Nick Sherrard ’15
You may know all about Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen but one of the most iconic characters at Christmas time is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It is hard to think about the holiday season without the little characters from this Christmas classic and the famous song that goes with it. This movie is a timeless tale of self confidence and being proud of one’s uniqueness.
This movie, from 1964, follows Rudolph, a reindeer with a glowing red nose. The other reindeer exclude him and even his parents try to cover it up in shame. Rudolph decides to leave because he is not welcome. On his quest to find a place where he fits in, he comes across other characters like Hermey, an elf that wants to be a dentist and a prospector named Yukon Cornelius. Together the three try to brave an Abominable Snowman and save a whole island of misfit toys. The plot is simple yet engaging and there are many funny and entertaining moments throughout the film.
What began as a book from the 30s and became a long lasting Christmas special in the 60s created a wave of popularity for the lovable red nosed reindeer. Although the animation and characters of the movie are not the best quality, the story is still an unforgettable tale that lands this Christmas classic at #7. If you can look beyond the inevitable visual deficiency (the movie is 49 years old), this is a perfect family Christmas film.