Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1948 film) facts for kids

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a classic animated short film from 1948. It was made by Max Fleischer for Jam Handy. This film tells the story of Rudolph, a special flying reindeer, and how he helps Santa Claus. The movie is based on a famous poem written by Robert L. May in 1939.

Rudolph's Amazing Story

Rudolph's Sad Start

In a snowy land, many young reindeer were playing. They loved to ice skate, climb trees, and decorate a big Christmas tree. One curious reindeer found something red hidden in a tree. He poked it, and out popped Rudolph!

Rudolph had a very shiny, red nose. The other reindeer teased him about it. This made Rudolph feel very sad and left out. He went home, feeling lonely and upset.

A Mother's Comfort

Rudolph's mom tried to cheer him up. She reminded him to hang his stocking for Santa. Rudolph quickly hung it up, dreaming of all the toys Santa might bring. He went to bed, but he couldn't sleep well. The teasing from the other reindeer still bothered him.

Santa's Big Problem

Far away at the North Pole, Santa Claus looked out his window. A very thick fog covered everything. Santa knew it would be hard to deliver presents that night. When his clock struck midnight, Santa quickly got his reindeer ready.

As they flew, Santa warned them to fly low because of the fog. But they still crashed into some trees! The reindeer got tangled, but they tried again. Over a town, they almost hit an airplane. A little later, they crashed right onto a rooftop! The sleigh got stuck, but they managed to break free.

Rudolph's Bright Idea

Santa finally reached Rudolph's house. He was giving presents to other reindeer children. Suddenly, he saw a bright light coming from Rudolph's room. It was Rudolph's shiny red nose!

Santa was surprised but then got a brilliant idea. He woke Rudolph up. Rudolph tried to hide his nose, but Santa stopped him. Santa told Rudolph about his difficult journey through the fog. Rudolph agreed to help. He left a note for his parents and joined Santa. Rudolph's bright nose lit the way for Santa and the other reindeer all night long.

Rudolph Becomes a Hero

The next morning, everyone in Rudolph's hometown heard the news. All the other reindeer raced to a stadium. There, Santa officially named Rudolph the leader of his sleigh team. Rudolph blushed from head to toe. He shyly wished everyone a "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."

Who Voiced Rudolph?

The only voice actor mentioned in this film is Paul Wing. He helped bring the characters to life.

How the Film Was Made

This short, 8-minute animated film came out before the famous 1949 song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry. It also came out before the well-known 1964 TV special by Rankin/Bass.

This 1948 film was based on Robert L. May's original story from 1939. The later 1964 TV special is more like the song than the original story.

Advertising a Store

The film was first made to advertise Montgomery Ward department stores. This store was where the original Rudolph story was first published. When the film first came out, it showed a credit for Montgomery Ward. The opening music was an instrumental version of "Silent Night, Holy Night".

In 1951, the film was re-released. This new version added a choir singing the Rudolph song during the credits. It also removed the Montgomery Ward name.

Where to Watch It

The re-released version of the film is easy to find. You can often see it on old videotapes and DVDs. It is also available to watch online. The very first version of the film is kept safe at the Library of Congress. They even put it online in 2014 for everyone to see.

Rudolph in Other Shows

Rudolph's story and scenes from this film have appeared in other places. They were included in Very Merry Christmas Songs, which was a Christmas video from Disney's Sing Along Songs series. The film was also featured on Rifftrax in 2009, where comedians add funny commentary.