Holiday videos

Magoo, you’ve done it again

The beloved animated TV special “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” has been reissued 40 years after it first aired on NBC ($10 for VHS; $15 for DVD, Classic Media). This surprisingly straightforward musical version of the Charles Dickens story features the nearsighted Mr. Magoo (voiced by Jim Backus) starring in a Broadway production of the tale. It’s been beautifully restored and digitally remastered, and the DVD includes the rare short “Mr. Magoo Meets Gerald McBoing Boing,” a history of Mr. Magoo in television and film.

*

‘Rudolph’ shines

The venerable CBS special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” ($10 for VHS, $20 for DVD, Classic Media) premiered in 1964 and continues to air regularly. The animated delight features narration by Burl Ives, the Johnny Marks title tune and Ives’ version of “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.” The DVD includes an interview with “Rudolph” producer Arthur Rankin, the song “Fame and Fortune,” the original TV promo, a trivia game and the Spanish-language version.

*

A ‘Frosty’ pair

The 1969 CBS special “Frosty the Snowman,” narrated by Jimmy Durante, is coupled with its 1995 sequel, “Frosty Returns,” featuring the voice of John Goodman ($10 for VHS, $20 for DVD, Classic). The DVD includes a different interview with Rankin, an animated pencil test from “Frosty the Snowman,” an interactive puzzle and Spanish-language versions of both features.

-- Susan King