Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Last updated

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians 1.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Nicholas Webster
Screenplay byPaul L. Jacobson
Story byGlenville Mareth
Produced byPaul L. Jacobson
Starring
CinematographyDavid L. Quaid
Edited byBill Henry
Music by Milton DeLugg
Production
company
Jalor Productions
Distributed by Embassy Pictures
Release date
  • November 14, 1964 (1964-11-14)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$200,000 (estimated)

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is a 1964 American science fiction comedy film. It was directed by Nicholas Webster, produced and written by Paul L. Jacobson, and based on a story by Glenville Mareth. John Call stars as Santa Claus, ten-year-old Pia Zadora as Girmar the Martian girl, and Doris Rich in the first documented motion picture role of Mrs. Claus.

Contents

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians regularly appears on lists of the worst films ever made and in the "bottom 100" list on IMDb. It is featured in series episodes of Canned Film Festival in 1986, Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1991, and Elvira's Movie Macabre .

Plot

The Martians Momar (Mom Martian) and Kimar (King Martian) are worried that their children Girmar (Girl Martian) and Bomar (Boy Martian) are watching too much Earth television, most notably station KID-TV's interview with Santa Claus in his workshop at Earth's North Pole.

The Chochem, an 800-year-old Martian sage, advises them that the children of Mars are growing distracted due to the society's overly rigid structure. From infancy, all their education is fed into their brains through machines and they are not allowed individuality or freedom of thought.

The Chochem notes that he had seen this coming "for centuries" and says that the only way to help the children is to allow them their freedom and be allowed to have fun. To do this, Mars needs a Santa Claus figure, like on Earth. Leaving the Chochem's cave, the Martian leaders decide to abduct Santa Claus from Earth and bring him to Mars.

The Martians cannot distinguish between all the fake Santas, so they kidnap two children to find the real one. Once this is accomplished, one Martian, Voldar, who strongly disagrees with the idea, repeatedly tries to kill Santa Claus along with the two kidnapped Earth children. He believes that Santa is corrupting the children of Mars and turning them away from Mars' original glory.

When they arrive on Mars, Santa and the children build a factory to make toys for the Martian children. However, Voldar and his assistants, Stobo and Shim, sabotage the factory and change its programming so that it makes the toys incorrectly. Meanwhile, Dropo, Kimar's assistant, who has taken a great liking to Santa Claus and Christmas, puts on one of Santa's spare suits and starts acting like Santa Claus. He goes to the toy factory to make toys, but Voldar mistakes him for Santa and kidnaps him.

When Santa and the children come back to the factory to make more toys, they discover that someone has tampered with the machines. Voldar and Stobo come back to the factory to make a deal with Kimar, but when they see the real Santa Claus, they realize that their plan has been foiled. Dropo, held hostage in a cave, tricks his guard Shim and escapes. Kimar then arrests Voldar, Stobo, and Shim. Santa notices that Dropo acts like him and says that Dropo would make a good Martian Santa Claus. Kimar agrees and sends Santa and the children back to Earth.

Cast

Production

The film was the idea of producer Paul Jacobson, who worked in video production and wanted to move into features. He hired writer Glenville Mareth to develop the idea and Nicholas Webster to direct and made the film through his own Jalor Productions. Jacobson called the film a "yuletide science fiction fantasy" and said he made it because of a perceived gap in the market. "Except for the Disneys, there's very little in film houses that children recognize as their own". [1]

Jacobson succeeded in selling the film's distribution rights to Joseph E. Levine. Filming took place over two weeks from July to August 1964, at the Michael Myerberg Studios on Long Island. [2]

Jacobson said "at this particular studio, with a group of wonderfully cooperative technicians, we've been able to get a lot of production value from our low budget. We're also shooting in color to get full, picturesque effects with our toy factors and Martian and North Pole backgrounds". Cast members John Call and Victor Stiles were appearing on stage in Oliver! while Donna Conforti was appearing in Here's Love on Broadway. [1]

In an interview in June 1966, Levine said he had made 15 "family type pictures" in 18 months "but don't let it get around. I don't want anybody to know because families don't go to see them – they just talk about them. But I make them anyway because I have the protection of the television. Money in the bank, the television". [3]

Release

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians

The film was released in time for Christmas 1964. After that, it was regularly re-released around Christmas for matinees.

Home media

Due to its public domain status in the United States, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has been released on many different bargain bin price labels. StudioCanal holds ancillary rights to the film.

Reception

Box office

In February 1965, the New York Times said on its release that the film "reaped a box office bonanza in a regular, multi theatre booking". [7]

Critical

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians received mostly negative reviews, with most of its positive feedback coming in the form of the film being so bad, it's good. On the film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 25% score, based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 3.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The endearingly cheesy Santa Claus Conquers the Martians might just be so naughty it's nice for viewers seeking a sub-competent sci-fi holiday adventure." [8] The film has since been viewed as a cult film.

