Rankin Bass rules!

[sheepsnot]

The very best Christmas TV show ever was Rudolph in 1964. Also fabulous were Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, and The Little Drummer Boy. Outside of Rankin Bass, my favs are A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch and the old between-shows classics, Suzie Snowflake and Hardrock, Cocoa & Joe, which were only a few minutes each. I never grew to like Nestor, the Long-Eared Donkey. What about The Mouse on the Mayflower? That was a good one, but I don't know if it gets any play time anymore.
:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

[Elf Ed Zachary]

The Mouse on the Mayflower? That's a new one on me and I'm REALLY old.

I have to say that most kid's perceptions of Santa Claus and the North Pole come from the Rudolph show. Even today and that production is more than 40 years old now.

[gameshowguy2000]

Speaking of Rankin-Bass, they also did The Hobbit.

And speaking of Rudolph, it airs tonight on CBS, and for the first time ever, it's Digitally Remastered!

[sheepsnot]

I didn't get to see it. Did it look any different than it did before? :D

[gameshowguy2000]

Well, from what I saw in the promos, the images are a little brighter.

[sheepsnot]

Something I noticed about recent airings of Rudolph is that formerly removed parts were reinserted, such as when Rudolph's dad gets set to look for Rudolph and won't let his wife come along because it was "man's work." The song "Why am I such a Misfit" was exchanged for "Fame and Fortune," but I have seen the original song back in there lately. Admittedly, Rudolph is not PC. The coach openly ridicules him and seeks the support of all the kids to shun Rudolph. Great lesson there for the children. Even Santa joins in on the game and tells Rudolph's dad it is too bad the boy is deformed (paraphrase). Only when Rudolph's deformity becomes useful is he accepted. The real Santa wouldn't say all that! Still, it is by far my favorite.

[Jeff Westover]

That's exactly the reason I never cared for the Rudolph story when I was a kid. I saw Rudolph before I read Rudolph and it always kind of spoiled the story for me. And the image of Santa.

Jeff

[sheepsnot]

I was reading about the making of Rudolph and one question many people have is this, "What's wrong with the little girl doll on the Island of Misfit Toys?" Arthur Rankin says it was psychological, not physical! Welcome to bi-polar island, little girl!

[caseydbell]

to see what movies we have to look forward to visit my site.

[dvdguy]

doesnt Santa come across like a jerk in all these specials? maybe its just me

[sheepsnot]

These shows were not made during a very sensitive time in American history. Every adult male in the show not only ridicules Rudolph and Hermey, but tells them they'll always be failures as well. That's why it's my favorite Christmas show! Now go back to watching According to Jim, OK?

[HolyNight7]

The only Rankin and Bass where Santa isn't a grouchy old coo is Santa Claus is Coming To Town. It's like he lost the Chrstimas Spirit in the other ones. No humility. No one believes in me anymore. Boo hoo. I still like the shows anyway. They are just tradition for me now cause I grew up with them.


http://www.toymania.com/news/images/0706_santa.jpg

[dvdguy]

dont get me wrong, I love these, I just think Santa seems like a jerk

[sheepsnot]

I watched Rudolph yesterday. "You'll never be an elf!" Ah, such good parenting. If the head elf had known about it in his day, he'd have made a big L on his forehead like my mom used to do to me.

[dvdguy]

that & the scene where they get the entire room to laugh at him. :)

[sheepsnot]

"Hey, everybody, we're not going to let Rudolph join any reindeer games!" Kinda like in the Chicken Little movie where the gym teacher splits the dodgeball game into popular and unpopular.

[dvdguy]

Aw hes a little different, thats ok Santa will understand
Santa: "sweet googily moogily, dont let that clown nose reindeer anywhere near me"

[SC]

I was reading about the making of Rudolph and one question many people have is this, "What's wrong with the little girl doll on the Island of Misfit Toys?" Arthur Rankin says it was psychological, not physical! Welcome to bi-polar island, little girl!
I always wondered that!

[sheepsnot]

Tonight I shall stray from Rankin & Bass and watch The Muppet Christmas Carol. I like every single song in that movie and sing them all year long. "There's only one more sleep till Christmas!" OK, not in actuality, but in the movie.
:grin:

[dvdguy]

which version do you have?

[mrshfromjersey]

I'm in the mood for Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

[dvdguy]

nah

[mrshfromjersey]

SNIFFLE!!!!

:(

[sheepsnot]

which version do you have?
Are you talking to me? I didn't know there were versions of the Muppet CC.

[dvdguy]

just teasin

[HolyNight7]

Yea who knew that such terrible criticism existed at the North Poll. :-o

[dvdguy]

on dvd theres 2 I believe, 1 regular & the 50th anniversary edition (kermits not the movie). The 50th has a delted scene in the full screen portion but not in the wide screen

[ChristmasBroadband]

Anyone have the Rankin/Bass boxed set DVD, with the red cover? It's great! Although, there's something more fun about catching it when it's on TV.

[sheepsnot]

I would pay full price to see it on Imax, it's that good to me. I'm singing the songs in my mind now. When I sing out loud bad stuff usually happens. Eviction notices, divorce proposals, I got beaten up by a Hindu neighbor, and those folks are as peaceable as it gets.

[sndgrdn]

I would rate the Rankin Bass Christmas specials my all time favorite. Who cares about how "harsh" santa, the elves, and the reindeer are. It is still great to watch, even for the kids today. It is not like they do not see that stuff everyday in school(the popular in one group and the unpopular in another). The story behind those things is what I think needs the attention. :???:

[dvdguy]

they're all great, its just funny what you notice when youre older.