User reviews

This first film version of Robert L. May's story is a color animated cartoon by Max and Dave Fleisher which covers the salient points of the classic holiday saga in a brisk and breezy seven minutes. Rudolph, Santa and Reindeer Games are all in place along with Johnny Marks' beloved song.

The warm and winning short artistically surpasses the better-known Rankin-Bass puppet version but does not quite rival it for charm. Baby Boomers will look in vain for Sam the Snowman, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snowman.

The once-rare cartoon is currently available on a number of video compilations of seasonal short subjects.

Long surpassed by the 1964 Rankin/Bass version, this 1948 animated version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer directed by Max Fleischer is enjoyable in its own right. Narrated by Paul Wing, the story begins with the lead character already not allowed to skate on ice with the others (all of whom wear pillows on their backs to break their falls). His mother then calls him (there's no father here) and as Rudolph sleeps in his bed, Santa has trouble with his eight reindeer (who he calls by name as they pass him) with the fog and blizzard in his way. If you know the song by heart (and who doesn't?), you can figure out what happens next and I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't heard of this story yet. Nice animation throughout and good pacing for a 7-minute short. Worth seeing for Fleischer, Rudolph, and animation fans.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONEST ABOUT THESE FILMS

This is not the beloved Animated Classic with "Sam The Snowman". this is the first cartoon that was ever made about the beloved reindeer.

This Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a 1948 animated short film by Max Fleischer based on the 1939 Robert L. May poem Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer about the reindeer with the same name.

Rudolph is a reindeer, with an unusual red nose. 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, he is accepted and respected by his fellow reindeer and made their commander-in- chief by Santa; the reindeer enjoy a merry Christmas together.

Well made and very colorful. Just don't look for "Hermey the Elf" or "The Island of Misfit Toys".

The talents of Max & Dave Fleischer were surely not wasted on this terrific little cartoon. The use of real sets or dioramas for the backgrounds in their cartoons was a brilliant idea, and looks fantastic. Especially compared to the cranked-out garbage that litters the TV nowadays. This toon is available on many 'public domain' vhs tapes, and should be easy to locate by eager collectors or cartoon fans.

While delivering presents to children on a very foggy Christmas Eve, Santa Claus and his sleigh crash into trees. Rudolph, with his shiny red nose, is enlisted to lead the sleigh.

Short colour animation based on the story by Robert L. May and directed by Max Fleischer. The story is always relevant at Christmas so this is one for the children to watch.

A JAM HANDY PICTURE Cartoon Short.

On a particularly foggy Christmas Eve, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER turns his humiliating birth defect into a beneficial asset...

Two decades before Rudolph came to the small screen, Robert L. May's enduring creation was given the Max Fleischer special touch in this nostalgic cartoon. Johnny Marks' infectious song leads into the well-known story of Santa's Winter weather troubles & how the bullied little deer saved the day/night. A few of the graphics are reminiscent of Fleischer's splendid SUPERMAN series.

The cartoon adds some new details to the story - Mama Rudolph in a dress & apron is a rather strange sight - but basically this version, narrated by Paul Wing, laid the groundwork for later adaptations. While rather obscure, if uncovered this would make a fine addition to a family's Christmas Eve viewing.

While "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1948) is the first movie version of the story, it certainly isn't the last or the most famous. Fortunately, Rankin-Bass made a new version in the 1960s--and it's head and shoulders above this Fleischer cartoon.

As for the Fleischer Brothers, this cartoon was made well after Paramount Studios fired the Fleischers and this represents the final cartoon Max Fleischer made--this time for the tiny Jam Handy Organization. It's really a shame, as Max and his brother Dave really were amazing and this cartoon is inferior to their earlier work. One of the biggest problems is the music. While it is still the original Johnny Marks song, this version is very saccharine and I wish they'd just used the wonderful Gene Autry version--but it wasn't available until the following year. As for the animation, it was decent but not distinguished and the story is a bit on the mushy side. I really think most kids today wouldn't sit still for the cartoon unless they are very, very young and not particularly demanding.

