a very special kind of snow. A snow that made the happy happier, and the giddy even giddier. A snow that'd make a homecoming homier, and natural enemies, friends, natural. For it was the first snow of the season. And as any child can tell you, there's a certain magic that comes with the very first snow, especially when it falls on the day before Christmas. For when the first snow is also a Christmas snow...
[laughs]
Narrator: Well, something wonderful is bound to happen.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in It's a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special (1992) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Frosty the Snowman

Rankin/Bass' Frosty the Snowman still charming after all these years

I just saw Frosty the Snowman for the first time in several years since the late '80s and while I noticed some lapses on logic and continuity, it's still one of the most charming animated holiday specials ever from Rankin/Bass which for once used drawn, as opposed to doll, animation. In one of his last assignments, Jimmy Durante narrates and sings in his unique voice, charming us even in animated form. Billy DeWolfe is amusing as the villainous magician Professor Hinkle. And Jackie Vernon is perfect voicing Frosty who always says, "Happy Birthday!" when he comes to life. Also kudos to June Foray as the teacher and Paul Frees as both the traffic cop who swallows a whistle after talking to Frosty and as Santa Claus who makes Hinkle write "I am very sorry for what I did to Frosty" one zillion times before considering giving him presents again! How ironic that one year after Frosty, Frees would voice the villainous Burgermeister Meisterburger, Claus' enemy in Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. Both Claus here and Burgermeister even sound the same! Anyway, as the song goes, "Don't you cry, I'll be back again some day!" And we'll be waiting every time, Frosty!