Never mind the $59.95 price tag you see listed on the box – this one’s in the public domain and you can get it on DVD for a whole LOT less than the nearly 60 bucks it shows here.
This one is a particular fave of mine. Much ado was made about this being Pia Zadora’s first movie. Because of (and not in spite of) her wooden performance in the movie, Pia has won a special place in my heart. That vacant stare of hers is adorable! In later years Pia became quite a good little singer. Her turn as a bongo-playing beatnik in the original HAIRSPRAY was terrific.
The plot of SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS is this: the children of Mars are depressed as they have no Christmas or any other reason to smile, so it is determined that they need a Santa Claus. The Martian King and his crew zip to Earth to kidnap him. Seeing all kinds of street corner Santas and thinking the “real” one won’t be missed, they take him back with them, along with two Earth children who had interaction with Martians. Instead of being highly pissed, Santa is his usual gregarious self. I suspect that this was because of the use of any controlled substances he may have been hiding in his boot (i.e., see REEFER MADNESS [IN COLOR]).
Due to some sabotage he experiences, things don’t work out well for Father Christmas, so before he and Billy and Betty are returned to Earth, Santa appoints the incompetent but lovable Dropo as the Martian Santa. Now the kids of Mars can have Christmas, too.
All’s well and we are treated to shots of the rocket returning to Earth over the closing song, “Hooray for Santa Claus”.
When this film first came out, Dell publishing made a comic out of it. Then there was the “read-along” album/book. I’m proud to say that I have electronic versions of them both.
Someone named “Lou Harry” actually novelized this film into a hardcover book just a few years ago. The text is in green ink and the book included a DVD of the movie inside.
In the last few years I’ve heard rumblings that Jerry Zucker (AIRPLANE! & KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE) is interested in re-making this film. Hmm, in that case maybe we’ll have Leslie Nielson playing a farting, absent-minded Santa. Couldn’t be any worse.
This one is a particular fave of mine. Much ado was made about this being Pia Zadora’s first movie. Because of (and not in spite of) her wooden performance in the movie, Pia has won a special place in my heart. That vacant stare of hers is adorable! In later years Pia became quite a good little singer. Her turn as a bongo-playing beatnik in the original HAIRSPRAY was terrific.
The plot of SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS is this: the children of Mars are depressed as they have no Christmas or any other reason to smile, so it is determined that they need a Santa Claus. The Martian King and his crew zip to Earth to kidnap him. Seeing all kinds of street corner Santas and thinking the “real” one won’t be missed, they take him back with them, along with two Earth children who had interaction with Martians. Instead of being highly pissed, Santa is his usual gregarious self. I suspect that this was because of the use of any controlled substances he may have been hiding in his boot (i.e., see REEFER MADNESS [IN COLOR]).
Due to some sabotage he experiences, things don’t work out well for Father Christmas, so before he and Billy and Betty are returned to Earth, Santa appoints the incompetent but lovable Dropo as the Martian Santa. Now the kids of Mars can have Christmas, too.
All’s well and we are treated to shots of the rocket returning to Earth over the closing song, “Hooray for Santa Claus”.
When this film first came out, Dell publishing made a comic out of it. Then there was the “read-along” album/book. I’m proud to say that I have electronic versions of them both.
Someone named “Lou Harry” actually novelized this film into a hardcover book just a few years ago. The text is in green ink and the book included a DVD of the movie inside.
In the last few years I’ve heard rumblings that Jerry Zucker (AIRPLANE! & KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE) is interested in re-making this film. Hmm, in that case maybe we’ll have Leslie Nielson playing a farting, absent-minded Santa. Couldn’t be any worse.
I like pia zadora. Always have. Thought she was gorgeous and talented. I think this is one of my favorite Xmas films just because it is meant to entertain. My nephs and nieces like it too. Every Xmas we watch it as part of tradition. I look forward to your posting more Xmas stuff especially the fun films like this.
ReplyDeleteWill be posting more Christmas stuff in days to come.
ReplyDelete"Footloose" still blows.