Here in England this film is a Christmas classic, I can't explain it's success over here exactly but I know it brings me good memories of my childhood.
The team that worked on the Christopher Reeve Superman films from the 1970’s & 80’s worked on this film (Salkinds as producers, directed by Jeannot Szwarc, who also directed Supergirl and Somewhere in Time), and flying effects by Zorian Perisic (Zoptic system). The structure of ‘Santa Claus: The Movie’ also mirrors 1978’s ‘Superman: The Movie’ with an extended origin story (with star cameos) showcasing set pieces, humorous villains not introduced until halfway through, etc.
Watching you geek out over costuming makes me squeal with glee. I don’t actually care about fashion or costuming, but watching someone have so much passion as to geek out brings me vicarious joy.
I love this movie. Growing up on it as a kid made me not understand why other kids would ask how Santa got up the chimney. John Lithgow being horrified, turning red, and saying, "For free" should be a more famous meme than it is.
Your enthusiasm for the costuming and for using the fashion to pinpoint the time period is something for which you should never apologise. This is the stuff that keeps me coming back to your channel! It reminds me of watching your reaction to 'Return to Oz' (the first of your videos I ever watched) and how you described Nurse Wilson's clothing as far more currently fashionable to the year while Aunty Em and Dorothy were wearing older, more outdated clothing to reflect their less-than well-to-do status. Your commentary brought something totally new to my enjoyment of that film.
First saw this in theaters when I was 5. Now that I am older, I'm pretty sure they died at the beginning and went to heaven. The Elves are the angels and his spirit delivers the gifts.
"FOR FREE?!" Fun Fact: All the toys made and bought for the Santa's workshop scenes were donated to children's charities for Christmas after shooting was complete. Real Animals Fact: Real deer were trained to pull the sleigh. The crew required months to complete the training which also allowed the deer to grow their antlers for the final filming. For shots where it was not possible to use the deer, sophisticated animatronic deer were used. Music Enthusiast Fact: The theme song for the film "It's Christmas (All Over The World)" was written with Freddie Mercury in mind. Mercury recorded a demo for the song at Pinewood Studios, but ultimately turned it down as he was already committed to the Highlander (1986) soundtrack. In the end, Sheena Easton was chosen to sing the theme.
I have a feeling (based on nothing very solid) that the first sequence was scripted as set in the 16th century but there was either a mistake in the titling or someone decided to change it and figured that it wouldn't matter. If they were rushing then an i could just be dropped into the wrong place. It's a big jump from 14th to 18th century, so may not have been the original intent and I think a professional costumer would pay attention to the period details, while a producer/director could just decide in post production that they wanted the tradition to seem more long-lived. I dunno.
I grew up on this movie too, but think about this: it’s called Santa Claus: The Movie. Yet, at some point after they first launch of the sleigh, the story becomes more about Patch. I do realize that Dudley Moore was the big movie star of the 80’s, I just always thought it was interesting to point that out.
I'm doing a Google rabbit hole, and...there was merch for this. No wooden toys, but there was a Christmas tree ornament, a pop-up book, a McDonald's coloring book, and a novel adaptation of the film. All of which had the "elf made" mark on them. I had the novel. I spoiled myself up to the elves arriving with the candles.
You crack me up worrying about which century the costumes are, some of the 20-somethings on TH-cam can't tell the difference between the 1940s and 70s. In the costumers defense: They were tasked with costuming a heartwarming Christmas movie for kids, not a historical fiction about a 14th century Saint. They needed the costumes to be recognizable to American kids as "Santa & Mrs. Claus" and most of our image of Santa is from the Victorians and Coca-Cola ads, if they made them historically accurate kids would be like "who is that?". So if you think of it as them designing costumes for a 19th century myth as it would have been imagined at the time, not the historical figure that those Victorians created the myths about, it's not nearly as offensive. The idea of the reindeer didn't even appear until the 1820s. If this was Shakespeare it would be like the choice to costume as they would have for the original production, rather than accurate to Julius Caesar, Othello... (which is not to say this movie is in any way Shakespeare, hahahahaha)
Aw. I really like the epic look at Santa Claus. I was one to want an official story and look and version for Santa Claus and other mythical figures. I get annoyed by anachronisms in movies set in the 1980s all the time. That is all I remember about the first season of "Stranger Things," the only season I have watched. I never noticed how many times the word "elf" can be used in puns. I did once imagine that "Elf Defense" could be the title of something about elves having to, yes, defend the North Pole.
