Is it Christmas without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? No, no it is not. (And I will gladly challenge anyone who disagrees…) Although it is “only” a Christmas special like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it is the Christmas movie for so many of us, not to mention its lasting effects on holiday pop culture. (More on that later.) So, without any reindeer games at all, let’s look at the 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and why it is so beloved!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
“This was the second animated version of Robert May’s creation (the first was a 1944 cartoon) and seems to have become the audience favourite. Narrated by Sam the Snowman (the voice of Burl Ives), it is the story of a misfit reindeer who comes through for Christmas when he is needed.” (Encyclopedia, 194)
The History of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first appeared in an ad in 1939 for the Montgomery Ward department store in Chicago. Robert May wrote the poem the movie is based on, Denver Gillen did the illustrations and gave away millions of booklets over the next decade. In 1947, Johnny Marks created the song we all love now.
My Review of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This is the number one, “I have to watch this” Christmas movie for me. I’m a bit of a sap and I find the young reindeer leaving Rudolph out exceptionally sad, but I have to watch this! Firstly, you cannot beat Burl Ives’ narration and singing- I’ve not come across a better narrator yet. Secondly, there are so many songs from this movie that are embedded in holiday culture. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” was first released in 1962 but it was popularised by Rudolph. And the Island of Misfit Toys is really a metaphor for all of us at some point in our lives, isn’t it? I know that the claymation might seem quaint to some people with all of the CGI available now. However, I think it really stands the test of time, just like Rudolph himself.
Do you rewatch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
Cheers,
The Historian
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