Santa Claus

I watched a movie called Santa Claus, a Mexican produced movie, directed René Cardona, released in 1959. An American version was produced by/ directed by Ken Smith and released in 1960. José Elías Moreno plays Santa Claus, José Luis Aguirre as Pitch, Lupita Quezadas plays Lupita and Ken Smith as the Narrator for the American version. I saw the American version, more specifically a special screening of RiffTrax version that was in theaters recently. The story is about Santa Claus, who has a castle in what appears to be space and does battle with a demon named Pitch who wants to ruin Christmas for everyone. That’s the most basic plot I Can say because this is a strange little movie to be sure. It has been famously used as a movie for the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 and for good reason. It is poorly dubbed and some of the scenes with the children and the sleigh with reindeer moves into uncanny valley territory. The story itself is actually moral in some ways because the overall message is doing good results in good. The devil sends Pitch up to Earth to get the children to do bad and ultimately destroy Santa Claus, the embodiment of good.  Lupita plays a little poor girl that is tempted by Pitch at every turn but resists him at every turn. Pitch tries every which way to get people to ruin Christmas that Santa has to counter. Pitch also enlists the help of three little boys who are bad to do his bidding but Santa Claus knows because he watches through a machine, which also goes into uncanny valley territory because of how it’s made.
I said it is a weird little movie but it is still really good in a lot of ways. It is a classic of Christmas that represents a more innocent time. The moral isn’t banged over your head like in many other more saccharine of Christmas movies. And it is silly enough that it keeps you watching.
The only version I know of that is available is the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version that I spoke of above and I know that one is cut down to fit the format of the show. It doesn’t take away from anything as far I am concerned because the movie has such a simple premise and not all that much action that is cut out. The only things that are cut out are Lupita having a dream about dancing dolls that are pretty frightening looking and the look on Lupita’s face is priceless. Again, not having this in the movie doesn’t take away from the movie because it a nightmare brought on by Pitch, by blowing on her. Yeah.
If you find it, give it a try, as it is definitely something different to watch for the Christmas holiday. Or any time, really. 

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

I watched a movie called Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, directed by Nicholas Webster, released in 1964. It stars John Call, John Call, Leonard Hicks, Vincent Beck, Bill McCutcheon, Victor Stiles, Donna Conforti, Chris Month, Pia Zadora, Leila Martin, Charles Renn. You read that right, this is Pia Zadora’s first onscreen appearance in a movie, and she plays the Martian girl Girmar. The story is about two Martian children who watch Earth television and learn about Santa Claus, much to the chagrin of Kimar (their Dad). This day they are watching an interview with Santa Claus, played by John Call, in his workshop. The adults consult a Martian sage who tells them that society is too rigid for the children and the children have no freedom of thought. This angers Kimar and he hatches a plan to kidnap Santa Claus and bring him to Mars. Meanwhile, on Earth, two children, a boy and a girl, are also kidnapped so the Martians can tell the real Santa from all the fake ones. Will Santa get off Mars?
That is the gist of this little gem from the 1960’s. It has been famously used on Mystery Science Theater 3000 during the Joel years (broadcast December 21, 1991, Comedy Central) and been lampooned ever since, most recently on Elvira’s Movie Macabre. I found a version that is public domain and watched it for a bit and had to find the Mystery Science one because I just needed something to get me through it.  
I must say that this is a jumble of a movie and pretty deep for being a kids movie. The idea of kids being total conformists to a system versus having freedom to have fun is pretty heady stuff. It is surreal in many ways but somewhat grounded in reality, during the infant years of the space program. I had to laugh at the rocket scientist Werner Von Green (a take on Werner Von Braun who developed rocket tech for Germany and later the United States). The filmmakers also use a lot of stock footage which is kind of neat to see in this kind of movie. The kids are pretty good actors though they don’t have much to work with. The adult actors are what you’d expect, hammy. John Call as Santa though is kind of an anomaly because he played him so strange. For example, in the interview in the very beginning of the movie Santa can’t remember the names of his own reindeer, going so far as to call one Nixon. That to me is pathetic. I’m not sure if that was an attempt at humour or just plain weirdness. Humour plays an important part in the plot but its humour that isnt very funny. I really tried to like this movie but it has too many flaws and not in the cute way that some of these movies have. There is a reason why it keeps getting lampooned by everyone because it is terrible. Though, to be fair, that is its charm. It is practically only watchable with the lampooning. That’s part of the staying power this movie has. Much like Plan 9 From Outer Space, directed by Edward D. Wood Jr., released in 1959 or even the Santa Claus (Mexican production, released in 1960 in the U.S.
I can suggest you watch it but watch one of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version, I wouldn’t subject you to watching the regular version.