How the Grinch Stole Christmas (DVD)

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Dr. Seuss was leery of having Boris Karloff in the lead role, because he was afraid the monster man would scare little children. Karloff toned it down, but there's really enough humor, fun rhyming, and song in this classic cartoon that he needn't have worried. It strikes a chord with audiences, which is why it was a classic almost from the beginning. Then again, with Chuck Jones animating the story, you'd be surprised if it wasn't brilliant.

Jones also hooked up with Dr. Seuss on "Horton Hears a Who!" (1970), which reduces Whoville to a microscopic community of intelligent beings that only an elephant named Horton can hear . . . and protect. They live on the leaf of a plant, so tiny that no one else can see or hear them, but the story couldn't be more characteristic of Dr. Seuss. Geisel was all about imagining strange creatures who live in worlds that don't have traditional boundaries and limitations. Hans Conried narrates and handles the voice of Horton, while cartoon voice veteran June Foray makes Cindy Lou Who and Jane Kangaroo come alive, and Jones handles miscellaneous voices. It's a nice bonus cartoon, though it's hard to think of it as a bonus when this one and the 26-minute title cartoon have been paired together on home video from the start.

Video: This release gets high marks, though it's only SD. The colors are bright and pure-looking, with good saturation, the edges are sharply defined, and there's hardly a hint of grain. Made for television, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio.

Audio: The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, and it's just enough to make those choruses of "Fahoo Forays" and "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" ring memorably true. Other sound options are French and Spanish 2.0 Stereo.

Extras: Not all bonus features are created equal, and that's certainly the case here. "Horton Hears a Who!" has to be considered an "extra," and it's almost as good as the title cartoon. "Songs in the Key of Grinch" offers interviews with composer Albert Hague and vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft. "Who's Who in Whoville" is a biographical gallery. "Grinch Song Selections" allow you to hop straight to your favorite songs. TNT's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with Phil Hartman. Grinch pencil test. "Dr. Seuss and the Grinch: From Whoville to Hollywood" is a rapping, rhyming story that tells how the book was adapted for TV.

Bottom Line: What do you get when you combine a giant in children's literature (Dr. Seuss) with a giant in animation (Chuck Jones) and a giant in cinematic villainy (Boris Karloff, who narrates and gives voice to the Grinch)? You get a classic that seems as fresh 50 years later as it did when it first aired. And this new transfer makes it a must-have. It's the best you can get this side of HD.

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