Frosty the Snowman (1969)
A silk hat, a magician who wants it back, and a race to the North Pole.
When a magic hat brings a snowman to life, Frosty must reach the North Pole before he melts — with a little girl named Karen, a rabbit named Hocus Pocus, and a very reluctant magician in pursuit. Jimmy Durante narrates in his final role. Simple, short, and beloved for generations.
The song came first — a 1950 hit written to repeat Gene Autry's 'Rudolph' success — and Jimmy Durante came last: this was the final role of his career, and his gravel-and-velvet narration is the special's whole temperature, warm with a little wink. Rankin/Bass switched from puppets to classic cel animation here, with Mad magazine artists shaping the look. Karen's race to the North Pole, Professor Hinkle's useless magic, and Frosty's 'Happy Birthday!' entrance have made this half-hour a fixture of the season for over fifty years.
From the Film
The Facts
- Year
- 1969
- Director
- Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass
- Runtime
- 25 minutes
- Genres
- Animation, Family, Classic
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jackie Vernon | Frosty |
| Billy De Wolfe | Professor Hinkle |
| Jimmy Durante | Narrator |
| Paul Frees | Santa Claus |
| June Foray | Karen |
Good to know: A Rankin/Bass special narrated by Jimmy Durante in his final film role, aired annually on CBS since 1969.
Where to watch Frosty the Snowman
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More from the 1960s — or browse the full A–Z catalog.
