Frosty the Snowman (1969) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

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:

Continuity: When Hocus Pocus is telling Karen about the refrigerated boxcar, Karen's scarf is dangling on the ground. It is then back around her neck, and then on the ground again.

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:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (#4.21)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Frosty the Snowman

Great for kids

Watching the holiday specials lately with my young kids, I can gage which shows really grab them. This one scores points by being quick (30 minutes for the toddler group with short attention spans)and a real tear jerker for a four year old. The storyline is easy to understand for young kids and shows the idea of Santa being a generous guy instead of just a present deliverer. I really like it for them. My favorite as an adult is Charlie Brown Christmas, which my kids also love, but I think this scored higher for them. I found that I still liked it too. It's in my top three. Is this the only Rankin holiday film that is not stop motion?