Speaking of BLU RAYs, I have been getting many angry emails about a recent posting at www.blu-ray.com about the BONUS CONTENT for the upcoming BLU RAY of RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. I know it is disappointing and I can assure you, I had nothing to do with it at all. Many people ask: What is the best release of RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER to date and I always tell them the one that came out around 2001 issued by GOLDEN BOOKS FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. Why? They enlisted the help of Arthur Rankin, Jr. and myself and did everything right. The cover featured the name of the creators...RANKIN/BASS and a 4 x 5" transparency I lent GOLDEN BOOKS of an actual photograph of RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH (Which they credited myself on the back). I believe the cover photo that is being used today, is a heavily altered version of my original photograph, that no longer represents the RANKIN/BASS RUDOLPH well.
The content featured on this disc includes an introduction/documentary featuring Arthur Rankin, Jr. and many of my photographs (properly credited) that runs for about 10 minutes. Apparently, this is the closest we are going to get to a BEHIND-THE-SCENES documentary. Why? I have no idea. When CLASSIC MEDIA removed the RANKIN/BASS name from the front of the cover in 2003, Arthur Rankin insisted they remove this introduction. The DVD also features a wonderful NBC PROMO from 1965 right off of the master. This disc also features the famous "Fame and Fortune" segment re-mastered as well. This is the BEST version released to date and worth seeking out.
You can also find it in a wonderful RANKIN/BASS box set! The FROSTY THE SNOWMAN DVD also features a wonderful introduction from the late/great ARTHUR RANKIN, JR. with wonderful insight as to why he chose linear animation for FROSTY Plus a RARE FROSTY THE SNOWMAN pencil test.
I have a friend, Gary Matheson, that located the original 1964 ending and credits for RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER IN-COLOR in early 2014. I reached out and attempted to help with the 50th Anniversary release back in August of 2013 and again in June of 2014. I was told that fans don't like "Long, boring documentaries." They like pop up books and sing-a-longs. That is not what my emails are telling me right now....not at all.
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