Product Details

• Actors: Dudley Moore, John Lithgow, David Huddleston, Burgess Meredith, Judy Cornwell
• Directors: Jeannot Szwarc
• Writers: David Newman, Leslie Newman
• Producers: Ilya Salkind, Pierre Spengler, Robert Simmonds
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• VHS Release Date: July 10, 2001
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (147 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304983778
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,449 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The producers of the Superman movies took a shot at revitalizing the myth of Santa Claus with this 1985 feature. Unfortunately, the results were much less compelling than the flagship Superman feature, despite a script by one of the latter's key writers (David Newman) and a story structure that is essentially a carbon copy of the Man of Steel's movie. The first half of Santa Claus: The Movie is a ponderous origins tale, in which we learn that Santa was actually a woodcutter saved from certain death by elves and taken to the North Pole to begin life as the chimney-dropping hero of children everywhere. The second half involves a world-class villain (John Lithgow) who recruits an outcast elf (Dudley Moore) in a scheme to sabotage old St. Nick. While it aims to become a Christmas classic in the hearts and minds of generations to come, the film never really engages an audience, partially because Santa himself is merely a supporting player in the drama. Jeannot Szwarc (Supergirl, Jaws II) directs with a disabling lack of vision, and the special effects are terrible for such an expensive production. Sorry, but it's coals in the stocking for this flick. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful DVD version is widescreen, December 10, 2000

By 

Jim Jr (Buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Santa Claus the Movie (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

Anyone buying a copy of this film should really get the wide screen DVD version. The flying sequences are so much better in widescreen as are the scenes in the North Pole toy factory. The "full frame" pan and scan version just can't hold a candle to the widescreen (I have both so have carefully compared them.)

There is an excellent director's comment track with questions being asked by the Special Projects Consultant for Anchor Bay (the company distributing the DVD) and answered and expanded upon by the director, Jeannot Szwarc. It is worth the price of the package alone. However there is also a great "making of" feature that was produced as a TV documentary at the time of the theatrical release of the film.

This is a really great Christmas film for the whole family. The first hour telling the story of how a simple wood cutter and toy maker become Santa Claus is completely charming. David Huddleston is a wonderful Claus. Dudly Moore is excellent as the elf, Patch, who is into everything and constantly inventing new gadgets. He shows his tender side as he grooms and takes care of the reindeer. It is really tragic that Mr. Moore now has the disease that make it impossible for him to perform any longer. That makes this film that much more of a treasure as it shows him at the top of his form as an actor. (Too bad the producers couldn't have used his musical talents in some way.)

John Lithgow is a delightfully hammy villain in the second portion of the film showing the early stages of the character he later does in "Third Rock From The Sun". The two children are also great, very real and not the cloying poor child actors that could easily have been used.

Trim the tree, light a fire in the fireplace, pour an egg nog and enjoy the very special Holiday treat!.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Santa Ever!, July 12, 2004

By 

Brandy Leigh Pyle (Saint Marys, Ga United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Santa Claus the Movie (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

The man who plays Santa in this movie is the cutest, sweetest, most magical Santa Claus ever captured on film. I swear to this day...this man IS the real Santa. They could not have done a better job in casting this film. I get goosebumps every time they show Santa take off in the sleigh for the first time. Outstanding movie!!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Christmas Movie, November 24, 2000

By 

"mkide" (Folsom, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Santa Claus the Movie (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

This is one of my favorite Christmas movies. It brings the legend of Santa Claus to life in a grandiose way (i.e. great Hollywood special effects and wonderful musical score!) This movie was produced by the Salkinds (which probably explains why some of the flying sequences are similar to the Superman movies.) I just recently found it is available now on DVD. The DVD gives you four movie trailers and a very interesting hour-long behind the scenes making of "Santa Claus: The Movie." It also has director's commentary, if you like that. Buy the widescreen version. Ever since owning a DVD player, I have enjoyed watching movies presented widescreen. I hate to see them "fit to screen," because it cuts so much out of the picture. The score is by Henry Mancini and is just magical, especially "Sleigh Ride Over Manhattan"! This is a wonderful Christmas movie that you and your family will enjoy for years to come!!