Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
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25% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
27% of users liked it
(5,873 ratings)
Alien invaders kidnap everyone's favorite right jolly old elf in this low-budget mixture of children's comedy and sci-fi adventure. Christmas is not far away, and countless children are glued to their family's TV sets, watching reports about Santa Claus (John Call). However, this is… More Alien invaders kidnap everyone's favorite right jolly old elf in this low-budget mixture of children's comedy and sci-fi adventure. Christmas is not far away, and countless children are glued to their family's TV sets, watching reports about Santa Claus (John Call). However, this is happening on Mars, and leaders of the Red Planet aren't sure what to do for their kids who are pining away for a visit from the gift-bearing earthling. Martian leader Kimar (Leonard Hicks) dispatches two of his emissaries, the chronically grumpy Voldar (Vincent Beck) and the moronically cheerful Dropo (Bill McCutcheon), to Earth to bring Santa back for a visit. After arriving on Earth, Voldar and Dropo abduct two children, Betty (Donna Conforti) and Billy (Victor Stiles), and order the kids to show them the way to Santa's workshop, from which all three are taken to Mars against their will. As Santa, Betty, and Billy try to find a way back to Earth, Voldar becomes enraged with the Earth kids, while the children bond more comfortably with the intellectually-challenged Dropo. Shot on a shoestring budget on Long Island, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has developed a rabid cult following over the years, and yes, it's true, Kimar's daughter Girmar really is played by a ten-year-old Pia Zadora. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Nicholas Webster
- Written By
- Paul L. Jacobson, Glenville Mareth
- Genres
- Kids & Family, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1964 Limited
- Studio
- Independent Pictures
Critic Reviews
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, Time Out
[A] hilariously bad stab at sci-fi.
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Howard Thompson, New York Times
Adults may find it obvious and as square-cut as cheese. But let's face it. From now till you-know-when, the youngsters are all that matter.
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Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
4 stars for bad-movie buffs, 1 star for the rest of humanity.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This is, without exaggeration, one of the single worst films ever made, which hasn't prevented it from becoming a cult classic.
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Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
A terrible product of people who wanted to appeal to kids but likely never met one in their lives...
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Vincent Beck
as Voldar
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James Cahill
as Rigna
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John Call
as Santa Claus
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Donna Conforti
as Betty
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Josip Elic
as Shim/Torg
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Jamie Farr
as Stobo
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Leonard Hicks
as Kimar
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Lelia Martin
as Momar
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Bill McCutcheon
as Dropo
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Christopher Month
as Bomar
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Al Nesor
as Stobo
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Charles G. Renn
as Hargo
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Doris Rich
as Mrs. Claus
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Victor Stiles
as Billy
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Ned Wertimer
as TV News Announcer
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Pia Zadora
as Girmar
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Carl Don
as Von Green/Chochem
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Gene Lindsey
as Polar Bear
- Chris Month
- Nicholas Webster