In 1962,
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol - an adaptation of
the classic Dickens tale - became the first-ever made-for-TV holiday special. Many
Magoo fans consider this special (which appeared two years before
Rudolph first graced our small screens) to also be the "pilot" for the 1964 NBC series
The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo, which continued featuring Quincy Magoo (still voiced by Jim Backus of
Gilligan's Island) in stories which were borrowed from classic literature. Others don't, however, which is why we hadn't covered a couple of previous DVD releases of
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol in years past.
However, a "Collector's Edition" high-def Blu-ray release of
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol DOES seem news-worthy enough for us to bend in the other direction this time, doesn't it? We think so, especially when it's a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, with both formats in one box (shown below). It's coming from Classic Media and distributor Vivendi Entertainment, who informs retailers to expect this title to not only include the 52-minute feature special, but also on-disc extras such as a Still Art Slideshow, Audio Commentary, "Ringle, Ringle" Song Sequence (featuring the voices of writers Bob Merrill and Jule Styne), "The Lord’s Bright Blessing" animatic, and a Fezzwig animatic.
In addition, there's a 16-Page Commemorative Booklet, plus a Reprint of a Signed Photograph of Jim Backus (the voice of Magoo, as we're sure you know!). The cost for all of this in a 2-disc set (1 Blu-ray, 1 DVD) is just $19.98 SRP, and you can pre-order it at a discount using the Amazon button link below. Video for the feature is in the original 1.33:1 full screen format, and audio language is in English with subtitles in French. It ships on
November 16th. Here's your first look at the packaging:
Pin It
