Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) (TV)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Directors:

Jules Bass
Arthur Rankin Jr.

Writer:

Romeo Muller (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Plot:

A mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus.

Plot Keywords:

Santa Claus | Wedding | Foundling | Bad Turned Good | Christmas

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Narrator (voice)
Mickey Rooney	...	Kris (voice)
Keenan Wynn	...	Winter (voice)
Paul Frees	...	Burgermeister Meisterburger / Grimsby / Soldiers / Townsmen (voice)
Joan Gardner	...	Tanta Kringle (voice)
Robie Lester	...	Jessica (voice)
Andrea Sacino	...	Child (voice)
Dina Lynn	...	Child (voice)
Gary White	...	Child (voice)
Greg Thomas	...	Child (voice)

Runtime:

48 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) (video rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1995)

Company:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): One of the kids watching the Burgermister burn their toys are smiling, even though they are all meant to be crying; when the kid's toys were confiscated for the first time, that same kid which said, "We'll never play again" is still smiling.

Quotes:

[first lines]
News Reporter: Today, children everywhere are making preparations for an event of world shaking significance: the annual visit of Santa Claus. Informed sources report that legions of junior citizens are making monumental efforts not to cry and not to pout. Meanwhile, letters by the thousands have been flooding postal facilities at the North Pole.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Home Improvement: The Wood, the Bad and the Hungry (#6.10)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

What Better Way to Tell You

They just don't make them like they used to

The 1977 TV movie "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" is by far the best Rankin/Bass movie and one of the best Christmas movies altogether. This family classic is about the early life of "Kris Kringle" and his road to becoming the man everyone knows as Santa Clause. Its humorous comprehensible plot and excellent character building make this movie a keeper. The catchy songs easily get stuck in your head and the brilliant animation style is fun to watch. All of the new Christmas movies so far have failed to impress me. The (Jim Carrey) Grinch was in my opinion a cheesy shallow take on what Christmas is all about and the Polar Express was too caught up in the special effects. However, Santa Clause is coming to Town takes you back to the true meaning of Christmas. So next time you're wondering how reindeer fly or why Santa goes down chimneys, watch Santa Clause is Coming to Town.\ Christmas Movie Score (8.5/10) Overall Movie Score (8/10) Recommended