Legacy

The theme from the film was released on record in November 1964 by "Milton Delugg and the Little Eskimos" on Four Corners Records, a subsidiary of Kapp Records. Its catalog number is FC 4-114. It did not reach the charts. [9] The trumpeter Al Hirt that year released a singles version of the theme with the other side of the record being "White Christmas". [10]

A single-issue comic book adaptation and read-along of the film was published by Dell Comics in March 1966. [11]

The film was featured in season 3 episode 21 of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1991. [12] [13]

A theatrical production of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians: The Musical premiered in 1993 at the Factory Theatre in Chicago, adapted and directed by Sean Abley. [14] [15]

Beginning in February 1998, a remake was rumored with David Zucker as producer, and Jim Carrey attached to play Dropo. An estimated release date was announced as 2002, though the film was then believed to have gone into development hell. [16] As of December 2020, IMDb lists a remake with a projected 2021 release date, directed by Cynthia Webster, the daughter of the original film's director. [17]

This scene features Bomar (Chris Month) and Girmar (Pia Zadora) Martians shot6.jpg
This scene features Bomar (Chris Month) and Girmar (Pia Zadora)

It spawned a tongue-in-cheek novelization by Lou Harry, released in 2005 by Penguin Books/Chamberlain Bros. The book, which includes a DVD of the original film, presents the story from the perspective of a now-adult Girmar, who has not only succeeded her father as the ruler of Mars but also narrates the tale in a valley girl type of language. [18]

In 2006, a second theatrical production premiered at the Maverick Theater in Fullerton, California. This version was adapted by Brian Newell and Nick McGee. The Maverick's production has become a comedic success and a local tradition that has been performed there every holiday season since 2006, with a 10th-anniversary production being performed in December 2015. [19]

In 2016, a third theatrical adaptation premiered at The Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts in Marysville, Washington, this version written and directed by Nick Poling. [20] Like the film, the script for this adaptation is in the public domain. [21]

Sloppy Seconds covered the theme song in 1992. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Mystery Science Theater 3000</i> American science fiction comedy television series

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American science fiction comedy film review television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on KTMA-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. It then moved to nationwide broadcast, first on The Comedy Channel/Comedy Central for seven seasons until its cancellation in 1996. Thereafter, it was picked up by The Sci-Fi Channel and aired for three more seasons until another cancellation in August 1999. A 60-episode syndication package titled The Mystery Science Theater Hour was produced in 1993 and broadcast on Comedy Central and syndicated to TV stations in 1995. In 2015, Hodgson led a crowdfunded revival of the series with 14 episodes in its eleventh season, first released on Netflix on April 14, 2017, with another six-episode season following on November 22, 2018. A second successful crowdfunding effort in 2021 produced 13 additional episodes shown on the Gizmoplex, an online platform that Hodgson developed which launched in March 2022. As of 2023, 230 episodes and a feature film have been produced as well as three live tours.

<i>Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie</i> 1996 American film

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie is a 1996 American science fiction comedy film and a film adaptation of the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, produced and set between the series' sixth and seventh seasons. It was distributed by Universal Pictures and Gramercy Pictures and produced by Best Brains.

<i>Extra Terrestrial Visitors</i> 1983 French-Spanish science fiction film

Extra Terrestrial Visitors is a 1983 science fiction film directed by Juan Piquer Simón. The film's original draft was meant to be a straightforward horror film about an evil alien on a murderous rampage, but the producers demanded script alterations in order to cash in on the success of Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial by featuring a child and a cute, lovable alien.

<i>Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer</i> (TV special) 1964 television film

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a 1964 stop motion Christmas animated television special produced by Videocraft International, Ltd. and currently distributed by NBCUniversal Television Distribution. It first aired December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network in the United States and was sponsored by General Electric under the umbrella title of The General Electric Fantasy Hour. The special was based on the 1949 Johnny Marks song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which was itself based on the poem of the same name written in 1939 by Marks's brother-in-law, Robert L. May. Since 1972, the special has aired on CBS. The network unveiled a high-definition, digitally remastered version of the program in 2005, re-scanned frame-by-frame from the original 35 mm film elements.

<i>Silent Night, Deadly Night</i> 1984 American slasher film by Charles E. Sellier, Jr

Silent Night, Deadly Night is a 1984 American slasher film directed by Charles E. Sellier, Jr., and starring Robert Brian Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero, Linnea Quigley, Britt Leach, and Leo Geter. The story concerns a young man named Billy, who suffers from post-traumatic stress over witnessing his parents' murder on Christmas Eve by a man disguised as Santa Claus and his subsequent upbringing in an abusive Catholic orphanage. In adulthood, the Christmas holiday leads him into a psychological breakdown, and he emerges as a spree killer donning a Santa suit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Corbett</span> American actor

William DanielCorbett is an American writer and performer for television, film and theatre. He was a writer and performer on the cult television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K), for which he voiced Crow T. Robot during the show's later seasons on the Sci Fi Channel. During that time, he also played the character Observer, along with other minor roles.

