Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964 transcript)

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 lived 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? [picks up his umbrella and glides through the snow even further until a forest of Christmas trees comes into view] 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 grew them. Nice place to live around here, you know. [passes by seals playing with Christmas presents] Christmas seals. Of course, the number one citizens up here are the Clauses; Santa and the Missus. They live right over there. [scene pans right to Santa's workshop] First castle on the left. Matter of fact, the only castle on the left. [chuckles]


 * Now, don't any of you worry your heads about Santa 'cause Mrs. Claus will have him plenty fattened up by Christmas Eve. It's always the same story. [takes a deep breath and sighs happily] I love this Christmassy time of year. Especially when everything is running happy and smooth like it is this season. Nothing like that year of the big snowstorm. [shivers] I don't know what we would've done without Rudolph to pull us through. Anyway.... hmmm, Rudolph? Could it be that some of you are not acquainted with the story of Rudolph? Well, pull up an ice block and lend an ear. Now you know how Santa uses these flying reindeer to pull his sleigh. You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. [singing] But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph
I am not just a nitwit, just because my nose glows....'' Why don't I fit in?
 * ''[singing] Why am I such a misfit?

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

Yukon Cornelius

 * [on the Abominable Snow Monster] Did I not ever tell you guys about bumbles? Bumbles bounce!

Flight Practice

 * Rudolph: Hey, Clarice? After practice, would you....? Would you....?
 * Coach Comet: Rudolph, you get back here 'cause it's your turn, you know!
 * Rudolph: Gee, I gotta go back! [starts to run off, but then runs back] Would you walk home with me?
 * Clarice: Uh-huh. Rudolph.... [whispers to his ear] .... I think you're cute.
 * Rudolph: [jumping around, on first flight] I'm cute! [yells] I'M CU-UU-UU-UTE!!!! [lands to Coach Comet]
 * Comet: Magnificent!
 * Rudolph: I'm cute! I'm cute! She said that I'm.... [yells] .... CU-UU-UU-UTE!!!! [jumps into the air]
 * Santa: Not bad! Not bad at all!
 * Fireball: [After Rudolph lands in the snow] Hey! You're OK!
 * Rudolph: She said that I'm cute!
 * [They engage in celebratory play until Rudolph's fake nose pops off, glowing red, to Fireball's horror]
 * Fireball: For crying out loud!
 * Rudolph: Fireball? What's the matter?
 * Fireball: G-G-G-Get away from me! Get away!
 * Comet: Now, now. What's all this nonsense here, bucks? After all-- [yells when he sees Rudolph's nose, too]
 * [The other reindeer gasp, but then they laugh]
 * Reindeer #1: Hey! Look at the beak!
 * Reindeer #2: Hey, Fire Snoot!
 * Reindeer #3: Rainbow Puss!
 * Reindeer #4: Red Schnoz!
 * Rudolph: Stop calling me names!
 * Reindeer #5: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
 * Santa: [glares at Donner] 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! [the other reindeer return to playing and Rudolph tries to join them] 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!

"The Most Wonderful Day of the Year"

 * Rudolph: Hey! We're all misfits, too! Maybe we could stay here for a little while.
 * Charlie-in-the-Box: 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, one 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 three arrive at the castle]
 * King Moonracer: Come closer. What do 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 do 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] Footman, show our friends to their chambers.

Christmas Prepared

 * Santa Claus: Quiet, everyone! 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 will 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 would 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