<P> Perhaps the most well - known version of all the Rudolph adaptations is the Rankin / Bass Productions version of 1964 . Filmed in Japan , with all sound recordings done in Toronto , Canada , the show premièred on NBC . As the producers of the special only had the song as source material and did not have a copy of the original book , they interpolated an original story around the central narrative of the song , one that differed from the book . This re-telling chronicles Rudolph 's social rejection among his peers and his decision to run away from home . Rudolph is accompanied by a similarly outcast elf named Hermey , who skipped elf practice to become a dentist , along with a loud , boisterous , eager prospector named Yukon Cornelius who was in search of wealth . Additional original characters include Rudolph 's love interest , Clarice ; the antagonistic `` Abominable Snow Monster '' ; and , as narrator , the living Sam the Snowman , voiced by Burl Ives . </P>
<P> Perhaps the most well - known version of all the Rudolph adaptations is the Rankin / Bass Productions version of 1964 . Filmed in Japan , with all sound recordings done in Toronto , Canada , the show premièred on NBC . As the producers of the special only had the song as source material and did not have a copy of the original book , they interpolated an original story around the central narrative of the song , one that differed from the book . This re-telling chronicles Rudolph 's social rejection among his peers and his decision to run away from home . Rudolph is accompanied by a similarly outcast elf named Hermey , who skipped elf practice to become a dentist , along with a loud , boisterous , eager prospector named Yukon Cornelius who was in search of wealth . Additional original characters include Rudolph 's love interest , Clarice ; the antagonistic `` Abominable Snow Monster '' ; and , as narrator , the living Sam the Snowman , voiced by Burl Ives . </P>
when did the movie rudolph the red-nosed reindeer come out
when did the movie rudolph the red-nosed reindeer come out
1964
1964