Product Details

• Actors: Jackie Vernon, Billy De Wolfe, Jimmy Durante, Paul Frees, June Foray
• Directors: Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
• Writers: Romeo Muller
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Family Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: November 8, 1993
• Run Time: 22 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301392906
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,811 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A double bill starring Frosty:
Frosty the Snowman
Jimmy Durante narrates this Christmas story that is based on the song of the same name. To make up for the fact that her students are in school on Christmas Eve, the local schoolteacher hires the magician Professor Hinkle to entertain the kids. Unfortunately, he's not a very good magician. Frustrated in his attempt to pull a rabbit out of his hat, he throws it away in anger. Outside, the kids build a snowman (what to call it? Harold? Oatmeal? Frosty!), and when the hat blows onto it--Happy Birthday!--it comes to life. Professor Hinkle decides he wants the hat back so he can make money off of its newfound magical properties, but the kids want to save Frosty. When the temperature starts to rise, a new problem threatens Frosty's existence. Karen, the leader of the children, comes up with a plan to save him: take him on a train to the North Pole, where it's always cold. With a cameo by Santa Claus, and the promise of Frosty's return every year, this story of life, death, and holiday cheer is glazed with the sweet frosting of hope and happiness. A true holiday classic.

Frosty Returns
In the same way that many a Hollywood sequel has little to do with the first film, Frosty Returns has almost nothing in common with the original Frosty the Snowman, aside from a man made of snow. The biggest difference is that this Frosty doesn't need a magic hat to come to life. The story: In the town of Beansboro, old Mr. Twitchell has invented an aerosol spray that can remove snow without the hassle of shoveling or plows. This frightens Frosty, who enlists the help of amateur magician Holly and her friend Charles to stop the old coot. Made in 1992, Frosty Returns has an animation style that looks like a cross between the old Schoolhouse Rock and Peanuts cartoons, with voice talent that includes Jonathan Winters, Andrea Martin, Jan Hooks, Brian Doyle-Murray, and John Goodman as Frosty. The story may be divisive, pitting children against adults and a pro-snow contingent against anti-snow people, but the songs are catchy and the message is one that ultimately empowers kids. Like a hero from an old Western, this Frosty is a wanderer who leaves when his job is done so he can work his magic elsewhere. --Andy Spletzer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of the finest Christmas films ever!, November 20, 1998

By 

George Zadorozny (Oldsmar, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frosty the Snowman [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Frosty the Snowman is simply superb! It's another of author Romeo Muller's 16 animated Christmas films--all of which are splendid and marvelous. Jimmy Durante is a most endearing narrator and singer here, and the enchanting story of Frosty is both humorous and heart-tugging. Watch it, and learn why there's magic in Christmas snow! You'll also enjoy the sequels by the same author, "Frosty's Winter Wonderland," narrated by Andy Griffith; and "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July," narrated by Mickey Rooney as Santa Claus.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the BEST Family Oriented Films EVER MADE!, May 16, 2000

By 

The Christmas Boy "Tinkle Dinkle!" (North Pole, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frosty the Snowman [VHS] (VHS Tape)

No holiday film is more beloved and revered than Frosty the Snowman, other than Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Grinch. This 1969 Masterpiece was written by the GREAT Romeo Muller, the GREATEST writer who ever lived, the man REALLY understood children. This film has a lot for both parents and children to enjoy. It has Jackie Vernon, giving warmth and kindness to Frosty the Snowman, Jimmy Durante as the EXCELLENT narrator, and Billy Dewolf as the SILLY Professor Hinkle (one of my all time favorite characters of Christmas Mythology.) This film also includes my personal favorite recording of ANY Christmas Song, the Jimmy Durante rendition of the title song. (I must recomend that you purchase the spliced version on CD.) You just can't go wrong with this film. A great one for children just seeing it for the first time, or for parents who grew up with it themselves. You must also buy the sequel, "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" and the semi sequel "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July", both buy Romeo Muller. PLEASE AVOID THE PIECE OF GARBAGE CLAIMING TO BE A SEQUEL ENTITLED "FROSTY RETURNS", ALSO ISSUED BY GOLDEN BOOKS. IT IS A POOR PLOTLESS ATTEMPT AT A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL INDEED AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FROSTY THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Rankin and Bass Christmas Classic Paired With An Unfortunate "Update"., January 1, 2008

By 

Simon Davis (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns (DVD)

While it is a total joy to have the classic Rankin and Bass Christmas classic "Frosty the Snowman", on DVD what is disappointing is that it is unfortunately paired on this DVD with a dour "update", of the adventures of the most famous Snowman in the world titled "Frosty Returns", that is a clear victim of "politically correct", agendas. The original 1969 classic "Frosty the Snowman", is a story beloved by generations of television viewers with its catchy tunes, beautiful animation, likeable characters, and unabashed celebration of Christmas and all its traditions. "Frosty Returns", however is seemingly driven by a desire to down play the importance of Christmas traditions altogether, indeed Christmas amazingly is never even referred to once in the story, being instead replaced by a rather unfortunate "Winter festival". Imagining Frosty the Snowman without Christmas is like trying to picture Rudolph without his shiny nose! While the original has charm aplenty "Frosty Returns", also displays a number of less than charming characters, namely Frosty himself who in this story is more sarcastic and jive talking and far less jolly than in the memorable original. This sequel also has some of the most woeful animation and songs in it that you could imagine which only succeeds in making the original classic shine ever more brightly. Seeing these two features side by side on this disk made a number of decades apart clearly illustrates the often discussed "war on Christmas", that seems to be taking place in our western culture and after one screening of the "update" "Frosty Returns", I know I'll be sticking with the original classic "Frosty the Snowman", which still charms all these decades after it was produced by the legendary team of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass.