If your brain is full of spiders and you’ve got garlic in your soul, we’ve got some good news sure to help your heart grow three sizes (check with your doctor if you experience continued heart size increases) — Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is bringing Chuck Jones’ acclaimed adaptation of the Dr. Seuss holiday classic back to shelves just in time for the holidays with How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: The Ultimate Edition.
In addition to the iconic 1966 TV special, the set features two additional, Emmy-winning animated escapades for the meanie greenie: Halloween Is Grinch Night (dir. Gerard Baldwin, 1977) and The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (dir. Bill Perez, 1982).
The Ultimate Edition arrives on Digital on September 25, followed by Blu-Ray Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and in standard definition ($19.98) on October 23.
“Since he was first created by Dr. Seuss over 60 years ago, the Grinch has become an iconic character heralding the arrival of the holiday season. He’s been loved by generations for his transformation by the true spirit of the holiday. This television special featuring the Grinch and the Whos of Whoville has become a seasonal classic and we’re delighted to offer this new release with two other classic Grinch specials,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, VP Family & Animation Marketing. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: The Ultimate Edition is the perfect addition to everyone’s holiday movie collection.”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Mummy) and directed by animation genius and cartoon legend Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes: What’s Opera, Doc?), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! tells the story of the miserable Grinch, who wants to sabotage Christmas for all the Whos in Who-ville. The Grinch thinks that by stealing the Whos Christmas trees and presents, he’ll succeed in stealing their joy. However, when Christmas morning arrives, the Grinch is taken by surprise when he notices the Whos greet the day joyously singing Christmas carols regardless of the fact that their village has been completely stripped of holiday gifts, decorations and treats. The cheerful attitude of the Whos prompts the Grinch to ponder the true meaning of Christmas and he slowly comes to realize the spirit of the season is not generated by material possessions. Will the Grinch have a change of heart and consider returning the Whos’ Christmas gifts?
The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat: The Grinch is up to his old tricks again in The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat, the Emmy Award-winning special directed by legendary animator Friz Freleng. In this special, the Cat in the Hat encounters the Grinch while picnicking one day. He refers to the Grinch as Mr. Greenface, which the Grinch takes an as insult, prompting him to retaliate by building a series of outrageous devices designed to cause all sorts of disruption. First, he creates a “Vacusound Sweeper,” which distorts any and all of the sounds within a 50-mile radius of the Cat in the Hat. Then he creates the “Dark House,” which is the direct opposite of a lighthouse and puts the Cat in the Hat into complete darkness. He then uses the “Flummox Deluxe” to further warp the Cat in the Hat’s surroundings, which sends him and everything around him into complete chaos. Will the Cat in the Hat figure out a way to stop the Grinch and outsmart all his crazy devices?
Halloween Is Grinch Night: When the Sour-Sweet wind starts to blow in Whoville, all the Whos take cover because this signifies the beginning of Grinch Night, an evening in which the Grinch descends upon Who-ville to terrorize all its citizens. As the Grinch sets out on his journey to Who-ville, he encounters a courageous young Who named Euchariah, who attempts to stall the Grinch from reaching Whoville. The Grinch however puts Euchariah into a trance in which he encounters all sorts of strange creatures who try to intimidate him. Will Euchariah manage to snap out of the trance in time to stop Grinch from reaching Whoville?