Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - NR
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Rudolph's story has a great message about nonconformity: Just be yourself, don't worry if you don't fit in, get the support of other "misfits," and you'll find that there's strength in numbers. Kids older than 4 will likely get the message, and for those younger than that, the cute little reindeer and all the musical numbers -- as cheesy and outdated as they might seem now -- will hold their interest. Even the show's "scary" antagonist, the Abominable Snow Monster (or "Bumble"), seems harmless, especially by today's standards.
Parents can talk about what it means to not fit in with the crowd. How would you feel if no one wanted to be your friend because you were different? Families can also talk about the fact that Rudolph, who doesn't get much support from his father, decides to run away from home. Could Rudolph have found another way to express his feelings about not being accepted? Could Rudolph's father have been more accepting of his son's difference? Parents can also talk about the fact that only the boy reindeer get to work for Santa (Rudolph's father calls it "man's work"). Couldn't the does guide Santa's sleigh, too?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Colette DeDonato
This classic holiday TV special -- the highest rated, longest running in TV history -- seems almost inextricable from the idea of Christmas. Parents will no doubt have memories of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, which first aired in 1964, from their own childhoods. And it's hard not to watch it again without appreciating the simplicity of a pre-computer-animation world.
Burl Ives, in the guise of Sam the talking snowman, narrates the tale of a misfit reindeer named Rudolph (voiced by Billie Mae Richards) who's finally appreciated by peers and parents when Santa (Stan Francis) discovers the usefulness of his light-bulb nose to guide the sleigh during a terrible snowstorm on Christmas Eve. (But, of course, you already know the song: "All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names.")
Viewers young and old can have compassion for the little reindeer who doesn't fit in, especially when he finds his compatriot in an elf named Hermey (Paul Soles) who has become disillusioned with his job making toys and dreams of becoming a dentist -- which is, of course, out of the question for elves. Hermey and Rudolph run away from the North Pole together and, with new friend Yukon Cornelius (Larry D. Mann), make it to the Isle of Misfit Toys. Here they find company among others who stand out from the crowd.
Just hearing Ives' voice and songs transports you back to a simpler time, when Christmas didn't hold as many TV-viewing options and McDonald's wasn't part of the marketing deal. General Electric did, however, sponsor the first three airings of this stop-motion animation CBS special -- perhaps that's why Rudolph's nose is so light bulb-like. And just a few years ago, marketing caught up with the hype. Most toy and comic book stores now carry figurines of the Abominable Snow Monster and friends.
Families who can't get enough of Christmas classics should also check out 1969's Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Rate It!
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ViolenceMild peril, mostly related to the abominable snowman. |
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Social BehaviorAt first the other reindeer, and even Santa, are rather unkind to Rudolph. The role models are only boys, but Rudolph is a nonconformist. He and the other misfits learn to like themselves for who they are. |
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CommercialismA whole line of toys and other products based on the characters is available (most came out long after the special originally aired). |
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