A postman, S.D. Kluger, decides to answer some of the most common questions about Santa Claus, and tells us about a baby named Kris who is raised by a family of elf toymakers named Kringle. When Kris grows up, he wants to deliver toys to the children of Sombertown. But its Mayor is too mean to let that happen. And to make things worse, the Winter Warlock lives between the Kringles and Sombertown.
Similar titles
You May Also Like
Reviews
I love this movie so much
Sick Product of a Sick System
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.
A mailman (Fred Astaire) reveals the origin of Santa Claus (Mickey Rooney).I really like this story, especially the idea of an evil Burgermeister (which seems to put this story somewhere in Germany). Rather than just have Santa be this elf who does good things, he has something of a foe that spurs him along to bigger and better things.I do wonder how much of this has become accepted mythology, and how much has not. It seems like Rankin Bass really wanted to tie up the loose ends of all the Santa Claus traits, and they did a fine job. But does it jibe with other films and stories? And do the kids notice?
Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass are known for their classic Christmas special musicals so it didn't surprise me when I discovered that they made a film on the origins of Santa as well. Neither did I find it any less entertaining. Even if the story is fiction, the possibilities to why Santa Claus climbs down chimneys and puts toys in stockings is rather interesting to know about.The teleplay, written by Romeo Muller, includes a lot of nice trivia that the usual Christmas celebrator won't know of about, for example why we say Santa does all these different actions on Christmas Eve. Narrating this story is actor Fred Astaire who tells us how Santa came to be. Voicing Santa Claus is Mickey Rooney who if you didn't know who he was, you'd almost never guess he was the funny looking security guard from Night at the Museum (2006).Maybe one of the goofiest characters in this film is the villain named Burgermeister Meisterburger. A grumpy town mayor with the ego the size of the Mt. Everest. And let's not forget The Winter Warlock, the evil wizard who lives high up in the hills. All these characters, no matter what role they play are fun to watch and listen too. The animation recalls that of Rankin and Bass' other Christmas special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964). The songs are still catchy even though Johnny Marks did not write them. Altogether, it's a good eye-opener to the background of Santa Claus.Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town has catchy music and good cast of voice actors. Plus, its informative background on Santa Claus is a cool history lesson.
Just saw it earlier this evening on ABC television. And really, it is one of those gentle pleasures in life that is just as wonderful as I (a small child in the 1970s) remembered it. Nothing put in that should have been left out, nothing left out that should have been put in. Simply pure joy from start to finish. The likeness of Mr. Astaire is a delightful bonus.I took a moment to read some of the other reviews posted in years past, and was intrigued by the reviewer who noted the subtle parallels between the Burgermeister's attempt to ban toys with the Hitlerite attempt to ban Jewish-influence from the life of Germany in the 1930s. That is a perceptive point, one that had eluded me even as an adult. Thankfully, this "lesson" is woven into the overall story so skillfully that it will not take away from a child's enjoyment.
Mirok's comments concerning "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" were incredibly insightful. I was surprised no mention was made of the toy burnings, since they would reflect the book burnings in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.Beyond that, this is ABC's best Christmas special, and is one that is edgier than the 1964 Rudolph special. Made during the height of the Vietnam turmoil, this show also has a LOT of heart, and is a deeply affecting production. It offers a lot of lessons concerning good will and compassion, something so sorely lacking in 21st Century American society.And the producers did all of us a favour by bringing on Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Paul Frees and Keenan Wynn for this production! The music is world class, and even Jessica's solo number is fantastic! Hers is a case of a 1970 trippy song that has become a classic! Gotta love it!!
Top Streaming Movies
