SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN! [1970 / 2017] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
The Original Christmas Classic!
For the first time on Blu-ray, rediscover the magic of Santa Claus in the Original Christmas Classic!
Do you remember when the Burgermeister Meisterburger banned toys, and Kris Kringle became Santa Claus? Share the magic of this original Christmas classic told and sung by Fred Astaire! Narrated by Fred Astaire.
Voice Cast: Fred Astaire (Narrator / Special Delivery "S.D." Kluger), Mickey Rooney (Kris Kringle / Santa Claus), Keenan Wynn (Winter Warlock), Paul Frees (Burgermeister Meisterburger / Grimsley / Soldiers / Townsmen / Doctor), Joan Gardner (Tanta Kringle), Robie Lester (Miss Jessica / Mrs. Claus), Andrea Sacino (Child), Dina Lynn (Child), Gary White (Child) and Greg Thomas (Child)
Directors: Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass
Producers: Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass
Screenplay: Romeo Muller (teleplay)
Composers: Jules Bass and Maury Laws
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 48 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: ClassicMedia / Universal Pictures UK
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: ‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!’ was originally a 1970 stop motion television special, made by Rankin-Bass. The film stars actor Fred Astaire as the narrator S.D. Kluger, Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus, Keenan Wynn as the Winter Warlock, and Paul Frees in various roles. The film tells the story of how Santa Claus and several Claus-related Christmas traditions came to be. It is based on the hit Christmas song of the same name, which was introduced on radio by Eddie Cantor in 1934, and the story of Saint Nicholas.
The special was created using stop motion animation called "Animagic," in which all the characters are made out of wood and plastic and animated via stop-motion photography. The special was originally telecast on the 14th December, 1970 by ABC and continues to air every year on sibling channel ABC Family, though both channels have at times edited the special to make room for commercials, so ABC cut two key songs, as well as two other songs in half. ABC Family channel cut several scenes that might be traumatizing to younger viewers, like Kris climbing and leaping to escape to prevent children from doing dangerous stunts, Winter Warlock knowing Kris will return, and telling him he'll never escape including the scene where the Burgermeister Meisterburger character torches the seized toys in front of the children of Sombertown).
‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!’ was written by Rankin-Bass' go-to writer, Romeo Muller, who explores all aspects of Santa Claus' origins. Narrated by a mailman named Kluger [Fred Astaire], this hour-long special dissects the development of Kris' selflessness, and covers the origins of his beard, hearty laugh, crew of helpers, need to go down the chimney, North Pole residency and he needs to hide from the Burgermeister, after all, and pretty much everything in between, providing a hugely creative look at how Santa came to be. On top of being edifying, it's wonderfully entertaining too, full of delightful set-pieces and tender moments of humour.
Whereas today's film makers use 3D computer animation, ‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!’ was executed with stop-motion technology, using models and sets to painstakingly create each frame. It does look dated and rough at times, not to mention the pacing does occasionally drag, but there's something charming about this primitive technique, especially when you consider just how much work went into every second of screen-time. Rankin-Bass movies often featured impressive casts, with the pair securing at least one or two major names for each production. ‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!’ has two big names, with Mickey Rooney and Fred Astaire both lending their vocal talents to the film. Fred Astaire is a huge asset, guiding us through the story with energy and charm. Fred Astaire has a great singing voice, too, which enlivens the numerous musical set-pieces. Mickey Rooney, meanwhile, submits well-judged work with plenty of heart.
For over several decades now, ‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!’ has been part of annual Christmas time traditions in many households, but mainly in North America, and deservingly so. Romeo Muller's screenplay covers the origins of many holiday traditions – including hiding gifts in stockings and how reindeer fly, while also delivering an uplifting reminder about the real meaning of the season of giving.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN! MUSIC TRACK LIST
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN (Music by J. Fred Coots) (Lyrics by Haven Gillespie) [Performed by Fred Astaire]
THE FIRST TOY MAKER TO THE KING (uncredited) (Music by Maury Laws) (Lyrics by Jules Bass) [Performed by Joan Gardner]
NO MORE TOYMAKERS TO THE KING (uncredited) (Music by Maury Laws) (Lyrics by Jules Bass) [Performed by Paul Frees]
IF YOU SIT ON MY LAP TODAY (uncredited) (Music by Maury Laws) (Lyrics by Jules Bass) [Performed by Mickey Rooney]
PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER (uncredited) (Music by Maury Laws) (Lyrics by Jules Bass) [Performed by Mickey Rooney and Keenan Wynn]
MY WORLD IS BEGINNING TODAY (uncredited) (Music by Maury Laws) (Lyrics by Jules Bass) [Performed by Robie Lester]
WHAT BETTER WAY TO TELL YOU (uncredited) (Music by Maury Laws) (Lyrics by Jules Bass) [Performed by Fred Astaire]
Blu-ray Image Quality – This 40th Anniversary Blu-Ray release of ‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!’ features a full 1080p High Definition presentation utilising the 1.37:1 aspect ratio in which it was originally broadcast. The video presentation looks pretty outstanding for a TV special especially for its age and all of the colours and detail look spot on, easily the best this classic family TV special event has ever been presented. Fans of this TV special should be thrilled with this high definition video presentation and the newcomers to it couldn't possibly find a better way to experience it for the first time. Because it was original made for North America Television, you can see where the adverts were inserted, because you see it fade out, with such a Classic Christmas Special transferred to the Blu-ray format, you think they could of made and effort to edit it in a much more professional way and got hold of the original master tape? I suspect when people viewed this on the DVD format, you would not see the black strings holding up the puppets. But now seeing it in the video resolution of 1080p, you can see very clearly the black string, still after a while you forget seeing this anomaly. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – While it states that the main soundtrack is 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, we are instead treated to a 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio soundtrack which isn't too shabby and it's certainly a pleasant surprise to find a multichannel soundtrack of any sort present for such an old special. While as one would expect, the surround element may not provide much in the way of background effects, the special sounds are pretty great here nonetheless and I think overall most will be pretty satisfied with this 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, especially if you have not got the facility of a Home Cinema set-up.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: Sadly none has been provided.
Finally, amongst Christmas specials, but particularly amongst those produced by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, but ‘SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!’ stands apart. It does so because it is most the most triumphantly well-told of the lot, soon I will describe the most cinematic but here we're talking strictly based on narrative. This may just be Romeo Muller's best work as he makes Santa an even more heroic figure because in this tale we learn of his past, learn to think of him as a person not just an icon, and then also have an antagonist who vilifies him and renders him an outlaw. You have, of course, the talents of Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney in this tale and the indelible figures of the Winter Warlock and Bergermeister Meisterberger and of course another classic song. It is an absolutely unbeatable combination and one of the best options for the festive season. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller - Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