Dudley Moore ODing it on elf words - I say SMURF THAT...ok so he is not the only one who does that. "Santa Claus: The Movie" - sponsored by McDonalds and Coca Cola
OMG finally someone reacts this beautiful classic I saw this film so many times when I was a kid Santa Claus: The Movie starring by David Huddleston, Dudley Moore, John Lithgow and Burgess Meredith. Thank you so much Alexa great reaction excellent😊😊😊
You need to see the Christopher Reeve Supermans if you haven't. At least the first 2. Richard Donner directed the first Superman, and this, and you can see little structural similarities.
This is a film I so badly want to love because the first half of the film is just incredible, but I can't stand the second half with John Lithgow and all of the city stuff. So a mixed review from me, but I can't recommend it as a whole.
The main reason I don't watch this film every year besides the wrong costume dates is the tone is all over the place and it's very off in timing it has these lulls that don't help the flow. It's like they took two different screenplays and mashed them together.
Here in England this film is a Christmas classic, I can't explain it's success over here exactly but I know it brings me good memories of my childhood.
The team that worked on the Christopher Reeve Superman films from the 1970’s & 80’s worked on this film (Salkinds as producers, directed by Jeannot Szwarc, who also directed Supergirl and Somewhere in Time), and flying effects by Zorian Perisic (Zoptic system).
The structure of ‘Santa Claus: The Movie’ also mirrors 1978’s ‘Superman: The Movie’ with an extended origin story (with star cameos) showcasing set pieces, humorous villains not introduced until halfway through, etc.
Alexander and Ilya Salkind that's right👍👍👍
I came here to say this, it's very much structured like superman the movie. It's set up in two very separate acts with very different tones.
Watching you geek out over costuming makes me squeal with glee. I don’t actually care about fashion or costuming, but watching someone have so much passion as to geek out brings me vicarious joy.
Dan Ackroyd did a SNL skit where he makes toys just as unsafe as the toys John makes in this movie. It was very funny.
I love this movie. Growing up on it as a kid made me not understand why other kids would ask how Santa got up the chimney. John Lithgow being horrified, turning red, and saying, "For free" should be a more famous meme than it is.
Your enthusiasm for the costuming and for using the fashion to pinpoint the time period is something for which you should never apologise.
This is the stuff that keeps me coming back to your channel!
It reminds me of watching your reaction to 'Return to Oz' (the first of your videos I ever watched) and how you described Nurse Wilson's clothing as far more currently fashionable to the year while Aunty Em and Dorothy were wearing older, more outdated clothing to reflect their less-than well-to-do status.
Your commentary brought something totally new to my enjoyment of that film.
I love that you are so passionate about the costumes and if they are period accurate.
In my elementary school they would show us this movie the last day before Christmas vacation. It is extremely underrated.
First saw this in theaters when I was 5.
Now that I am older, I'm pretty sure they died at the beginning and went to heaven. The Elves are the angels and his spirit delivers the gifts.
Lovely, that makes sense!
This is one of my children favs. I loved the way you took a deep dive in to the costumes at the start and the time periods.
"FOR FREE?!"
Fun Fact: All the toys made and bought for the Santa's workshop scenes were donated to children's charities for Christmas after shooting was complete.
Real Animals Fact: Real deer were trained to pull the sleigh. The crew required months to complete the training which also allowed the deer to grow their antlers for the final filming. For shots where it was not possible to use the deer, sophisticated animatronic deer were used.
Music Enthusiast Fact: The theme song for the film "It's Christmas (All Over The World)" was written with Freddie Mercury in mind. Mercury recorded a demo for the song at Pinewood Studios, but ultimately turned it down as he was already committed to the Highlander (1986) soundtrack. In the end, Sheena Easton was chosen to sing the theme.
Sounds like someone has the dvd and watched the special features.
