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Santa Claus the Movie (Widescreen Edition)
 
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Santa Claus the Movie (Widescreen Edition) (1985)

Starring: Dudley Moore, John Lithgow Director: Jeannot Szwarc Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Format: DVD
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)


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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: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, THX, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
  • DVD Release Date: August 20, 2002
  • Run Time: 107 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6305971145
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,221 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
  • For more information about "Santa Claus the Movie (Widescreen Edition)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

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

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Customer Reviews

105 Reviews
5 star:
 (79)
4 star:
 (16)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (6)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (105 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
28 of 29 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
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!.

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14 of 15 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)   
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!!
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10 of 11 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 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!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my Favorite Christmas Films
I have watched this movie every Christmas since I can remember! I still love seeing Santa's magic workshop, and the Reindeer who is afraid of heights and cover's his eyes with... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Rahel E. Leary

4.0 out of 5 stars an underrated Christmas classic
I first saw "Santa Claus The Movie" on TV when I was a child. I saw it again recently on TV during the Christmas holidays 2008. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Amy E. Barker

5.0 out of 5 stars Replaced a favorite
I appreciated the swift service and the excellent quality of the DVD. This is my favorite Christmas movie and seem to have lost my original. Thanks again.
Published 9 months ago by Martha Hart

5.0 out of 5 stars Michelle
This has been the movie i think about when i think about Christmas ,since i was little:) Its been in the back of my head and ,im soo glad i started shopping on amazon bc i... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Shelly Waters

5.0 out of 5 stars All I Remembered and more !!!!
Having searched for this movie for a number of years in Both New Zealand & Australia I was so pleased when I got told to try Amazon.com. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Faybee

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not XMAS until you have watched this TALE!
My title may seem like over the top drama - and you may just get a little of that in this movie, but I swear, If you haven't seen this film or you've heard its childish or silly,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Sirius Black

5.0 out of 5 stars Has been a family tradition for over 20 years!
My family growing up watched this every Christmas season and it became a tradition, because the story is great, it's funny, and now I have a family and bought this about 5 years... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Holly A. Engstrom

5.0 out of 5 stars Good movie
This movie is a really good Christmas movie to add to your collection. Makes you believe!!
Published 10 months ago by M. B. Feeser

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie!
This is a true classic! Your kids will love it. It will show how Santa became Santa and the true meaning of Christmas. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jennifer L. Robinson

5.0 out of 5 stars The most underrated Christmas movie yet!

It all began a long time ago, a woodcutter/toymaker named Claus (David Huddleson)and his wife Anya (Judy Cornwell) including two Reindeer Donner and Blitzen who were on the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by John Lindsey

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