Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

thejcowboy22 1964. I was a ripe seven year old going to private Hebrew School on Long Island. What a year it was with the emergence of the Beatles, Mary Poppins, James Bond's Goldfinger, Liz Taylor marries Richard Burton, Cassius Clay, The New York World's Fair and Shea Stadium rising up in Flushing Meadows park. Ford Motor company introduces it's Mustang, Sidney Portier wins an Oscar as Diana Ross and the Supreme's sing Baby Love. Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass created a TV special on NBC called Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Sponsored by General Electric). I was, and still fascinated by stop motion animation. Art Clokey's stop motion productions of Gumby and David and Goliath shorts are my favorites. Rudolph was done pretty much the same way with 3" figures. The combination of story, songs and message make this a show to watch over and over again. Burl Ives playing Sam the Snowman as the narrator takes us along to tell and sing the legend of Rudolph with his trials and tribulations being discriminated by his peers, parents and Santa for having a red nose that lights up. We also meet Herbie or Herme I'm not sure which. An Elf who wants to go into the medical profession minus pointed ears. Rudolf and Herbie take off into the great white north for fame and fortune as they meet up with prospector Yukon Cornelius searching for Gold, Silver or whatever commodity pays off the best.The three misfits continue their journey. Off in the distance you can hear the roar of the Abominable Snowman as he finds the defenseless three on the icy banks of Hudson's bay. Quick thinking by Yukon as he takes his pick and chips away and creates a snow ice raft. They float away from the carnivorous beast as he falls into the icy waters. In open waters our trio travels into a deep fog, "thick as pea soup" to the Island of Misfit Toys and their leader King Moonracer who you could describe as a Lion with Wings. They ask for overnight accommodations and in return the three must go back to Christmas Town and tell Santa to retrieve all the misfit toys on his island and find them children who will play with them despite their irregularity. I was surprised by the rejection and response for such a trivial issue as a red nose at that tender age but I was reminded that my gentile community scorned me for being Jewish. Watching, I felt a kindred spirit with our main four legged character Rudolph. All was forgiven and in the end Rudolph's value to everyone in Christmas town was in saving Christmas eve and Santa's trip to deliver. It was Rudolph's shiny nose that guided Santa through rough fog and snow. Where was my shiny nose to fix my problems and get acceptance in a different environment. This review isn't about me but it gave me awareness that not everything can be fixed in a one hour Christmas special. Through the years a couple of questions are answered... The Dolly for Sue who appeared normal among the other misfit toys was neglected and forgotten.The tall nerdy Elf with glasses is named Harry. Loved the animation, songs and story as a great warm up for the holidays. I'm just a Jewish guy who loves s good Christmas special.

saphondo After reading some of the reviews, I think most of the people who see this wonderful Christmas classic in a negative light, are not grasping the true meaning of the story. Many of them mention that it makes Santa and the other characters who work at the north pole seem cruel and mean because of how they treat Rudolph until they need him. That is not what happens in the movie because 1. Rudolph's dad is sorry for how he treated him when Rudolph goes missing, and 2. Santa tells Rudolph, he is sorry when he and his friends get back from their adventure, not when he suddenly he needs Rudolph after learning about the storm. The meaning of the story is the importance of accepting who you are and working through life's adversities instead of trying to fit in to accepted norms. It also shows that even though those we hold in highest esteem can sometimes be wrong, it is just as important to be able to forgive them as it is to do so for those we see as our equals. Other complaints focus on the misfit toys saying they are mistreated by being dumped out of Santa's sleigh and by being brought to a snowy island in the first place. Maybe they are being dropped, with the help of umbrellas I might add, to homeless children somewhere in the world where there are no homes with chimneys. Children who will love them no matter what their shortcomings are, unlike spoiled well off kids. And the bird suddenly being able to fly, well it is the season for miracles and Santa is suppose to be magical. Finally people point to the dolly not having any obvious problems. My answer to them is that there are plenty of perfectly normal or even beautiful beings out there who have to go through life being unloved because of their beliefs or actions. King Moonracer doesn't go out each night looking for toys that are odd or ugly, he looks for toys who are unloved and feel unwanted. He rescues them and gives them a home, the only home he has to offer and it may not be the best but it shows that at least he cares.

Michael Sloane While I gave Frosty the Snowman 10 out of 10 and feel it deserved it,Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is a classic to behold and EASILY the best of the Christmas specials of the 1960's. A good place to start is Rudolph himself. Rudolph is wonderfully voiced by Billie May Richards and is an easy character to root for right from the start. We see a wonderful character progression from Rudolph being mistreated by everyone in Christmastown to him being on the run to him growing older and realizing he has to face his troubles rather than run from them and that he must go home to the big moment where Santa says "Rudolph with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight." Rudolph's journey is just fantastic. What the producers have also done with this show is expanded on the misfit theme and added other characters not in the song to obtain a reasonable length show. There's a misfit elf and a wonderful collection of "misfit toys" on the Island of Misfit toys. I especially like the train with square wheels on its caboose. The idea for the misfit toys was bloody brilliant! And then there's the music. All the music throughout this show is wonderful. But I especially love Holly Jolly Christmas and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Not many people know that Holly Jolly Christmas was originally written for the purpose of being included in this show and it's still one of the best Christmas songs there is. And Burl Ives's performance of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is far superior to the Gene Autry version of the song. Everything about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is wonderful and classic. I watch this show 2-3 times every December,including every Christmas Eve night. And last November I purchased the mp3 Versions of Burl Ives Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and 3 mp3 versions of Holly Jolly Christmas,including Burl Ives. Rudolph the Red Nosed is a timeless and classic Christmas special that can't be anything but 10 stars. :)

utgard14 What can I say? It wouldn't be Christmas without this sweet family classic. So many wonderful characters and scenes. Rudolph himself, of course. Hermey the dentist, Yukon Cornelius, the Abominable Snowman, Fireball, King Moonracer and the Island of Misfit Toys. Not to mention Sam the Snowman, voiced by the great Burl Ives, who gives us several lovely songs as well. All immensely likable, memorable characters. Beautiful stop-motion animation. This is a rich, heartwarming Christmas story with a great message. I love the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. I would have to say Rudolph is their masterpiece. Recommended for everybody.