Rudolph is a reindeer, with an unusual red nose that shines. Because of this, he is laughed at and told to go home by his peers. Saddened, he goes home, hangs his stocking and goes to bed. Meanwhile, in the North Pole, Santa Claus notices that the coming fog will be difficult to get through. Nevertheless, him and his reindeer brave out the storm and go anyway. While on the way, an airplane throws them off their course; they land at Rudolph's house, where Santa greets him. Telling Rudolph, "I need you tonight to guide my deer on the rest of our flight", Rudolph helps them. Due to his bravery and his glowing nose, he is accepted and respected by his fellow reindeer and made their commander-in-chief by Santa; the reindeer enjoy a merry Christmas together.
This 8 min. animated interoperation of the Christmas classic preceded Gene Autry's 1949 song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the animated 1964 version. It was based on Robert L. May's 1939 story, rather than the song. The 1964 film more closely resembles the song rather than the original story. It is believed that the short was created to advertise Montgomery Ward department stores, the publisher of the original story.
---
You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen. Comet, and Cupid, and Donner, and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say,
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
"Rudolph the red nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!"
Twas the day before Christmas
And all through the hills
The reindeer were playing
Enjoying the spills - of skating,
And coasting, and climbing the willows,
And hopscotch, and leap frog protected by pillows
Acho!
Look fellas, it's Rudolph.
His nose is a sight
It's red as a beet
Twice as big, twice as bright
Lookie, lookie, I'm Rudolph.
Poor Rudolph. Where most reindeer's noses are brownish and tiny,
Rudolphs was red, very large, and shiny.
RUDOLPH!
Go on home, red nose. Yo mama's callin' ya.
Come, come, Rudolph. Tonight you hand up your stocking.
His nose is a sight
It's red as a beet
Twice as big, twice as bright
What a way, way up North on this dark, foggy night
Awaking the time for his Christmas Eve flight
Good old Santa.
Hmmm, this fog will be hard to get through. Quick quick, get hitched in a hurry.
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen! Heigh ho!
To keep our direction we'll have to fly low.
Come down here, quick! Heigh ho!
Pretty close.
Heigh ho!
The air was still foggy, the night dark and drear
When Santa arrived at the home of the deer
But all this took time and filled Santa with glume
While slowly he crept toward the next reindeer room
The lamp wasn't burning, the glow came instead
From Rudolph's red nose at the head of the bed
And then came the greatest idea in all history
To Rudolph is told of the dark, and delay
The fog and blackness, and losing the way
I need you tonight
To lead all my deer for the rest of our flight
Dear Mommy and Daddy, I have gone to help Santa. Don't worry. Rudolph - that's me.
Hurry, Rudolph. It's very dark here.
With Rudolph's red nose as a wonder light
Old Santa flew quickly the rest of the night
It all went to fast that before it was day
The very last present was given away
Hear, ye. Hear, ye. A message from Rudolph.
Yes, they found Rudolph's message. It's all over town
Hear, ye. Hear, ye. Rudolph at the stadium. Come one, come all.
The bad deer that used to do nothing but tease him
Well now they'd do anything only to please him
Rudolph, my boy, they'll envy you now far and near
But no greater honor can come to a deer
Than riding with Santa and guiding my sleigh
The number one job on the number one day
I hope you continue to keep us from grief
I hereby appoint you Commander-in-Chief
Speech! Speech!
And Rudolph just blushed from his head to his toes
Until his whole fur was a red as his nose
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night
Then how the reindeer loved him
As the shouted out with glee,
"Rudolph the red nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!"
---
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
with
Color by Technicolor
Western Electric Recording
A Jam Handy Picture
Song, Words, and Music by Johnny Marks
Choral Arrangement by Harry R. Wilson
Theme: George Kleinsinger
Original Story: Robert L. May
Screen Adaptation: Joseph Stultz
Narration: Paul Wing
Musical Direction: Samuel Benavie
Musical Arrangements: James Higgins
Scenics: Shane Miller
Directed by Max Fleischer
Animation: Fletcher Smith, William Sturm, Robinson McKee, Howard Kakudo
Photography: Chas. Schettler
North Pole
Deer Mommy and Daddy,
I have gone to help Santa. Don't worry.
Rudolph
Bunnyville
Welcome Rudolph
Commander in Chief
The End