How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

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

Directors:

Chuck Jones, Ben Washam (co-director)

Writers:

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

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Thurl Ravenscroft, June Foray

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Boris Karloff	...	Narrator / The Grinch (voice)

Storyline

Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of the nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. So disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he raids the village to steal all the Christmas things. The village is sure to have a sad Christmas this year.

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Plot Keywords:

generosity | christmas special | change of heart | christmas | compassion | 

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Taglines:

The fabled story world of DR. SEUSS comes to television for the first time in this colorful special for the whole family!

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dr. Seuss wrote the lyrics to all the songs.

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Goofs

At the end when the sled full of Christmas stuff is on the mountaintop, it starts sliding off the edge. It's going fast enough that it should be long gone by the time the Grinch reaches it, but when he does it's still right near the top of the mountain.

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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. But, whatever the reason, his heart or his ...

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Crazy Credits

Thurl Ravenscroft received no screen credit for his singing, an oversight Dr. Seuss attempted to rectify by sending letters to every major columnist in America identifying Ravenscroft as the singer on "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". He is also part of the chorus on the other two songs.

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Alternate Versions

The version shown on CBS from, possibly, the 70's up to 1985 eliminates the verses and segments "You're a vile one" and "You're a rotter" of the Mr. Grinch segment/montage. It cuts from the segment where the Grinch stuffs the items from the Christmas tree in bags up the chimney to the scene where he appears, grinning, at the Who children sleeping in bed with their candy canes.

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Childhood Christmas Movies That Will Never Get Old (2019)

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Soundtracks

You're the Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Part 2
(1966) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Dr. Seuss
Music by Albert Hague
Conducted by Eugene Poddany
Performed by Thurl Ravenscroft

User Reviews

Perfection.

It doesn't get any better than this.

This is, quite possibly, the one perfect Holiday movie. There has never ever been a more wonderful combination of talent than Chuck Jones and Dr. Suess. Only a quick tug on my brow hairs can bring me quicker to tears than the scene where the Grinch learns the truth about Christmas.

Pure perfection.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Cat in the Hat Productions, MGM Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

26 min 30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3