I have a feeling (based on nothing very solid) that the first sequence was scripted as set in the 16th century but there was either a mistake in the titling or someone decided to change it and figured that it wouldn't matter. If they were rushing then an i could just be dropped into the wrong place. It's a big jump from 14th to 18th century, so may not have been the original intent and I think a professional costumer would pay attention to the period details, while a producer/director could just decide in post production that they wanted the tradition to seem more long-lived. I dunno.
This is a brilliant theory - it would explain a lot!
I grew up on this movie too, but think about this: it’s called Santa Claus: The Movie. Yet, at some point after they first launch of the sleigh, the story becomes more about Patch. I do realize that Dudley Moore was the big movie star of the 80’s, I just always thought it was interesting to point that out.
My fave Christmas movie, i do wish however they extended the start for longer in the middle ages
There's also a novelization of this movie. The beginning is set in the Middle Ages.
I'm doing a Google rabbit hole, and...there was merch for this. No wooden toys, but there was a Christmas tree ornament, a pop-up book, a McDonald's coloring book, and a novel adaptation of the film. All of which had the "elf made" mark on them. I had the novel. I spoiled myself up to the elves arriving with the candles.
You crack me up worrying about which century the costumes are, some of the 20-somethings on TH-cam can't tell the difference between the 1940s and 70s. In the costumers defense: They were tasked with costuming a heartwarming Christmas movie for kids, not a historical fiction about a 14th century Saint. They needed the costumes to be recognizable to American kids as "Santa & Mrs. Claus" and most of our image of Santa is from the Victorians and Coca-Cola ads, if they made them historically accurate kids would be like "who is that?". So if you think of it as them designing costumes for a 19th century myth as it would have been imagined at the time, not the historical figure that those Victorians created the myths about, it's not nearly as offensive. The idea of the reindeer didn't even appear until the 1820s. If this was Shakespeare it would be like the choice to costume as they would have for the original production, rather than accurate to Julius Caesar, Othello... (which is not to say this movie is in any way Shakespeare, hahahahaha)
I think considering them to be 19th century would be even worse :) they are painfully wrong for any of that time period!
@@alexachipman ok, you win. ;) I've worked on a bunch of low budget movies, so I think I just empathize with the production crew too much, hahaha
Aw. I really like the epic look at Santa Claus. I was one to want an official story and look and version for Santa Claus and other mythical figures.
I get annoyed by anachronisms in movies set in the 1980s all the time. That is all I remember about the first season of "Stranger Things," the only season I have watched.
I never noticed how many times the word "elf" can be used in puns. I did once imagine that "Elf Defense" could be the title of something about elves having to, yes, defend the North Pole.
Love it, "Elf Defense" !
It’s never occurred to me when I saw this, but wouldn’t the kids become immortal also and that’s they would be stuck at the same age?
I love this movie. John Lithgow is great as the villain.
Dudley Moore ODing it on elf words - I say SMURF THAT...ok so he is not the only one who does that. "Santa Claus: The Movie" - sponsored by McDonalds and Coca Cola
OMG finally someone reacts this beautiful classic I saw this film so many times when I was a kid Santa Claus: The Movie starring by David Huddleston, Dudley Moore, John Lithgow and Burgess Meredith. Thank you so much Alexa great reaction excellent😊😊😊
You need to see the Christopher Reeve Supermans if you haven't. At least the first 2. Richard Donner directed the first Superman, and this, and you can see little structural similarities.
I have seen it several times :)
Pardon me, but it wasn't at all elf evident. 😉
Great movie and I don't even like Xmas ...a childhood memory
I am going to report that boy for animal abuse to the ASPCA and maybe the RSPCA too. :) Hope you are well.
But we live for your hang ups on bad costuming lol
This is a film I so badly want to love because the first half of the film is just incredible, but I can't stand the second half with John Lithgow and all of the city stuff. So a mixed review from me, but I can't recommend it as a whole.
@@ericjanssen394 I loved John in the series, but there is a time and place for that and in this film it doesn't fit.
Because only people like you would notice such costumes issues 99% of people know nothing about clothing from back then
So true - I was in 1890s clothing this weekend and people thought it was 1920s!
The main reason I don't watch this film every year besides the wrong costume dates is the tone is all over the place and it's very off in timing it has these lulls that don't help the flow. It's like they took two different screenplays and mashed them together.
Happy New Year!!
Happy new year!