Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979)

TV Show Info

So are your kids just snowballs that fall off you and your wife?

King Winterbolt is reborn and vows to take control of the north from Santa Claus.  Winterbolt’s plans are thwarted by Lady Boreal who gives Rudolph the gift of a glowing nose to help Santa Claus.  When Winterbolt’s plans to ruin Christmas are stopped by Rudolph’s red nose guiding Santa Claus, Winterbolt plans against Santa again.  With the Fourth of July coming, Frosty and his family

Directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin, Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July is in line with other Rankin-Bass productions.  The special is a mash-up of other Rankin-Bass specials and first aired on November 25, 1979 on ABC.  It was preceded by both Rudolph’s Shiny New Year in 1976 and Frosty’s Winter Wonderland in 1976.

Weather wizards are jerks

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July is like the “best of” Rankin/Bass specials.  All it needed was something with Easter, Thanksgiving, and Arbor Day, and it would have hit on most of the holidays.  The special features characters from the “classic” holiday specials and often airs during the Christmas holidays despite the title.  The special was originally planned for a theatrical release, and I can’t imagine sitting through this in the theater.  With TV airings you get the built in commercial breaks to get a breather.  The show is long…way too long, and the ho-hum plot with no great songs don’t help.

It is rather fun to see all the characters interacting.  I never was a huge fan of the original Frosty the Snowman due to the art (and Frosty kind of irritates me), so it is good to see him in claymation.  It is also nice to see Rudolph back and Santa who appears to be the same Santa from Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.  Jack Frost also stops by to help the cause, and Big Ben from Rudolph’s Shiny New Year.

Finally…Frosty and his entire family has been wiped out!!!

The show does continue to look great and has great voice actors.  Billie Mae Richards continues to be Rudolph and Jackie Vernon returns as Frosty.  Shelley Winters plays Frosty’s wife Crystal (she first appeared in Frosty’s Winter Wonderland).  Jack Frost however is played by Paul Frees (who also plays Winterbolt) previously was Jack Frost in Frosty’s Winter Wonderland but played Jack Frost’s enemy Kubla Kraus and Father Winter in the actual Jack Frost special.  Red Button plays Milton the man who really causes all the problems by requesting help for Lilly.  Mickey Rooney returns as Santa Claus and Ethel Merman plays circus owner Laine Loraine.

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July feels pretty tedious.  It would be better if it had been shorter, but at least it continues to have fun animation.  Like The Nightmare Before Christmas, it is a weird special to watch since it feels more like a Christmas special than a Fourth of July special…I’d recommend just celebrating the holiday with fireworks and hope Frosty does melt.  Rudolph returned in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys in 2001 and Frosty came back in Frosty Returns in 1992.

Related Links:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976)

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976)

Frosty Returns (1992)