Santa Claus (1959)

Director:

René Cardona

Writers:

Adolfo Torres Portillo (story) and
René Cardona (story) ...

Release Date:

October 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

An Enchanting World of Make-Believe!

Plot:

With the aid of Merlin, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil Pitch to ruin Xmas.

Plot Keywords:

Santa Claus | Devil | Mexico | Children | Christmas

Awards:

1 win

Cast

José Elías Moreno	...	Santa Claus
Cesáreo Quezadas 'Pulgarcito'	...	Pedro
José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky'	...	El Diablo (as José Luis Aguirre 'Trosky')
Armando Arriola	...	El mago Merlín (as Armando Arriola 'Arriolita')
Lupita Quezadas	...	La niña pobre (as Lupita)
Antonio Díaz Conde hijo	...	El Niño Rico (Billy)
Nora Veryán	...	Madre de Lupita
Polo Ortín		(as Leopoldo Ortín Jr.)
Manuel Calvo		(as Manolo Calvo)
José Carlos Méndez	...	Niño (as niño J. Carlos Méndez)
Jesús Brook	...	Niño (as niño Jesús Brook)
Queta Lavat		(as Enriqueta Lavat)
Ángel Di Stefani	...	Vulcano - The Blacksmith (as Ángel D'Stefani)
Guillermo Bravo Sosa		(as Gmo. Bravo Sosa)
Graciela Lara

Runtime:

USA:94 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity)

Filming Locations:

Estudios Churubusco Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Cinematográfica Calderón S.A.

Trivia:

This film did not receive a general release in the United States. The U.S. distributor, K. Gordon Murray, booked the film as a special children's matinée attraction in which the film would only be shown once or twice.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Pitch goes down the chimney, the chimney that Pitch goes down moves.

Quotes:

Pedro: Don't forget that you've got to return to the castle ahead of the sunrise because the sun will turn the reindeer into dust.
Santa Claus: Ho ho ho, no siree, no! I'll be here all right. In that case, I couldn't get back to the castle, and on what they use for food I'd perish! Because here our main food is pastries and ice cream made of soft clouds, and on the earth there's no such thing.
Pedro: What food do they eat on Earth, Santa Claus?
Santa Claus: Oh, everything in sight! They eat most of the animals, the plants, the flowers, the roots, birds, even smoke and alcohol!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 10 (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Fascinación

The Worst Film Ever?

This film is awful. Give me the dentist anytime! Can you believe that one of the main TV stations here in Arabia had this as their Christmas film! I can only assume they expected to entertain the crowds with Dudley Moore rather than this. The last time I looked at my hot water bottle it had more acting, better plot, more drama and a lot more interest than this waste of celluloid. Don't even watch it if you're drunk!