The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town/Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol/Little Drummer Boy/Cricket on the Hearth)
By admin /
July 29, 2010 /
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Includes 7 Holiday Favorites:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Who’s got a nose for Christmas? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Just in time for the holidays, here comes Rudolph in the most beloved special of all time! Packed with a sleigh full of memorable songs and unforgettable characters, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lights up the hearts of young and old alike.
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Where does Santa’s suit come from? Why does he slide down the chimney? Why does he live at the North Pole? The answers to all these questions and the origins of our favorite holiday traditions are revealed in this delightful classic about Kris Kringle, the world’s most famous gift giver.
Frosty the Snowman
Look at Frosty Go! What’s become a bigger holiday tradition than building a snowman? Watching the original Christmas classic, Frosty the Snowman! Grab your scarf, bundle up, and get ready for the incredible adventure of a magical snowman who’s got enough personality to win over the whole family. You can’t go wrong with Frosty!
Frosty Returns
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Bah Humbug, Mr. Magoo! In this first-ever animated holiday TV special, the bumbling and loveable Mr. Magoo is Ebeneezer Scrooge in a hilarious and heartwarming musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol”.
The Little Drummer Boy
This story has touched the hearts of families everywhere. In this holiday classic, the true spirit of Christmas is revealed when a lonely orphan stumbles upon the birth of the baby Jesus and affirms what the holidays are really about – giving and love. Featuring a beautiful soundtrack by the Vienna Boys’ Choir, this timeless tale of generosity makes the perfect addition to your holiday collection.
Cricket on the Hearth
A delightful, animated musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Cricket on the Hearth, tells the story of a poor toymaker and his daughter whom a helpful Cricket named Crocket befriends on Christmas morning. When tragedy strikes the family, it’s Crocket who comes to the rescue and restores peace and happiness.
Bonus In-pack Holiday CD:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer- Burl Ives
- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree- Bobby Rydell
- Holly Jolly Christmas- Burl Ives
- Silver & Gold- Burl Ives
- Let it Snow- Chicago
- Winter Wonderland- Jewel
- Merry Christmas Baby- Otis Redding
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:
This classic 1964 television special featuring Rudolph and his misfit buddies set the standard for stop-motion animation for an entire generation before Tim Burton darkly reinvented it in the early 1990s. Burl Ives narrates as Sam the Snowman, telling and singing the story of a rejected reindeer who overcomes prejudice and saves Christmas one particularly blustery year. Along the way, he meets an abundance of unforgettable characters: his dentally obsessed elf pal Hermey; the affable miner Yukon Cornelius and his motley crew of puppies; the scary/adorable Abominable Snow Monster; a legion of abandoned, but still chatty, toys; and a rather grouchy Santa. In addition to the title song that inspired it, this 53-minute tape is crammed with catchy tunes such as “Silver and Gold” and “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Those who grew up looking forward to watching Rudolph every Christmas season will undoubtedly be able to recite the quotable quotes (“I’m cuuuute. She said I’m cuuuute.” “Herbie doesn’t like to make toys.”) as well as any Casablanca cult audience. –Kimberly Heinrichs
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town:
This 53-minute, 1970 animated film may be the most delightful of those sundry, stop-motion animated Christmas perennials that show up on television during the holidays. The clay animation production, boasting a wonderful musical score and art direction that occasionally underscores the flower-power era in which it was born, tells the story of Santa’s origins, in which Kris Kringle decides to get toys into the hands of poor children in gloomy Sombertown. Charmingly narrated by Fred Astaire and featuring voices by Mickey Rooney and Keenan Wynn, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town presents a nice bridge between two generations of entertainment, the classic and the hip. –Tom Keogh
Frosty the Snowman:
