Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! | |
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Based on |
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss |
Directed by | Chuck Jones |
Starring |
Boris Karloff Uncredited: June Foray Thurl Ravenscroft |
Narrated by | Boris Karloff |
Theme music composer |
Albert Hague Eugene Poddany |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
Production | |
Producer(s) | Chuck Jones Ted Geisel |
Production company(s) | Cat in the Hat Productions MGM Television |
Budget | $315,000 |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Original release |
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Chronology | |
Followed by | Halloween Is Grinch Night |
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a 1966 Christmas animated television special directed and co-produced by Chuck Jones. It is based on the eponymous children's book by Dr. Seuss, the story of the Grinch trying to take away Christmas from the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway. Originally telecast in the United States on CBS on December 18, 1966, it went on to become a perennial holiday special. The special also features the voice of Boris Karloff as the Grinch and the narrator.
The Grinch (voiced by Boris Karloff) is the film's main character. He lives in a cave atop Mt. Crumpit, located above the village of Whoville. The Grinch is a surly character with a heart "two sizes too small" who has especially hated Christmas for 53 years. On Christmas Eve, he finally becomes fed up with seeing the decorations and hearing all the music and caroling in the village and wishes he could stop Christmas Day from coming to Whoville. When he sees his dog, Max, with snow all over his face in the shape of a beard, he decides to disguise himself as Santa Claus and steal Christmas.
The Grinch makes himself a Santa coat and hat and disguises the innocent Max as a reindeer. He loads empty bags onto a sleigh and travels to Whoville with some difficulty. In the first house he is almost caught by Cindy Lou Who (voiced by an uncredited June Foray), a small Who girl who wakes up and sees him taking the Christmas tree. Pretending to be Santa, the Grinch tells Cindy Lou that he is merely taking the tree to his workshop for repairs, and then gets her a drink before sending her back to bed. He empties the first house of all the food and Christmas-related items, namely presents, trees, mistletoes, and even the stockings on the chimney, then repeats the process at the other houses in Whoville, while also taking the village decorations.