HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS REVIEW!!! (THE ANIMATED TV SPECIAL!)
- Matt Palmer
- Dec 18, 2023
- 2 min read
Initial release date: December 18, 1966
Studios: MGM Animation/Visual Arts/Cat in the Hat Productions
Plot: This made for TV Christmas special is a classic. Based on a Dr. Seuss book, it is about a Christmas hating Grinch who wants to make everyone as miserable on Christmas as he is. The poor, small-hearted Scrooge learns the true meaning of Chrristmas through the loving Whos in Whoville.
Cast
Boris Karloff - Grinch/Narrator
June Foray - Cindy Lou Who
Dallas McKennon - Max
MGM Studio Chorus - Citizens of Whoville
Writer: Dr. Seuss
Director(s): Chuck Jones and Ben Washam
The 1966 animated TV special classic How The Grinch Sole Christmas will always be one of the best holiday traditions ever! The narration from the iconic Boris Karloff makes this iteration truly memorable and just as iconic as Karloff himself.
This acclaimed classic will always be cherished and should always be a holiday tradition to watch with the entire family. This adaptation is truly imaginative and all the songs that are featured will always be reemembered.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas will ALWAYS be the best version of the Dr. Seuss story. The 2000 movie did make some changes to the story but over time this version won me over. And the Illumination version can also easily entertain the whole family.
Here are some fun tidbits for this all time holiday classic!!!
Thurl Ravenscroft, who sang the song, is best known as the voice of Tony the Tiger in numerous Frosted Flakes commercials. Ravenscroft was picked to sing the songs because his voice was an extremely deep bass.
Boris karloff's voice changes when he speaks for the Grinch. Originally he spoke in his "Narrator" voice throughout. After recording was complete, the highs in his voice were mechanically removed for the Grinch, giving him the gravelly voice heard in the finished version.
Dr. Seuss disputed casting Boris Karloff for fear that he would make the Grinch too scary.
The lyrics to the song "Fahoo Foraze" were made to imitate classical latin. After the special aired, the atudio received letters asking for a translation from people who believed them to be real Latin.
The half hour cartoon took 10 months and 25,000 drawings to complete.
Animation/cartoon director Chuck Jones and children's book author Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) had worked together on the Private Snafu training cartoons at WB Cartoons during WWII. Jones was interested in adapting one of his books into a TV special and approached him to turn the Grinch into one in time for the holiday season.
The TV short was initially telecast in the US on CBS on December 18, 1966. CBS repeated it annually during the holiday season until 1988. It was then seen multiple times per year on Turner-owned properties - first TNT, then TBS, and then Cartoon Network. ABC took over the special in 2006 and NBC acquired the rights in 2015; its deal with WB allows two broadcasts per season.
Comments