<i>The Corpse Vanishes</i> 1942 film by Wallace Fox

The Corpse Vanishes is a 1942 American mystery horror film starring Bela Lugosi, directed by Wallace Fox, and written by Harvey Gates. Lugosi portrays a mad scientist who injects his aging wife with fluids from virginal young brides in order to preserve her beauty. Luana Walters as a journalist and Tristram Coffin as a small-town doctor investigate and solve the disappearances of the brides. The film was produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures, and was reissued in 1949 by Favorite Films Corporation.

Nicholas Webster was an American film and television director.

K. Gordon Murray (1922–1979) was an American producer, most notable for his redubbing and re-releasing of foreign fairy tale films for U.S. audiences. He is often cited as the "King of the Kiddie Matinee." Murray also marketed many of the Mexploitation luchador films, such as Santo films popular in Mexico, changing Santo's name to Samson and dubbing them in English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RiffTrax</span> American audio company

RiffTrax is an American company that produces scripted humorous commentary tracks which are synced to feature films, education shorts, and television episodes. With the talents of former Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) cast members and writers, RiffTrax also produces several live shows each year which are broadcast to movie theaters. The style of commentating originated from MST3K, their earlier television series, in which they would similarly mock films aloud while watching them. As of September 2023, RiffTrax has riffed 522 feature films, 462 short films, and 16 TV episodes.

<i>Santa Claus</i> (1959 film) 1959 Mexican film

Santa Claus is a 1959 Mexican fantasy film directed by René Cardona and co-written with Adolfo Torres Portillo. In the film, Santa Claus works in outer space and battles with a demon named Pitch, sent to Earth by Lucifer to ruin Christmas by killing Santa and "making all the children of the Earth do evil".

Juan Piquer Simón was a Spanish film director best known for directing two cult classic horror exploitation films, Pieces (1982) and Slugs: The Movie (1988).

<i>The Christmas That Almost Wasnt</i> 1966 American film

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't is a 1966 American-Italian film that stars Rossano Brazzi and Paul Tripp, and was originally released by Childhood Productions Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinematic Titanic</span> 2007 American film

Cinematic Titanic was a project by Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) creator and original host, Joel Hodgson. The project involved "riffing" B-movies, in a manner similar to that of MST3K. Joining Hodgson were some of the original MST3K cast, as well as some cast members who joined later in the show's run. These included Trace Beaulieu, J. Elvis Weinstein, Frank Conniff and Mary Jo Pehl. It was first performed live on December 7, 2007, and first aired on December 22, 2007.

<i>Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny</i> 1972 American film

Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny is a 1972 American musical fantasy film written, composed, shot, edited and directed by Richard Winer to frame Barry Mahon's Childhood Productions films for a Christmas release. The plot concerns Santa Claus' attempts to free his sleigh from the sands of a Florida beach, assisted by local children.

Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen is a 1951 short fantasy film directed by Sid Davis.

J'ai rencontré le Père Noël is a 1984 French musical science fiction fantasy film directed by Christian Gion and co-written with Didier Kaminka. It stars Karen Cheryl, who was a popular singer at that time in France, as both the schoolteacher and as the Fairy. She acts and sings musical numbers in the film, an opportunity for Cheryl to repeatedly sing simple melodies, in line with the plot.

References

  1. 1 2 "THREE FILM FRONTS: Gaisseau Focuses On Gotham - -'Santa' On Long Island -- Poitier's F.B.I." by HOWARD THOMPSON. New York Times 2 Aug. 1964: 87.
  2. ↑ "Levine Movie Will Surprise Martians". Los Angeles Times 29 July 1964: C9.
  3. ↑ "Levine: Huckster With Heart" Griffin, Dick. Los Angeles Times 21 June 1966: c9.
  4. ↑ "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Slime Line DVD". Apprehensive Films. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Fandor". Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ Weird Christmas|Fandor Spotlight - Fandor on YouTube
  7. ↑ "CHILDREN'S FILMS WIDENING MARKET: Feature Movies at Weekend Matinees Are Popular" by HOWARD THOMPSON. New York Times 13 Feb. 1965: 10.
  8. ↑ "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 5, 2021. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  9. ↑ 45cat
  10. ↑ discogs
  11. ↑ Mareth, Glenville (March 1966), Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (comic book), New York, NY: Dell Comics
  12. ↑ Chaplin, Paul; et al. (May 1996). "Season 3". The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide. Bantam Books. p. 59. ISBN   0-553-37783-3.
  13. ↑ "Season Three: 1991-1992". Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Unofficial Episode Guide. Satellite News. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  14. ↑ "Factory History". Factory Theater. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Sean Abley: Writer/Director/Producer". Dark Blue Films. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  16. ↑ "U, Zucker redo 'Martians'". variety.com. February 1, 1998. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (2021) on IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  18. ↑ Harry, Lou (September 27, 2005). Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (hardcover) (1st ed.). New American Library. ISBN   978-1-59609-163-4.
  19. ↑ "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians". mavericktheater.com. The Maverick Theater. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  20. ↑ Fun take of ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ by Red Curtain
  21. ↑ Santa Claus Conquers the Martians stageplay
  22. ↑ The Five Best Christmas Covers | The Village Voice
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.