How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Directed by Chuck Jones
- animation
- family
- comedy
The story
Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of a nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. Disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he decides to raid the village to steal all the Christmas things.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn in bold, flat colour, this 1966 special is all snowy blues, wintry greys and the Grinch's sickly green, with the village rendered in cosy, storybook shapes. Chuck Jones's camera favours tidy, painterly compositions and slow, deliberate cuts, lingering on the Grinch's cave lair and the lopsided sleigh as it tips through the night sky. Boris Karloff's narration is the centre of the soundtrack, a rumbling, mock-solemn voice over Albert Hague's whimsical, waltzing score, with sleigh bells and a few bright carols that undercut the gloom. The mood is wry, brisk and warmly sardonic, a half-hour of cheerful grumbling that turns gently sentimental in its final minutes, ideal for a snowy evening, a family viewing before the holidays, or a comfort rewatch with hot chocolate. Intensity is very low: a few mild slapstick mishaps and a looming, grumpy villain, but no real violence, gore or fear. It suits children and adults who want a gentle, funny, heartwarming seasonal story with a touch of surreal, cartoonish menace.
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