Before people get the wrong idea, I absolutely love the 1964 Rankin-Bass special (I happen to be a Rankin-Bass fan, too; MAD MONSTER PARTY is my other favorite), but if one should be virtually faithful to the the source material by Robert May and Johnny Marks, then look no further than this animated short by Max Fleischer! You can't get any better than the Fleischer brothers (Max or Dave), so this classic short should never be forgotten. The animation is just as good as their famous Superman shorts. The story is much simpler, without any excess supporting characters to steal the show. Rudolph and Santa Claus share the full spotlight, and I couldn't have it any other way. It's a bit unfair to compare the two versions, I know. But if you think about it, this is just about as faithful to the source material as you could get. Plus, Rudolph looks adorable, as he should.

As for the plot, well, sing that famous song and you have it all in a nutshell!

While it won't be officially available as of this writing, your best bet is to look for some cheap Christmas-themed public domain DVDs which should include this short. I recommend it! It should make a great companion to the 1964 special, especially for historical reasons.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1948)

*** (out of 4)

Max Fleischer's animated short tells the story of the red-nosed reindeer who is constantly picked on until Santa's needs his help delivering gifts on Christmas. This 9-minute short would end up being the final film that Fleischer would ever direct and it also turned out to be the last that he would produce. There's no question that the 1964 Rankin/Bass version has overshadowed this one and I think it's fair to say that the later version is much better but that's still no reason for people not to check this one out. I thought the animation, as you'd expect, to be very good and I especially liked the opening scenes where we meet Rudolph and the other reindeer's. I thought their little play land had a lot of imagination going for it and the colors certainly jumped off the screen. The story is pretty good as well but then again I think it would be very hard to mess it up. At just 9-minutes the film goes by extremely fast and there's certainly no dry moments to drag the film. The one major difference here is that the "village" is animals and not humans. Nothing major of a change but it's still worth noting.

I am a 90's kid I remember watching this on vhs when I was little. For the longest time I could never find this until this yr now I can watch this with my family on what movies I grew up watching at their age.

Considering this was placed on the live show for Rifftrax's Christmas shorts, it probably was the one with quality work put into it, at least compared to the others. There are certainly things that can be mocked about it, moments like when Santa Claus is literally patting the reindeer one after the other on the butts as they go out the door, or in some of the unintentional innuendo between Rudolph and Santa as the latter drafts the former to help him on his sleigh ride Christmas eve. But there is decent enough animation that makes it watchable outside of seeing it 'riffed', and I realized I actually had seen it before, at least at some point in my life, before seeing it here (why it didn't stand out exactly... well, it's not in stop motion for one thing). It's corny and cheesy, but for its time it's fine.

. . . beside our porch near our front yard. Today we had three. At this rate, there will be more than 11,000 head devouring every living thing on our property by Christmas. In Finland, deer are lumped into the vermin category, along with roaches and rats. As depicted recently in the Finnish film S-I-S-U, deer are dispatched with extreme prejudice on the spot where they're initially spied. Red-nosed deer are regarded as particularly dangerous pathogens, as these glowing nozzles are a dead-giveaway that they're become active Super Spreaders of Lyme Disease, polio and mumps. The worst of the brightest bulbs often prove to be rabid mouth-foaming misfits.

This is a rather bland telling of the Rudolph story. The color is brilliant but the animation pretty ordinary. The reindeer have too many human qualities and that detracts. This is, of course, about cruelty toward the other, he different. But it isn't done with much subtlety.

This charming short is one of the best holiday themed toons we will ever see. It simply wouldn't be Christmas-Time without it. Spread the word folks this one has stood the test of time and is a keeper! I suggest getting the new Christmas Carol DVD with Alister Sim (1951) version since Rudolph is on the disc as a bonus. Two Christmas greats in one!

