"Martian children are addicted to Earth's television shows featuring Santa Claus. This enrages their parents, who travel to Earth to kidnap Santa himself. On arrival, they kidnap two zealous children who lead them to 'Santa's Workshop' at the North Pole. They return to Mars with Santa and the children in tow, but are thwarted when he converts the Martian children with unstoppable Yuletide joy," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.
"Santa Claus, you're coming with us!" was the line that got me. See if you can watch it straight through, with a friend, and not crack a smile. This amazingly silly film was obviously intended for young kids to see during Saturday afternoons in December, first in the cinema, and later on TV (just like the Martian children glued to their set). Or, maybe the whole project was a plot designed by parents to make their children go outside to play.
Mean and mustached Vincent Beck (as Voldar) does well as the bad Martian; later, he guest-starred as the villainous "Megazor" on "Lost in Space", a show which (more often than not) accomplished much with small resources. Reputedly, Gene Lindsey is the man in the polar bear suit, but he can't bee seen; later, he guest-starred as "Randall Drew" (Roxanne's brother) on "Dark Shadows", a show sparking the imagination on a limited budget.
With a small budget, your really need a big imagination. "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" has a few good lines, a phallic set statue (as the Martian kids watch TV), and a nice view of the sky as seen from Mars (see Saturn?) - but, there isn't enough creativity aboard. John Call (as Santa Claus) and Bill McCutcheon (as Dropo) try their best with the script, and 1980s celebrity Pia Zadora (as Girmar) debuts. Milton Delugg's music is nicely done.
**** Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (11/14/64) Nicholas Webster ~ John Call, Vincent Beck, Bill McCutcheon, Pia Zadora
"Santa Claus, you're coming with us!" was the line that got me. See if you can watch it straight through, with a friend, and not crack a smile. This amazingly silly film was obviously intended for young kids to see during Saturday afternoons in December, first in the cinema, and later on TV (just like the Martian children glued to their set). Or, maybe the whole project was a plot designed by parents to make their children go outside to play.
Mean and mustached Vincent Beck (as Voldar) does well as the bad Martian; later, he guest-starred as the villainous "Megazor" on "Lost in Space", a show which (more often than not) accomplished much with small resources. Reputedly, Gene Lindsey is the man in the polar bear suit, but he can't bee seen; later, he guest-starred as "Randall Drew" (Roxanne's brother) on "Dark Shadows", a show sparking the imagination on a limited budget.
With a small budget, your really need a big imagination. "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" has a few good lines, a phallic set statue (as the Martian kids watch TV), and a nice view of the sky as seen from Mars (see Saturn?) - but, there isn't enough creativity aboard. John Call (as Santa Claus) and Bill McCutcheon (as Dropo) try their best with the script, and 1980s celebrity Pia Zadora (as Girmar) debuts. Milton Delugg's music is nicely done.
**** Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (11/14/64) Nicholas Webster ~ John Call, Vincent Beck, Bill McCutcheon, Pia Zadora