Jimmy Durante narrates this Christmas story that is based on the song of the same name. To make up for the fact that her students are in school on Christmas Eve, the local schoolteacher hires the magician Professor Hinkle to entertain the kids. Unfortunately, he’s not a very good magician. Frustrated in his attempt to pull a rabbit out of his hat, he throws it away in anger. Outside, the kids build a snowman (what to call it? Harold? Oatmeal? Frosty!), and when the hat blows onto it–Happy Birthday!–it comes to life. Professor Hinkle decides he wants the hat back so he can make money off of its newfound magical properties, but the kids want to save Frosty. When the temperature starts to rise, a new problem threatens Frosty’s existence. Karen, the leader of the children, comes up with a plan to save him: take him on a train to the North Pole, where it’s always cold. With a cameo by Santa Claus, and the promise of Frosty’s return every year, this story of life, death, and holiday cheer is glazed with the sweet frosting of hope and happiness. A true holiday classic. –Andy Spletzer
Frosty Returns:
n the same way that many a Hollywood sequel has little to do with the first film, Frosty Returns has almost nothing in common with the original Frosty the Snowman, aside from a man made of snow. The biggest difference is that this Frosty doesn’t need a magic hat to come to life. The story: In the town of Beansboro, old Mr. Twitchell has invented an aerosol spray that can remove snow without the hassle of shoveling or plows. This frightens Frosty, who enlists the help of amateur magician Holly and her friend Charles to stop the old coot. Made in 1992, Frosty Returns has an animation style that looks like a cross between the old Schoolhouse Rock and Peanuts cartoons, with voice talent that includes Jonathan Winters, Andrea Martin, Jan Hooks, Brian Doyle-Murray, and John Goodman as Frosty. The story may be divisive, pitting children against adults and a pro-snow contingent against anti-snow people, but the songs are catchy and the message is one that ultimately empowers kids. Like a hero from an old Western, this Frosty is a wanderer who leaves when his job is done so he can work his magic elsewhere. –Andy Spletzer
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol:
This 1962 special marked the last hurrah of Mr. Magoo, who starred in 43 cartoon shorts, including two Oscar® winners, from the UPA Studio between 1949 and 1959. Magoo appears as Scrooge in a Broadway production of “A Christmas Carol” in this minimally animated hour. The play-within-the-show features forgettable songs by Jules Styne and Bob Merrill: Tiny Tim (“played” by the animated character Gerald McBoing-Boing) sings, oddly, of “razzle berry dressing” and “woofle jelly cake.” This retelling of Dickens’s holiday standard is much tamer than Richard Williams’s Oscar-winning adaptation: the ghosts aren’t scary, nor does Magoo confront the specters of Ignorance and Want. Small children who might be frightened by more dramatic versions of the story will enjoy this mild program. And the self-satisfied chuckles and bromides Jim Backus gives Magoo in his lighter moments remain as delightful as ever. This film is suitable for ages 6 and older. –Charles Solomon
Little Drummer Boy:
The model animation techniques in this 1968 Rankin and Bass TV chestnut are primitive by today’s standards, and picky kids may reject them out of hand. The story, however, which elaborates on the popular Christmas song about a shepherd boy who plays his drum for the baby Jesus and makes the animals dance, is a little more tough-minded than you might expect. The kid begins the story as what we’d now call a neglected child, a surly urchin who says he hates all people. He’s pulled back from the brink, first by learning to make music, and then by his encounter with the Christ child. The underlying message alone–that everybody has something worth contributing–qualifies the show for holiday-perennial status. The big-name voice performers, Jose Ferrer and Greer Garson (who narrates), may be a little too ponderous for the occasion, but the familiar cartoony tones of Paul Frees (aka Boris Badenov) and June Forey (aka Rocket J. Squirrel) help liven up the proceedings. It’s only 23 minutes long, so it’s worth a shot for younger children. –David Chute
Rating:  (out of 141 reviews)
List Price: $ 39.93
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Tags: Boy/Cricket, Carol/Little, Christmas, Classics, Claus, Comin', Drummer, Hearth, Magoo's, Original, RedNosed, Reindeer/Santa, Returns/Mr., Rudolph, Snowman/Frosty, Town/Frosty
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Review by Vintagegal for The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town/Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol/Little Drummer Boy/Cricket on the Hearth)
Rating:
We all love “Rudolph,” and “Frosty,” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” “Little Drummer Boy” still makes me weep like a baby and the little known “Cricket on the Hearth” is a buried gem. I can even accept the odd addition of “Mr Magoo” (which is not a Rankin-Bass product) to the collection, but I have no idea who thought it was a good idea to put the NON-Rankin Bass Frosty special here instead of the “real” Frosty sequel: “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland.”