Whether it's among the Flesicher Brothers' best is up for debate, but it does have some significance for being the first telling of the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer story on screen and it is difficult to resist it really. It is in the shadow of the classic 1964 version and is not quite as good, but that means no disrespect because it is a winner on all levels. The animation is so beautifully done, you can tell from the very first moment that it is Fleischer Bros animation. The backgrounds have a lot of fluidity, the character designs are appealing at least and the colours are warm and vibrant and gets even more so as Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer(1948) progresses. The music is very lushly orchestrated performed just as much by the orchestra and the chorus singing for the title song brings such a nostalgic warmth, a refreshingly different way to a song that is often jazzed-up or played on the piano(not a problem at all). The introduction section of the title song has rarely been more beautifully sung than here, some may find it mushy and saccharine depending on tastes considering as it has been done in a more accessible way since and that's understandable, with me it's one of my personal favourite renditions of the song(which is one of the catchiest, most instantly recognisable and all-time great festive songs). The narration is written and voiced with dignity and knowing, and the storytelling has all the elements of this well-known story and does it with so much heart-warming charm and poignancy, also wisely doing it in a simple but never simplistic way. Rudolph always has been a relatable character and he is here, you feel for him as he's bullied and you cheer when he overcomes what he's been through, which is why this cartoon and the story is and can be seen as an inspiration. If you've ever been bullied you'd understand completely and also if you haven't but know or have seen anybody go through it. All the other characters, especially jovial Santa, are engaging as well. In conclusion, a beautiful and inspiring cartoon that deserves to be better known, that it's not quite in the same class as the 1964 classic shouldn't be a detriment. On a brief note, some may have seen it for the first time as a fan of Fleischer animation, my case was somewhat unusual in that the cartoon was used to accompany the song Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer(in a different and not as nice rendition) in Very Merry Christmas Songs in the Disney Sing Along series, despite the fact that- as later found out- that it wasn't Disney. That over, from personal rating this rates 10/10. Bethany Cox

The one from Rankin/. Bass annoyed me to no end. However, i watched this one on my Christmas cartoon collection and loved it. This is what kids should watch not the stuff that's out there today. But yes, its sweet, its not annoying and believe me i do annoy very easily. Wing has a nice voice for narrating and so does Santy.

IT'S REALLY AND truly true. This one reel, 8 minutes of animation have managed to be significantly so situated as to command such a unique position in filmdom. Of course, it certainly wasn't planned that way; as such intentionally laid plans "of Mice and Men.....etc." Well you know, Schultz!

FIRST OF ALL, this is the first adaptation of the story to film; be it big screen or small. And even this adaptation has an interesting and multi-faceted lineage all of its own.

THE STORY ORIGINATED as a tale meant to amuse the children of one Robert L. May (1905-76). It was committed to the written page, where it became a very popular tale with kiddies everywhere. (End of Chapter One)

NOW WE HAVE the entrance of actor/song writer, Johnny Marks, who was the Brother-in-Law of Mr. Robert L. May. Before long, the Christmas Novelty Song, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was a hit (on a yearly renewable basis) on the radio, juke boxes, phonograph records and sheet music. To his very day, Gene Autry's Collection of Christmas Songs sees the new light of Day; especially at Sears & Roebuck stores, where it appears to be a truly real world time warp.*

FROM THIS TOP of the world position, it was truly "a short put to a film adaptation. This then came in the guise of a one reeler, eight minute animated cartoon short subject. As its Producer-Director it had none-other than Max Fleischer, whose accomplishments in the field of bringing life and movement to drawings both predated and was second to only Walt Disney in that field.

THIS WAS A SORT of a comeback for Max, whose involuntary "retirement" had been hastened by Paramount Pictures' financial coup-de-tat, taking his own FLEISCHER BROTHERS Cartoon Studios over and rechristening the company as FAMOUS Studios. This was the first and only cartoon production for him ever since those days in (circa) 1944 he was deposed.

SO IT WAS that Max and brother Dave Fleischer, who had given us OUT OF THE INKWELL (with KOKO The Klown), BETTY BOOP, POPEYE Cartoons, GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, HOPPITY GOES TO TOWN and the SUPERMAM Theatrical Cartoon Series, hadn't done any pictures for about 5 years, when this came along. (The Brothers Fleischer hadn't even spoken to each other from that period until the end of their lives.**)

AS FOR THE particulars of this, the first RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER, it was a spectacular vehicle for the entrance of RUDOLPH into the new medium. The adaptation of the story (which is basically a variation on the "Ugly Duckling" syndrome, is done in a no holds barred manner. While all of the original elements are intact, Fleischer's adapting screenwriter, Joseph Stultz, adorns and fortifies the scenario with some healthy doses of Anthropomorphic deer, hazing of poor little "Red-Nose" and hero's welcome for him in a large Olympic-type stadium.

ALYHOUGH WE HAVE long heard of this particular production, it is only recently that we were able to view it. We saw it in DVD form (available from Amazon.com along with several old Christmas themed cartoons,) Our Grandsons (3 year old Jack and 17 month Patrick) both give it their hearty endorsements.

NOTE: * It's true, Every year, Gene Autry's smile and 10 gallon hat dominate Sears' radio/television department.

NOTE: ** Well Schultz, you know the old expression: "You can choose your friends, but not your relatives!"