Product Details

• Actors: Pia Zadora-John Call-Leonard Hicks-
• Directors: Nicholas Webster
• Format: Color
• Region: All Regions
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: East West Entertainment
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B002OI10A0

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars TV news anchor [reads report after Santa's disappearance]: And Mrs. Claus has positively identified the kidnappers as Martians.", December 8, 2010

By 

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: SANTA CLAUS "Defeats The Aliens" (DVD)

EASTWEST slimcased DVDs have no subtitles or extras beyond plot synopsis on the case's back cover. As with all such bargain brands, dubs are "best available source" with quality that varies from only fair to very good.


This special season is an ideal time to contemplate what may be the biggest holiday bomb in cinematic history, SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964), retitled here "Defeat the Aliens."

It's a kiddie adventure story that's remembered (if at all) as the screen debut of Pia Zadora. Shot on a ten-cent budget in abandoned aircraft hanger on Long Island, Santa and the Martians is a perennial favorite on almost every Worst Movie list.

Is it as bad as its hype? Absolutely! Would I suggest you check it out to see for yourself if this one's as awful as they say? Hey, why not? It's good for a few laughs, some unintended of course.

The film's memorably terrible chorus number, "Hooray For Santy Claus" was written by accordionist Milton DeLugg. His polka "Hoop Dee Doo" was popular on TV game shows. DeLugg is most famous for producing Buddy Holly's "Rave On" and most infamous for the song in this movie. He wrote the original theme to THE NEWLYWED GAME and was musical director of Chuck Barris' legendary Gong Show (whenever a contestant won on this program, DeLugg's "Hoop Dee Doo" was played).

But back to the film in question. Here's my favorite bit of dialogue from SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS:

Hargo: What's soft and round and you put it on a stick and you toast it in a fire, and it's green?
Kimar: I don't know what?
Hargo: A Martian mellow.