Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a 1964 Christmas stop motion animated television special about a misfit reindeer and his friends who look for a place that will accept them. It first aired Sunday, December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network in the United States. The special was based on the Johnny Marks song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which was itself based on the 1939 poem Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer written by Marks' brother-in-law Robert L. May.

Sam the Snowman

 * If I live to be 100, I'll never be able to forget that big snowstorm a couple of years ago. The weather closed in and.... well, you might not believe it, but the world almost missed Christmas. [tips his hat] Oh, excuse me! Call me Sam. What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a talking snowman before? Nice around here, isn't it? I call it Christmastown, better known as the North Pole. The Christmas tree forest. Yep. Here's where we grow 'em. Nice place to live, you know. Christmas seals. Of course, the #1 citizens up here are the Clauses; Santa and the Missus. They live right over there. [scene pans to Santa's workshop] First castle on the left. Matter of fact, the only castle on the left. [chuckles]

Hermey

 * [singing] Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit. You can't fire me, I quit! Seems I don't fit in.

Dialogue

 * Rudolph: Hey, Clarice? After practice, would you...? Would you...?
 * Comet: Rudolph! You get back here! It's your turn, you know!
 * Rudolph: Gee, I've gotta go back! [starts to run off, but then runs back] Would you walk home with me?
 * Clarice: Uh-huh. Rudolph.... [to his ear] .... I think you're cute.
 * Rudolph: [jumps around on first flight] I'm cute! [as he flies into the air] I'M CUTE! [lands in front of Comet]
 * Comet: Magnificent!
 * Rudolph: I'm cute! I'm cute! She said I'm CUTE! [jumps into the air again]
 * Santa: Not bad! Not bad at all!
 * Fireball: [after Rudolph lands in the snow] Hey! You're okay!
 * Rudolph: She said I'm cute!
 * [both laugh as they are engaging in celebratory play until suddenly Rudolph's nose cover pops off, revealing his red nose, which lit red]
 * Fireball: [shocked] For crying out loud!
 * Rudolph: Fireball? What's the matter?
 * Fireball: G-G-Get away! Get away from me!
 * Comet: Now, now, now, now. What's this nonsense here, bucks? After all-- [yells when he sees Rudolph's nose]
 * [other reindeer gasp, then laugh]
 * Reindeer #1: Hey! Look at the beak!
 * Reindeer #2: Hey, Fire-Snout!
 * Reindeer #3: Rainbow-Puss!
 * Reindeer #4: Red-Schnoz!
 * Rudolph: [offended] Stop calling me names!
 * Reindeer #5: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
 * Santa: Donner, you should be ashamed of yourself! What a pity. He had a nice takeoff, too.
 * Comet: [blows his whistle] Alright! Alright, now, yearlings! Back to practice! [to Rudolph who tries to join] Oh, no! Not you. You'd better go home with your folks. From now on, gang, we won't let Rudolph join in any reindeer games, right?
 * Reindeer: Right!
 * [Poor Rudolph sheds a tear after being banned from the Reindeer Games because of his red nose. He then runs off into the distance. Clarice notices and follows him.]
 * Clarice: Rudolph! [Rudolph stops at the Christmas Tree Forest.] Rudolph? [She appears behind Rudolph, who turns to look at her.] Rudolph?
 * Rudolph: Well, what do you want?
 * Clarice: You-You promised to walk me home.
 * Rudolph: Aren't you gonna laugh at my nose, too?
 * Clarice: I think it's a handsome nose. Much better than that silly false one you were wearing.
 * Rudolph: It's terrible. It's different from everybody else's.
 * [He lowers his head in sadness.]
 * Clarice: But, that's what makes it so grand. Any doe would consider herself lucky to be with you.
 * Rudolph: Yeah? But I wasn't very lucky today, was I? I wish... I-I wish... I...
 * [Clarice begins to sing the song "There's Always Tomorrow".]


 * Rudolph: Hey! We're all misfits, too! Maybe we could stay here for a little while.
 * Charlie: Well, you'd have to get permission from King Moonracer.
 * Rudolph: Who's he?
 * Charlie: [pointing to the castle on the rocks] He rules here. Every night, he searches the entire earth. When he finds a misfit toy, 1 that no little boy or girl loves, he brings it here to live on this island till someone wants it. He's holding court in his castle right now.
 * [the trio arrives at the castle]
 * King Moonracer: Come closer. What d'you desire?
 * Rudolph: Well, we're a couple of misfits from Christmastown and we'd like to live here.
 * Moonracer: No, that would not be possible because this island is for toys alone.
 * Yukon Cornelius: How d'you like that? Even among misfits, you're a misfit.
 * Moonracer: Unlike playthings, a living creature cannot hide himself on an island. But perhaps, being misfits yourselves, you just might help the toys.
 * Rudolph: Help them?
 * Moonracer: Yes. When someday, you return to Christmastown, would you tell Santa about our homeless toys? I'm sure he would find little boys and girls who would be happy with them. A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child.
 * Rudolph: When and if we get back, we'll tell Santa, sir.
 * Moonracer: Good. You are free to spend the night. [claps his front paws twice] Footmen, show our friends to their chambers.


 * Santa: Quiet, everybody! Please! Quiet! Quiet. Shh. I've got some bad news, folks. Christmas is going to be cancelled. There's nothing I can do because of this weather-- [Rudolph's nose shines in his face] Rudolph. Rudolph, please! Could you tone it down a bit? I mean, that nose of yours. That.... That.... nose! That beautiful, wonderful nose!
 * Rudolph: Huh?
 * Santa: Rudolph, Christmas is not off and.... you're going to lead my team tonight!
 * Rudolph: I am?
 * Santa: Yes, sir. You and that wonderful nose of yours!
 * Rudolph: My nose, sir?
 * Santa: Ho-ho-ho! From what I see, now, that'll cut through the murkiest storm that they can dish up. What I'm trying to say is.... Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
 * Rudolph: It will be an honor, sir.
 * Donner: I knew that nose would be useful someday. I knew it all along!

Cast

 * Billie Mae Richards - Rudolph
 * Stan Francis - Santa Claus
 * Paul Kligman - Donner, Coach Comet, and Clarice's unnamed father
 * Burl Ives - Sam the Snowman
 * Paul Soles - Hermey
 * Janis Orenstein - Clarice
 * Larry D. Mann - Yukon Cornelius
 * Peg Dixon - Mrs. Claus.
 * Carl Banas - the Head Elf
 * Stan Francis - King Moonracer
 * Alfie Scopp - Charlie-In-The-Box
 * Carl Banas - the Spotted Elephant
 * Corinne Conley - Dolly