Don’t be fooled. “Frosty Returns” is NOT by Rankin Bass and does not feature Jackie Vernon as voice of the venerable snowman or Karen the little girl or the story of Jack Frost trying to steal the hat so all the children will appreciate him instead of Frosty. “Frosty Returns” is garbage and does not belong surrounded by these other true Christmas classics. But if you don’t mind that and Magoo, it is a great collection of some of the TRUE holiday classics.Frosty’s Winter Wonderland/Twas the Night Before Christmas
Review by Monty Moonlight for The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town/Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol/Little Drummer Boy/Cricket on the Hearth)
Rating:
Classic Media brings us 7 Christmas specials in one gorgeous package in its “Original Christmas Classics” DVD collection. The headliners of this set are the three greatest Rankin/Bass Christmas TV specials of all-time: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town! In addition to these, we are treated to “The Little Drummer Boy”, “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol”, “Cricket on the Hearth”, and “Frosty Returns”. Plus, a CD of holiday music selections is even included as a bonus!
Disc One features everyone’s favorite Rankin/Bass special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Based on the beloved song, it’s the stop-motion “animagic” classic from 1964 about a little reindeer born with a nose that glows red! Teased about his nose as a child, Rudolph runs away from Santa’s village and makes new friends along the way but also encounters the frightening Bumble snow-beast! Then, when a fog comes up to threaten Santa’s Christmas Eve flight, it’s only Rudolph’s nose that can save the day! Featuring unforgettable songs from Burl Ives (who plays Sam the Snowman) and others, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” has become a holiday tradition loved by millions!
Also on Disc One is “Cricket on the Hearth.” Introduced by Danny Thomas and starring the voices of himself, his daughter Marlo, Roddy McDowall, Hans Conried, Paul Frees, and more, this 1967 traditionally animated special is a musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic. It’s the story of a toymaker and his daughter who befriend a helpful cricket that saves the day after the family falls on hard times. “Cricket on the Hearth” is a lesser known Rankin/Bass production and not as endearing as their bigger hits, but it is still a nice holiday viewing you probably haven’t seen before.
Disc Two holds a classic that is nearly as beloved as Rudolph, “Frosty the Snowman”. This 1969 classic is traditionally animated and probably Rankin/Bass’s best work in 2D. The charming character designs, voices, music, and simple story are absolutely wonderful. Based on another classic song, this is the story of a snowman that comes to life when the children who built him add a discarded magic hat. Unfortunately, snowmen can’t last forever unless they are in a place that is always snowy, and the nasty Professor Hinkle, the frustrated magician who threw out his hat, wants the hat back now that he knows it holds real magical power! Hosted by an animated Jimmy Durante, “Frosty the Snowman” is such a treat that it even inspired three 2D sequels so far, though only “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland”, from the same creators and with Jackie Vernon back as Frosty’s voice, is really good. Disc Two also includes the only DVD bonus feature in this set, a Frosty pencil test.
Also on Disc Two is one of the more recent and very disappointing sequels, “Frosty Returns.” Truthfully, I don’t think this can be called an official sequel, as I don’t think Rankin/Bass had anything to do with this 1992 rip-off. Surprisingly, this one is from the creators of the wonderful Peanuts specials, sans Charles Schultz, but it has none of that magic. “Frosty Returns”, which depicts a Frosty voiced by John Goodman and with nothing in common with the original aside from being made of snow, is hosted by an animated (and for some reason miniature) Jonathan Winters in an attempt to mimic the host-character style of the Rankin/Bass faves. He presents the story of a town that is becoming snow-free thanks to a businessman’s spray can invention, “Summer Wheeze.” Frosty and his friends go on a mission to prove to the townsfolk that snow can actually be a good thing, but all in all it’s a story that is pretty uninvolving and forgettable. What a shame they never couple the original Frosty with “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland”. Unfortunately, you have to buy the other boxed set to get that one.
