Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital from Rankin/Bass and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the beloved holiday stories with THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS SPECIALS COLLECTION.

The joyous holiday season is even more wonderful and magical when RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER spends time with the family with the story told by Sam the Snowman (Burl Ives). The tale first aired in 1964, Rudolph (Billie Mae Richards) was born with an unusual nose that glowed! Pushed away by other reindeers, the young one decides to leave home in search of something better. Along for the journey is Hermey (Paul Soles), an elf who also feels like no one understands him wanting to be a dentist.

On their walk they meet Yukon Cornelius (Larry Mann) who is looking for silver and gold. After being chased by the Abominable, the three end up on the Island of Misfit Toys. The King (Stan Francis) asks that if they ever return home, to tell Santa there are toys who needs homes. Quickly, Rudolph has become a young buck and decides to go home. Once there, he discovers that his young decision has caused his family to be put in danger.

Everything is about to change for them all and Santa could not be happier!

Other cast include Stan Fracis as Santa Claus, Alfie Scoop as Fireball, Paul Kligman as Donner, Carl Banas as the Head Elf, Corinne Conley as Dolly for Sue, Peg Dixon as Mrs. Claus/Mrs. Donner, Bernard Cowan as Bumble and Janis Orenstein as Clarice.

Bonus Features for RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER include The Animagic World of Rankin/Bass, Restoring the Puppets of Rudolph, Reimagining Rudolph in 4D, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER Attraction Film and T.E.A.M. Rudolph and the Reindeer Games.

Airing in 1969, Rankin/Bass Productions brings snow to the holiday season with FROSTY THE SNOWMAN. This story being told by Jimmy Durante, the school children are watching magician Professor Hinkle (Billy De Wolfe) try to entertain them. Going outside to play, they decide to build a snowman instead. Karen (June Foray) gives him the name Frosty (Jackie Vernon).

When a gust of wind comes up, the Professor’s hat blows off and Karen finds it putting it on Frosty’s head. Trying to reclaim the hat, it is his rabbit Hocus Pocus that gives it back to the children who bring Frosty to life. The bigger problem is that the temperature is rising and Frosty is beginning to feel it.

Knowing he needs to get to the North Pole. The children find a way to get Frosty and Karen on a refrigerated train car but the Professor is not far behind. Once the train stops, they must go through the forest as Hocus gets them help from the woodland creatures. All of this to get Frosty to Santa (Paul Frees) but will they be in time before the worst happens?

Bonus Features on FROSTY THE SNOWMAN include The Animagic World of Rankin/Bass, Original Pencil Test and Commentary with Animation Historian Mark Evanier.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN comes to families in 1970 and continues to be one of my family’s favorites. Postman S.D. Kluger (Fred Astaire) tells the story of how Santa came to us all. In Sombertown, Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees) finds a baby wearing a tag named Claus (Mickey Rooney) and is sent to an orphanage.

Instead, a wind blows the baby to the Mountain of the Whsipering Winds (Keenan Wynn), and the animals know they must take him away before the Winter Warlock finds him. Instead, he is taken to the elf family known as the Kringles. Tanta Kringle (Joan Gardner), who comes from a toymaking family, accepts the boy and calls him Kris. As he gets older, Kris decides it is time to bring toys to Sombertown once again.

The Burgermeister trips and his injury causes him to ban toys in Sombertown. Finding other ways to bring toys to the children, Kris also meets Miss Jessica (Robie Lester) who wants to help. After a confrontation with the grumpy Burgermeister, Kris and his new penguin friend Topper make for the woods and is captured by the Winter Warlock. He has issues of his own but Kris has the magic to win people over.

The Burgermeister decides it is time to set traps for the law breaker but Kris has other plans making his way down chimney’s. Knowing that he will continue to be chased, Kris and Jessica decide to go to the North Pole where he can continue his work and bring joy to children everywhere!

Bonus Features of SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN include The Animagic World of Rankin/Bass and Commentary with Animation Historian Greg Ehrbar.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Newly restored on 4K Ultra and Bluray, the color we have come to know returns in stunning brilliance. Each film is not only enchanting but has proven to be timeless. Seeing them as a young girl was the highlight of the holiday season, so much so that when I had children, they became excited for them to show up on television.

Now, I can share them with my grandchildren and make a family evening of it. These are stories of hope, love, fun, friendship, family and joy. The sights and sounds of the holidays are brought to us by Rankin/Bass and have found their place in holiday history.

This is an amazing collection to add to your own home entertainment library making the holidays a little sweeter, a lot more fun and a reason to curl up with your family.

In the end – the holidays are coming home!

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