| “ | It's a difficult responsibility, That he extracts from the Number 1 law keeper, me. | „ |
| ~ Grimsley |
| “ | Nobody is going to do anything! You are all under arrest for defying the law and making toys, and for being an accomplice to Public Enemy No. 1, Kris Kringle! | „ |
| ~ Grimsley arresting the Kringles and the Winter Warlock |
Grimsley is the secondary antagonist of the Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. He is Burgermeister Meisterburger's comical right-hand man.
He was voiced by the late Paul Frees, who also voiced Burgermeister Meisterburger in the same film.
History[]
Grimsley first appears when he interrupts his boss during dinner one wintry evening to report that a baby was left on his doorstep, the only clue to his identity being a license with the name Claus. The Burgermeister has no intentions of taking in a baby, and orders Grimsley to take the infant to the local orphanage ("Orphan Asylum"). However, Grimsley loses the baby in a snowstorm, who miraculously ends up in the hands of the Kringle elves, who adopt him as Kris.
Years later, when the Burgermeister trips on a toy duck and outlaws all toys in retaliation, Grimsley proceeds to enforce it without question, confiscating all the toys in town from the weeping children. When Kris almost wins over the Burgermeister with a yo-yo, it is Grimsley who ruins the moment by reminding his boss that he is breaking his own law. From that time on, Grimsley is constantly trying to capture Kris and his friends on the Burgermeister's orders, and finally succeeds by following Jessica to the Kringles' workshop and promptly arresting them.
Grimsley is briefly seen during the finale song of the special, having reformed but without any lines.
Personality[]
Grimsley is a very dedicated henchman to his boss, the Burgermeister and will enforce and obey all his laws without question or protest. He is also very honest as evidenced when he reports anything to the Burgermeister.
As a person, Grimsley is a completist and will always follow through with any given task. The only time he doesn't is when the situation is out of his control, such as when the small sleigh carrying an infant Kris Kringle breaks from its rope and blows away to the Mountain of the Whispering Winds.
Gallery:[]
Trivia[]
- Despite being assigned to arrest the Kringle family and all of Kris Kringle's accomplices, Grimsley decides to allow Jessica to go free by dismissing her with his hand during the arrest scene. No reason is given as to why he did this.
- According to Rick Goldschmidt's book, The Making of Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town and The Daydreamer Grimsley's name is actually, "Grinzley" in the original script.
- In the Nintendo Wii video game, Grimsley is replaced by a generic member of the Sombertown guard.