Christmas movies: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

The Grinch and his dog Max making off with some of the Christmas loot in "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" .

Source: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/dr-seuss-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas

(May be subject to copyright)

“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.”

He sure was, but he did see the light at the end of that movie.

“The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” was such a part of Christmas for me in the 1980s, it was always there to watch. Whether I was at school for a Christmas concert in elementary school, a teenager on the farm, or a university student who really didn’t have a lot of time for TV it was there.

As I reflect back on the Christmas movies I watched, one of the staples was always “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”.

The story
It is a well known story. The Grinch lives high above Whoville. He so despises Christmas, he actually masquerades as Santa Claus to steal it from the villagers. He manages to sneak into town while everyone is sleeping and literally steal everything from trees to ornaments, wreaths, presents and everything in between. His dog Max is dressed up as a rein deer and struggles more and more as the weight of Christmas increases in the sleigh.

However, The Grinch is caught in the act by a little girl, but gets away. Worse for him, when he gets to the summit, he hears something he cannot believe. With no presents, trees or any sign of Christmas left, the villagers are singing as Chistmas dawns. The Grinch realizes the Christmas spirit is alive and well, and has nothing to do with material possessions.

His heart had been described earlier in the show as very small, and was actually measured in a box. Suddenly, it grows three times its size, breaking the box drawn around it. He returns everything, and celebrates Christmas in Whoville with the villagers.

He even gets to carve the roast, giving the first piece to his trusty dog.

History
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is based on the children’s book of the same name, written by Dr. Seuss in 1957. The show came out in 1966 and was narrated by Boris Karloff, who was best known for playing Frankenstein on the big screen. He would go on to win a Grammy for his performance as The Grinch as well.

Remember when
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was a Christmas special I never seemed to miss. I recall curled up on our couch on the farm watching it. One year, I had my actual Christmas concert at St. Joseph’s School in Coaldale and thought for sure I would miss it. I was wrong. My teacher had “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” going on Channel 13 on a TV in our classroom while we waited to go on stage.

As I got older, and seemed to watch less TV as my high school years progressed, I still seemed to watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” every Christmas. It never got old.

The same thing happened in university. In my first year, December of 1987, I recall gathering in front of the TV in our lounge on Tenth Kelsey to watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. It seemed my floormates were just like me – the movie was can’t miss television.

Even to this day, my spouse and I set the PVR to record it whenever it should happen to play and watch it before Christmas Eve.

Ironically, we have already done that this year – and the version we recorded was from Channel 13.

Fitting.

Parting thoughts
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is another part of the tapestry of the 1980s. It was a staple every Christmas that I rarely missed, regardless of how old was – or am.

It is a timeless story of redemption, that is still inspiring. It illustrates the enduring appeal of the story, and the writing and imagination of Dr. Seuss.

It’s funny. A few years ago Jim Carrey put out a live action version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, yet I never could bring myself to see a live action version.

It just wouldn’t be the same as hearing the smooth tones of Boris Karloff telling us about an old miser, who catches the Christmas spirit.