Product Description

Every Who down in Who-ville likes Christmas a lot & ; But the Grinch who lived just north of Whoville did NOT! So the cuddly as a cactus Grinch (with termites in his smile and garlic in his soul) tries to wipe out Christmas for the cheerful Who-villians, only to discover: Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more! Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff and animated by cartoon legend Chuck Jones, it's an award-winning Who-roast-beast-feast of a holiday classic!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #473 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2000-10-31
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Enhanced, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
This all-time classic now has Horton Hears a Who! on the same video for a great double bill.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
To heck with the kids--this is one of the best holiday presents you can give yourself. Adapted from the children's book by Dr. Seuss, this charming story is one to watch every holiday season. It is just edgy enough to help you forget the more cloying aspects of Christmas, yet it is also sweet enough to remind you of the reason for all that holiday cheer. Animation genius Chuck Jones directed this 1966 television production featuring the voice of Boris Karloff as the mean greenie. Bitter and selfish, the Grinch decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos, the sweet little folk who live at the bottom of his mountain home. When little Cindy Loo Who returns his hateful act with kindness, she melts the old miser's heart. There are many reasons to watch this: inventive wordplay, Karloff's impressive narration, and a very memorable soundtrack. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Horton Hears a Who!
Chuck Jones was chief animator on this lively adaptation of the famous book by Dr. Seuss. The story of a friendly elephant named Horton who discovers--deep inside a daisy--a tiny city called Whoville with tiny, intelligent residents--this film (fleshed out a bit from the source) is strong on character and has striking, appealing visuals. The little folks of Whoville, with their natural air of aristocracy, are a kick, and when they come to see Horton as a hero for his democratic view of all life big and small, the effect is quite touching. This should be a real treat for kids already familiar with the book, and just might inspire those who haven't read it to pick it up. --Tom Keogh

Additional Features
Without a new cover or much fanfare, this new edition of the hallowed Christmas film has several additional extras. Best is TNT's 25-minute documentary from 1996. Phil Hartman hosts this easy-going look at the history and creation of Grinch. Composer Albert Hague and vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft are featured in more detail in a shorter featurette, "Songs in the Key of Grinch." The commentary by animator Phil Roman and voice actress June Foray (Cindy Low Who) is trivial. The quality of the digital enhancement is not as wonderful as expected. Color definition is better, as are the cuts between scenes. While some dirt has been cleaned up, the print is still not pristine by any means. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

The Grinch is GREEN!!!
I just purchased this new anniversary edition of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (50th for the book and 40th for the special). First, this is a single disc release - not the two-disc set that was originally announced. I stuck the disc into my player to check it out and I was pleasantly surprised. "The Grinch" has been cleaned-up and looks beautiful. And, yes, the Grinch is now GREEN! YEA!!! But be warned, "Horton Hears A Who" has NOT been cleaned-up. It is the same version that appeared on the previous release. There is a new special feature that looks interesting. BUT, there are a few things that have disappeared: Chapter stops for both specials are GONE!, Subtitles for both specials are GONE!, and the commentary for "The Grinch" is GONE! I suppose I can live without those in exchange for a green Grinch, though it is disappointing. Be prepared for the missing features if you plan to upgrade. I do recommend this, though, as "The Grinch" looks so much better than the previous release.

***UPDATE*** 11/9/09
This anniversary edition has been discontinued and replaced by a very similar edition. The new 2009 edition was actually created in 2008 (the trailers are for upcoming DVDs - one year ago) and there are a couple of changes. First, the "Horton Hears A Who" feature has been dropped, I assume, because it has since gotten its own release. Second, the audio commentary has been restored. And third, the subtitles have been restored. Chapter stops are still missing but that is ok as the special is only 25 minutes or so. I had a lot of trouble getting this edition. I went through two copies from Amazon (and got a full refund), a copy from Target, and a copy from Warner Brothers itself (they replaced the Target copy). The problem was that the cover was from the new 2009 version but the disc was the 2006 disc. I finally found a correct version at Walmart today. There is no way to know if it is correct until you open it. The 2006 disc label says "50th Birthday Deluxe Edition" while the 2009 disc label just says "Deluxe Edition." The transfer itself is still the color-corrected, green-Grinch version found on the 2006 DVD.

THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY
Forget the hideously overblown film version -- if you want the real thing, buy this double treat and enjoy the Grinch's story the way it was intended to be seen. Boris Karloff's voice lends this wonderfully inspiring story a hint of real menace, and the animation, spare and imaginative, creates an oddly familiar world that is both melancholy and Christmasey -- the perfect combo. The songs have become holiday traditions. The story of the Grinch is as much a mystery of faith and joy as it is an entertaining comedy. You will get the additional family treat of Horton Hears A Who, also an inspiring tale that explores the value of life itself. Dr. Seuss' brilliance with conceptual family entertainment is on clear display in both of these classic stories; you will not be disappointed. Merry Christmas.

A Christmas classic...
Over the past few days, I've gotten into the Christmas spirit (already; as of this review, it's only mid-November), so I figured I'd review one of my favorite holiday memories now available on DVD.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is undeniably my favorite animated Christmas special. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph and Frosty are great, of course, but the Grinch is the cream of the crop. Wonderful narration by Boris Karloff, immaculate animation and that special "Christmas vibe" you get when you're watching or listening to something really special; what's not to like? This is an essential piece of holiday history for your collection.

There's nothing I can really say to make you buy this disc; you've seen it by now and chances are, unless you're the Grinch himself, you absolutely adore it. What I can say is that this particular DVD makes an already perfect Christmas special even better. Not only do you get a few wonderful features that deal with the making of the the Grinch and a few fun games for the kids, but also "Horton Hears a Who," another wonderful cartoon made by animation genius, Chuck Jones.

The review written by Amazon.com summed it up perfectly with just one sentence - this is one of the best Christmas gifts you can get for YOURSELF.