# 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

    Clarice: It's a nice day.
    Rudolph: Yeah.
    Clarice: For take off practice, you know.
    Rudolph: Really?
    Clarice: I bet you'll be the best.
    Rudolph: Oh, I- I don't know. [his nose glows inside his false one]
    Clarice: Is there something wrong with your nose? I mean, you talk kind of funny.
    Rudolph: What's so funny about the way I talk?
    Clarice: Don't get angry. I don't mind.
    Rudolph: You don't?
    Clarice: No. My name's Clarice. Hi.
    Rudolph: My name's Rudolph. Hi.
    Clarice: Hi.
    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 like to 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 Conner]
    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!
    Hermey: [seeing Rudolph for the first time] Oh, is this your snowbank?
    Rudolph: No. Who are you?
    Hermey: Well, actually, I am a dentist.
    Rudolph: A dentist?
    Hermey: Well, I want to be someday. Right now, I'm just an elf. But I don't need anybody. I'm... I'm independent.
    Rudolph: Yeah? Me, too. I'm...whatever you said. Independent. [two Christmas ornaments falls off from a tree where Rudolph and Hermey were standing]
    Hermey: Hey, what do you say we both be independent together, huh?
    Rudolph: You wouldn't mind my-my red nose?
    Hermey: Not if you don't mind me being a dentist.
    Rudolph: It's a deal.
    Hermey: Anyway, I'm Hermey. Who are you?
    Rudolph: I'm Rudolph.
    Hermey: Why did you ask if I wouldn't mind your red nose you got here?
    Rudolph: My red nose always glows. Everybody laughed at me and called me names.
    Hermey: Oh. That's sounds harsh of you. No wonder you decide to run away like this. Well, I ran away too, away from other elves.
    Rudolph: And glad you didn't make fun of my nose.
    Hermey: Why would I make fun of your nose? I say your nose is wonderful.
    Rudolph: Thanks. I think it's just you and me. Couple of misfits.
    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. [Rudolph, Hermey, and Yukon are sharing in one room. And they're on their bed, tucking in for their nighttime slumber]
    Hermey: No. It's all settled. We leave tomorrow together.
    Rudolph: But the Abominable will see my nose and get us all. I've got to go alone. Yukon: Nonsense. It's all for all... I mean, one... Ah, Let's get some shuteye.
    Rudolph: But--
    Hermey: It's all settled. [Hermey clicks off the light before he and Yukon falls asleep, snoring loudly. Rudolph, however, is the only one who is not sleeping, much to his nose glowing]
    Sam the Snowman: [voice-over] Well, poor Rudolph realizes that he can't endanger his friends' lives anymore. And so, that night, he decides to strike out on his own.
    Rudolph: Good-bye, Cornelius. I hope you find lots of tinsel. Good-bye, Hermey. Whatever a dentist is, I hope, someday, that you're the greatest.
    Sam the Snowman: Well, time passed slowly. Rudolph existed as best he could. The snow monster kept him on the run... but once in a while, he would stop and make a friend or two. But it wouldn't last long, and Rudolph would be on his own again. But during all that time, a strange and wonderful thing was happening... Rudolph was growing up, and growing up made Rudolph realize you can't run away from your troubles. And pretty soon he knew where he had to go: home.
    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.

## 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

## External links

* Encyclopedic article on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special) on Wikipedia
* Media related to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special) on Wikimedia Commons
* Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer quotes at the Internet Movie Database