Santa Claus (1959)
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41% of users liked it
(2,262 ratings)
Yet another oddball Mexican fantasy brought to American audiences by cut-rate exploitation titan K. Gordon Murray, this seasonal tale concerns Santa Claus (Jose Elias Moreno), who we discover doesn't work out of the North Pole after all. Instead, Santa and his friend and associate Merlin the… More Yet another oddball Mexican fantasy brought to American audiences by cut-rate exploitation titan K. Gordon Murray, this seasonal tale concerns Santa Claus (Jose Elias Moreno), who we discover doesn't work out of the North Pole after all. Instead, Santa and his friend and associate Merlin the Magician have a base of operations in a castle orbiting the Earth on a small satellite, upon which they observe the activities of children both good and bad through an elaborate surveillance system. While kids all over the globe (most of whom apparently wear stereotypical native costumes at all times) are trying to be good, the Devil wants to increase youthful misbehavior. With this in mind, he sends his emissary Pitch (Cesareo Quezadas, aka Pulgarcito), a demon with a digestive problem, to Earth and Pitch starts his reign of terror by attempting to goad a little girl from a poor family into stealing the doll that she wants. Eventually, Santa and Merlin catch up with Pitch for a final battle of Good vs. Evil. Santa Claus also offers new insight into St. Nick's weight, eating habits, and mode of transportation; the film played the kiddie matinee circuit for years, and later was analyzed by Mike Nelson and his robot pals on Mystery Science Theater 3000. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- René Cardona
- Genres
- Kids & Family, Art House & International, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 26, 1959 Wide
Critic Reviews
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The fact that VCI have reproduced it in a widescreen, high-definition Blu-ray transfer only makes it seem all the more bizarre. (Blu-ray edition)
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I couldn't help feeling as I watched it that it must have a strong cult following somewhere simply because it's so...strange.
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Phil Hall, Film Threat
Ho Ho Horrible!
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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Jose Elias Moreno
as Santa Claus
- Jose Luis Aguirre
- Armando Arriola
- Antonio Diaz Conde
- Angel di Steffano
- Queta Lavat
- Polo Ortin
- Cesareo Quezada
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Ken Smith
as Narrator
- Nora Veryán
- Pablo Ferrel
- K. Gordon Murray
- Graciela Lara
- Juan Antonio Edwards
- Guillermo Bravo Sosa
- Conde Hijo
- Lupita Quezadas
- Manuel Calvo
- José Carlos Méndez
- Jesus Brook
- Ruben Ramirez
- Rosa Maria Aguilar
