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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Flags from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - 1964


 "The First Castle on the Left"

Merry Christmas!  Perhaps the proper countdown to Christmas begins on November 25, since it is exactly one month away.  Besides Thanksgiving has passed.


Flags make a small background appearance in the king of all stop motion animated classics Rudolph the Red Nosed 1964.  Rudolph will always be a timeless tale for generations and represents America's addition to the Spirit of Christmas. 


 This story focuses on the last reindeer to join Santa's sled team - Rudolph.  In the introductory scene Santa's Castle can be seen with several pennants flying from the tower tops.  Later in the film when they journey to the Island of Misfits they meet the regal lion king - King Moonracer.  When Rudolph and his misfit friends are in King Moonracers Hall several heraldic like banners can be seen in the background.

King Moonracer's Hall

Here Rudolph meets the ruler of the Island of Misfit Toys with his friends Yukon Cornelius the Miner, Herny the Misfit Elf, and the Spotted Elephant.  The colours of the banners in King Moonracer's hall include pink, purple, red and are divided with a heraldic bend and finished with a swallowtail fly. 






Notice white flags in Santa's Clastle.  The white flag is the basic flag of peace not necessarily a flag of surrender.  Two white flags stand on either side of the the mistletoe being hung by the elves and Yukon Conelius.












You can barely see the white flag in the background on the ceiling.  In the shot the nonconformist elf with dental aspirations is hanging a star on the Christmas tree with the help of the tamed snow monster.









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