Youd never guess it from watching the spry little guy, but Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the holiday special about the most famous reindeer of all, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. For generations of viewers who grew up viewing the stop-motion animated classic from Rankin/Bass Productions, enjoying the adventures of Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, the Misfit Toys, and Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, is a time-honored tradition. Rudolph, which premiered on NBC on Dec. 6, 1964, is the longest-running TV special in history. CBS will air the special again this year, on Tuesday, Dec. 9. This 50th anniversary year is being marked by special Rudolph Forever Stamps from the United States Postal Service, as well as other Rudolph-themed merchandise. The staying power of the Rudolph special is remarkable, and for many fans, the show feels like a member of the family. That said, perhaps its inevitable that, over the years, some aspects of the holiday staple look dated to contemporary eyes. Ideas about parenting, fitting-in vs. being yourself, and diversity have evolved, just as those first Rudolph viewers may now be watching it with their grandchildren. On the other hand, the old-fashioned appeal of Rudolph has its own enduring magic. How can you not melt as Rudolphs nose flashes, Burl Ives (the voice of narrator Sam the Snowman) sings A Holly Jolly Christmas, and the Misfit Toys find homes at last? As Rudolph celebrates its 50th anniversary, were wondering: is the holiday special a timeless classic? Or it is showing its age? Lets discuss. As Sam the Snowman would say, pull up an ice block, and lend an ear. Timeless Classic: The stop-motion animation done by Rankin/Bass Productions, the company founded by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass in 1960, remains as charming today as when it was new. The process – in which figures are sculpted and molded, and then posed in various positions, to suggest motion in the finished product – has a tactile, magical effect. The technique has been a hallmark of the Portland animation scene, dating back to Will Vinton Studios California Raisin commercials, and continuing with Laikas 2014 feature, The Boxtrolls. Showing its Age: Oh, all right, some of the movements in Rudolph are a little clunky. Timeless Classic: Our narrator, Sam the Snowman, rolls around Christmas Town (better known as the North Pole) with avuncular cheer. Hes nattily attired in a plaid vest, with a pocket watch, white gloves, and a hat. Showing its Age: Hey, Sam the Snowman, where are your pants? Timeless Classic: Burl Ives, whose appearance inspired Sam the Snowman, and who gave him his voice, had a long, colorful career, notable for his recordings of American folk songs, and his performance as Big Daddy onstage and in the movie version of Tennessee Williams Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Showing its Age: Though Ives recorded many albums, and appeared in many films and TV shows, hes best remembered today for Rudolph, and being the voice of Sam the Snowman. Timeless Classic: The Rudolph special ends on a heartwarming note. After being made to feel like an outcast because of his shining red nose, and then running away, Rudolph finally returns to Christmas Town. His father, Donner; mother, Mrs. Donner; fellow deer; and Santa Claus all realize they were wrong to have been mean, and now they all know, as Sam the Snowman says, Maybe misfits have a place, too. Showing its Age: Now, wait a darned minute. Where do all of them get off in the first place thinking theyre superior to Rudolph, who has a talent for flying, a winning personality, and that one-of-a-kind schnozz, which makes a cool squeaky sound when it glows? Instead, Rudolphs dad Donner greets the news that his son has a shiny red nose by blurting, His beak blinks like a blinkin beacon! It gets worse. Donner tries to hide Rudolphs red nose with a fake nose, which Rudolph objects to (in the most adorably nasal voice ever.) Youll like it, and wear it, Donner commands. Santa cant object to you now. Is this a heartwarming family special, or a horror movie? Timeless Classic: Rudolph shows what a sensitive soul he is, singing, Why am I such a misfit, I am not just a nitwit. Showing its Age: What is wrong with these people? Christmas Town is a steaming cesspool of bullies, and intolerant jerks. Rudolph shows up for the Reindeer Games, wearing his fake nose. He makes a new pal, Fireball. Then Rudolphs fake nose falls off. Everyone turns on him, making fun of the crimson beak. Stop calling me names! Rudolph says. Then Santa, of all people, gets into the act: Donner, you should be ashamed of yourself, Santa says, all because Rudolph has a red nose. The whole town needs a consciousness-raising intervention, immediately. Timeless Classic: At least Clarice, the doe who meets Rudolph at the trauma-inducing Reindeer Games, is smart enough to see Rudolphs true qualities. She likes his red nose: I think its a handsome nose, much better than that silly fake one you were wearing. Rudolph is still understandably depressed about everyone ganging up on him, and says his nose is terrible, because its different from everybody else. But thats what makes it so grand, Clarice says. Showing its Age: Did we mention that Clarice has eyelashes a mile long, just so we wont miss out on the fact that shes a very pretty female deer? Timeless Classic: Hermey the Elf doesnt want to make toys, but instead dreams of being a dentist. He and Rudolph both feel like theyll never fit in, so both run away from Christmas Town, setting them off on a fairy-tale journey of discovery.Showing its Age: Todays viewers may be inclined to see Hermeys feeling different from the other elves as a metaphor for being gay, and not being accepted by those who cant get past their prejudices. The good news is, Hermey stays confident in who he is, and hes proud of his dentistry skills. The bad news is, he doesnt seem to have any real dental training. Is a DIY dentist such a good idea? Just saying. Timeless Classic: The spotted elephant, train with square wheels, doll with self-esteem issues, Jack in the Box named Charlie, and other residents on the Island of Misfit Toys all yearn to be in homes, with little boys and girls who will play with them. The ruler of the Island, King Moonracer – a crown-wearing lion with wings – asks Rudolph to tell Santa about our homeless toys, and try to find them a home. A toy is never truly happy, the King says, until it is loved by a child. Showing its Age: Sniff. Sob. I need a tissue. Isnt this awfully sad for a kids show? Timeless Classic: The supposed misfits show just what theyre made of when Hermey yanks out the Abominable Snow Monsters teeth, and Rudolph courageously stands up to the monster when its threatening Clarice. And after Santa, Donner, and the rest of Christmas Town have finally learned how wrong they were to ostracize Rudolph and Hermey, Rudolph saves the day again, leading Santas sleigh through a snowstorm. Showing its Age: Sheesh, how super-perfect and outstanding do Rudolph and Hermey have to be just to get accepted by those bozos in Christmas Town? In Conclusion: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a time capsule of another era, a unique blend of nostalgic warmth and truly appalling behavior. While the special screams out for todays parents to talk about it with their kids, for many of us, its just not the holidays without Rudolph. It may be flawed, but Rudolph truly has gone down in history. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. on CBS Kristi Turnquist
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:43:09 +0000
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