USA, 6 December 1964
47m
Technicolor, 4:3
mono, English
An American animated television special directed by Larry Roemer and based on the story by Robert May and the song by Johnny Marks. Several versions of the special exist – when original audiences complained that they didn’t find out what happened to the toys on Misfit Island, a new ending was shot to provide a better resolution. This resulted in the loss of one of the songs, We’re a Couple of Misfits (replaced by a new song, Fame and Fortune) and a scene set in the peppermint mine along with a few shorter trims. All but the peppermint mine scene were subsequently restored.
Plot Summary
Rudolph the reindeer, son of Santa’s lead reindeer Donner, is born with a prominent glowing red nose. Shunned by the other reindeer, Rudolph teams up with the elf Hermey (who really wants to be a dentist) and they are nearly eaten by the abominable snow monster. They meet the prospector Yukon Cornelius and all three end up on The Island of Misfit Toys. Rudolph eventually returns to the north pole where his parenst are missing, having set out to search for him when he first ran away. Once again he, Hermey and Yukon must venture out on an adventure, this time to find Rudolph’s parents and his missing friend Clarice.
Credits
Crew
Director: Larry Roemer
© Videocraft Int’l. Ltd. MCLXIV [sic – it should read MCMLXIV [1964
Rankin/Bass present a Videocraft International production
Produced by: Arthur Rankin Jr
Co-producer: Jules Bass
Written by: Romeo Muller
Adapted from a story by Robert May and the song by Johnny Marks
Associate Director: Kizo Nagashima
Animation Supervisor: Tad Mochinaga
Continuity Design: Anthony Peters
Music and Lyrics by: Johnny Marks
Musical Director: Maury Laws
Recording Supervisor: Bernard Cowan
Recording Engineers: Bill Giles, Alan Mirchin, Ralph Friedman
Sound Effects: Walter Gustafson
RCA Sound Recording
Cast
Burl Ives tells the story of… (Sam the Snowman)
Larry Mann (Yukon Cornelius)
Billy Richards (Rudolph)
Paul Soles (Hermey)
Stan Francis (Santa Claus/King Moonracer)
Alfie Scopp (Charlie-in-the-Box/other reindeer)
Janet Orenstein (Clarice)
Paul Kligman (Donner/Clarice’s father/Comet the coach)
Carl Banas (head elf/spotted elephant/other toys)
Corinne Conley (Doll/others)
Peg Dixon (Mrs Donner/others)
Alternative Titles
Rudolf, a rénszarvas – Hungary
Links
Sequels
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976)
Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979)
Frosty Returns (1992)