Disc Three features what is, in my opinion, the definitive version of how Santa became Santa. Well, along with “Santa Claus, the Movie” anyway. “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” is the name of the special, and it’s the third of the three big-name classics in this DVD set. The 1970 animagic film, hosted by a stop-motion Fred Astaire, gives us the story of Santa being left at the doorstep of a toymaking elf family when he was a baby, being raised by them and amongst the forest animals, going on missions to deliver toys to the children of Sombertown, meeting Winter the warlock and Jessica, the future Mrs. Claus, and going up against the awful Burgermeister Meisterburger. This charming take on Santa’s origins includes the voices of Mickey Rooney as Santa Claus, Keenan Wynn as Winter, and the great Paul Frees in several roles. Like most Rankin/Bass holiday classics, this is based on a classic song.
The remaining two holiday specials are also included on Disc Three. They are the lesser known but still much loved “The Little Drummer Boy,” a somewhat dark Rankin/Bass animagic tale from 1968 about an orphaned drummer boy who hates people and only loves his animal friends until a visit to the original nativity scene shows him the light, and 1962′s “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol,” which presents the classic, nearsighted cartoon character as an actor in a Broadway production of his own version of “A Christmas Carol.” Both specials are charming and appreciated inclusions in this DVD set.
Lastly, there’s the CD, which is a mixed bag of 7 Christmas songs. They include a very brief “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” from Burl Ives, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” from Bobby Rydell, “A Holly Jolly Christmas” from Burl Ives, “Silver and Gold” from Burl Ives, “Let it Snow” from Chicago, “Winter Wonderland” from Jewel, and “Merry Christmas Baby” from Otis Redding. The CD is an okay addition, but a 4th disc of more holiday specials or more DVD bonus features would have been preferred, or even a genuine soundtrack to one or more of the included specials.
Overall, this set is a must own for the Christmas classics lover, and my only major complaint is how hard it is to remove the discs from the lovely packaging. I also highly recommend the following DVDs and DVD sets: Christmas Television Favorites (featuring other Rankin/Bass faves and the Grinch!), Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Disney’s Classic Holiday Stories, Peanuts Classic Holiday Collection, The Happy Elf, Garfield Holiday Celebrations, Elf, A Muppet Family Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Warner Bros. Classic Holiday Collection, MGM Holiday Classics Collection, Santa Claus (1960), It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (1947), A Christmas Story, The Nativity, A Christmas Carol (1951), Scrooged, Santa Claus the Movie, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Scrooge (1935), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live-action), One Magic Christmas, Babes in Toyland (Disney), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Ernest Saves Christmas, A Chipmunk Christmas, the Santa Clause films, A Flintstones Christmas Carol, Benji’s Very Own Christmas Story, Sabrina the Animated Series: A Witchmas Carol, and more! And don’t forget the many specials only available on VHS! Also, if you’re into the bizarre, seek out the Star Wars Holiday Special!
Review by Norman S. Mitchell for The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town/Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol/Little Drummer Boy/Cricket on the Hearth)
Rating:
I watched Rudolph with my wife and kids last night. They loved it! It looks great, but when Clarice sings her song (“There’s Always Tomorrow”), a high pitched whine was audible throughout the song.(very high pitched, some people wont be able to hear it) I couldn’t hardly believe my ears. The rest of the movie was flawless and has a few small scenes that I’ve never seen/noticed before.
All in all a great addition to my Christmas collection
Review by Colliemom for The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town/Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol/Little Drummer Boy/Cricket on the Hearth)
Rating:
Just wanted to say that “Siver and Gold” is right in there where it’s supposed to be, right after The Misfits meet Yukon Cornelius. Plus there’s a cute little scene at very end (not included in the broadcast TV version) where Yukon discovers a peppermint mine…
…if your kids haven’t seen these classics they’re missing out!
Colliemom
Review by Mrs Darcy for The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town/Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol/Little Drummer Boy/Cricket on the Hearth)
Rating:
I was excited to get all the “Original Christmas Classics”, but Rudolph is not the original version. The original version of the show and the old VHS has the song “Silver and Gold” in it, and this one does not. It is the newly revised version that has another misfit song in it’s place.