Watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has become a cherished family tradition for many during the holiday season. The Rankin/Bass-produced stop motion animated television special debuted in 1964 and has since won the hearts of generations of children.
Over the years, however, some of the characters and the dialogue they deliver have become outdated to the point of becoming humorous. The special also has numerous inadvertent innuendos and unintentionally silly lines that give it a whole new comedic feel for those watching it again as an adult. So, while not always intentional, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer delivers laughs for the whole family.
Mrs. Claus Begs Santa To Eat:
"Eat, Eat!"
Mrs. Claus’s plea for Santa to fatten up before Christmas is a riot. Actress Peg Dixon delivers the dialogue with such commanding desperation that it became the show’s first accidentally funny line and anyone who has seen the special is likely to hear her voice in their head right now.
Mrs. Claus knows that a skinny Santa is a grumpy Santa and if she’s going to share a home with him, he needs to be jolly the way the story intended. In his defense, his dinner looked terrible.
Santa Makes A Joke:
“Every Year I Shine Up My Jingle Bells!”
Hard to believe this one got past the censors. Although audiences may not have made the connection in the 1960s, Santa’s inadvertent innuendo is hysterical these days. Even without its silly connotations, the line leaves one to wonder why Santa would say such a thing in the first place?
Wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to shine up his sleigh, the way a person might shine up their car before a trip? It is entirely possible the writers of the special knew what they were doing when they penned this line. The world may never know.
Santa Dismisses The Elves:
"Hmm. Well, It Needs Work. I Have To Go."
Those poor elves worked on their song all year long and when they present it to Santa his remarks are so dismissive and disparaging that they’re actually funny. This irritable man is very different from the jovial Santa adored by children and it’s unexpectedly amusing.
There is great comedy in taking a treasured figure and turning him into a crank. The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television special reimagines Santa Claus as someone we don’t like and he’s funnier for it. His curmudgeonly outlook makes him one of the best animated Santa Clauses ever.
Santa Criticizes Donner:
“Donner, You Should Be Ashamed Of Yourself. What A Pity. He Had A Nice Takeoff, Too.”
Santa is at it again. After showing off his flying skills, Rudolph accidentally reveals the red nose his father hid from everyone and Santa disapproves.
It is unclear why Santa is criticizing Donner in this situation. Is it because he didn’t do a better job hiding the nose? Or because he fathered a red-nosed child? Santa is impossible to please. What does having a red nose have to do with a reindeer’s ability to fly, anyway? All viewers can do is laugh at what a ridiculously grumpy Santa he is.
Comet Taunts Rudolph:
“From Now On Gang, We Won’t Let Rudolph Join In Any Reindeer Games, Right?”
This quote from Comet was included in the special as a reference to the hit song the story is based on. It comes across, however, as a teacher’s ludicrously childish attempt to bully a child by not allowing him to play with his classmates. What makes it worse is that he is sadly seeking to validate his terrible behavior by asking for approval from the other children in the class.
What makes this line so laughable is that it was obviously meant to be spoken by a child, but giving it to an adult moves it into the territory of the absurd. Sadly, Rudolph is the butt of the joke, but as his friend Clarice sings in one of the most underrated Christmas movie songs, "There's Always Tomorrow."
The Foreman Cracks The Whip:
"Ten Minutes Break!"
The elves have been working nonstop to make toys for Christmas and the elf foreman only gives them ten minutes break. Santa’s workshop is obviously lacking in labor regulations.
While not intended to be funny, and tinged with obvious sadness for the elves who are manufacturing toys for the entire world, it's a wryly humorous line that adults revisiting the special from their childhood may be able to relate to.
Hermey Expresses Himself:
"Not If You Don't Mind Me Being A ...Dentist."
Over the years, the LGBTQ+ community has adopted Hermey as one of their own. He is an elf who doesn’t fit in with the culture of Santa’s workshop and is willing to strike out on his own to express his individuality. When Hermey introduces himself to Rudoph on his way out of the North Pole, he pauses before identifying as a dentist. Hermey’s pause is a fun wink to those who understand the allusion.
It is a fitting reminder that the story of Rudolph and Hermey teaches us the value of our differences and how they should be celebrated in our society. It’s one of the reasons Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer truly is one of the best animated Christmas specials.
Mr. Donner Refuses Help:
“No, This Is Man’s Work.”
When Mrs. Donner offers to help look for Rudolph, Mr. Donner’s response is so outlandishly sexist and outdated that it is laughable.
Throughout the special, Rudolph’s father proves himself to be a boorish tyrant who contributes to his son’s leaving home, and then he has the gall to believe he is the most qualified to bring him back home. Unsurprisingly, he fails to find his son and gets trapped by the Bumble.
Santa Is Concerned For The Missing Reindeer:
“I’m Very Worried!”
When Rudolph’s parents and his friend Clarice go missing looking for him, Santa expresses his concern. One would assume he would be worried about their safety, but no, he is instead anxious that he won’t be able to deliver gifts to children.
Three reindeer are on the brink of death and all Santa can think about is his Christmas glory. Santa has laughably forgotten the true meaning of Christmas and is only concerned with handing out material possessions. It is possible that he is the most selfish Santa ever depicted on screen.
Sam The Snowman Speaks:
“The Best Thing To Do Is To Get The Women Back To Christmas Town.”
When Rudolph, his parents, and Clarice are saved from the Bumble by Hermey and Yukon Cornelius, the narrator - voiced by the legendary Burl Ives - reveals himself to be a paternalistic snowman. The men were just as vulnerable as the women in the clutches of the abominable snowman and to insinuate that the women need protection ignores the weakness of Donner in this situation.
The snowman seems to mean well, but maybe Sam should stick to singing carols like “Silver and Gold.” Besides, if anyone needs to get back to town, it’s Rudolph. After all, he did get clubbed by a Yeti.