The Grinch

December 22, 2007 8:37 AM

You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch l The Grinch Song lyrics. l How the Grinch Stole Christmas documentary: a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this perennial favorite. Featuring never-before-seen animation tests and interviews with director Chuck Jones, Audrey Geisel (Dr. Seuss' widow), composer Albert Hague, vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft, and Seuss aficionados Tim Burton & Danny Elfman, this 1994 special from cable channel TNT contains a sleigh-load of information for Grinch fans.

Hartman brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to the documentary, which includes initial pencil tests and also includes file footage of Boris Karloff. Who knew that Fame's Mr. Shorofsky composed the special's music? Or that the singer of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" also voiced Tony the Tiger in countless Frosted Flakes commercials? Informative and funny, this is not to be missed.

Wikpedia entry for How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Wikipedia entry for Dr. Seuss

YouTube compilation of Grinch vignettes to the song You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch.

posted by nickyskye (12 comments total)

Oh my god, thank you, nickyskye! I'd never seen this documentary before. Chuck was an old family friend (and a much-adored honorary uncle to my sister and me), so seeing this footage of him is pretty much the perfect Christmas present.
posted by scody at 8:55 AM on December 22, 2007 [2 favorites]

When it was first broadcast, Thurl Ravenscroft was left off the credits. Chuck Jones didn't notice it until then, and as soon as the show was over, he called Ravenscroft on the phone and apologized to him.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:57 AM on December 22, 2007

Thurl Ravenscroft

Has to be a candidate for best name ever.
posted by davey_darling at 9:00 AM on December 22, 2007 [1 favorite]

Your soul is an apalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable, Mangled up in tangled up knots.
posted by three blind mice at 10:20 AM on December 22, 2007

Has to be a candidate for best name ever.

It's grrrreat!
posted by hangashore at 10:24 AM on December 22, 2007

Hey, that's a pretty good fine, thanks.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:24 AM on December 22, 2007

I think Mojo Nixon does a good version of the song.
posted by Eekacat at 12:36 PM on December 22, 2007

We had a thread a couple of years ago marking the passing of Thurl Ravenscroft.
posted by pax digita at 12:48 PM on December 22, 2007

Thanks Pax. Sorry I missed it.

.
posted by ZachsMind at 12:56 PM on December 22, 2007

composer Albert Hague

Holy crap. "Fame! I'm gonna live for-eh-ever..." Shorofsky always was a fun old' curmudgeon. Who knew he'd already set the standard? For all the things to love about the Grinch, it's the music that communicates that characterization so unforgettably well.

Sounds like the man must have had quite a life story.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 3:05 PM on December 22, 2007

As a kid, I had no idea how weird I would eventually become. A "three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich" doesn't sound all that bad to me right now.
posted by telstar at 8:26 PM on December 22, 2007

I dunno about the toadstools, but throw in some pastrami and thousand island? I'm so there, dude.
posted by ZachsMind at 6:12 AM on December 23, 2007