Film Review: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

 "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"

*** (out of ****)

Did you ever wonder how did Santa Claus get his name? How did he learn so much about toys? Why does Santa Claus come down a chimney? What happened to workers' pension plans? Well, the 1970 stop-motion animated children's Christmas movie, "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" has all the answers - well except for that last question!

Debuting on ABC television, this Arthur Rankin / Jules Bass movie has become a Christmas classic and television watching tradition, playing on TV every year. Even I, your neighborhood Hungarian grinch, have fond memories of watching it as a child.

Based somewhat on the 1934 Christmas song of the same title, "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" answers children's questions regarding the origins of Santa Claus. Our narrator and local postman, S.D. Kluger (Fred Astaire) tells us the story of how everything came to be. You see, while out on his route Kluger's mail truck breaks down in the cold snowy weather. His truck is full of letters from children writing to Santa Claus. The children however don't only write to Santa to tell them everything they want for Christmas. Sometimes they ask Santa questions about himself. Kluger will now take this moment - instead of getting his truck fixed - to take a break and answer all of the children's questions. Nevermind that it is a felony to open someone else's mail!

Claus, as he was known back than, was an abandoned baby in the town of Sombertown. Originally he was left at the door steps of the town's burgermeister, Meisterburger (Paul Frees, best known as the voice of Boris on "Rocky and Bullwinkle"). He rejects the baby and orders it be taken to an orphanage. The baby is almost magically captured by a strong wind, blowing the baby into another town at the homes of a family of elves named Kringle. For whatever reason the elves take the baby in and decide to name him Kris.

When Kris (Mickey Rooney) grows older he learns the elves are toymakers. In fact they once had a reputation for being great toymakers. They were so good that they were named toymakers to the King! Inspired by this story Kris vows to restore the family name of Kringle and deliver toys to children in Sombertown. However this is a dangerous mission. The reason the elves haven't been able to deliver their toys is because they are afraid of crossing paths with the dreaded Winter Warlock (Kennan Wynn). But Kris isn't afraid and is determined to make it to Sombertown.

Unfortunately, the day before Kris arrives in Sombertown, the Meisterburger injures himself when he falls on a toy. Outraged by this occurrence the Meisterburger outlaws all toys. Government officials confiscate all the toys from each home. When Kris hands out toys to the children he is warned by a schoolteacher, Jessica (Robie Lester) he will get in trouble and informs him of the town's laws. Kris pays no attention to such a silly law and proceeds to give Jessica a toy as well. This immediately causes her entire worldview to shatter and crumble before her eyes and now must admit how great toys are.

That is one of the themes of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" - the magic of toys and gift giving. Giving someone a gift lightens their heart. This is how Kris is even able to turn the Winter Warlock around. Even the Meisterburger briefly has a change of heart when Kris hands him a yo-yo. Christmas is all about giving each others gifts!

Of course there have been other movies that have tried to explain Santa Claus' origins - "Santa Claus: The Movie" (1985) and "The Santa Clause" (1994) - but none have seemed as targeted to children as this is. This is an almost comically over-exaggerated story. Other movies try to add a dash of realism to their stories to make them seem plausible to an adult's mind. "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" doesn't seem aware adults exist in this world. It is one cornball thing after another in this movie.

In one way that is great for the little ones but outside of nostalgia mom and dad won't get much out of this. The treatment of this story is too simplistic. Still I suppose in one way that level of innocence can be charming and is what makes "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" unique. Especially when compared to today's animation which always has an adult sensibility lurking around in the background with pop culture references and innuendos. "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" is for children first and foremost and plays at their level.

The movie seems to be a combination of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), "A Christmas Carol" (1938) and even "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1966) and yet seems to be totally original in its own right.

A level of innocence also manages to manifest itself in the stop-motion animation which almost looks primitive to the CGI animation of today. But again that is part of the movie's charm - its simplicity. I'm old enough where this style of animation doesn't bother me and naturally I prefer anything older to something modern. Children I think we notice the difference but won't be distracted by it and will readily accept it.

The choice of voice actors was also inspired. Fred Astaire has a gentlemanly quality to his voice that seems familiar and friendly. Keenan Wynn's voice is the exact opposite of the image of the Winter Warlock which is meant to create a contrast and humor.  And Mickey Rooney has a matter-of-fact way of delivering his lines that I can imagine is relatable to children.

"Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" is not a great movie - there are a lot of plot holes. But it is charming and fun for children. It doesn't try to be anything greater. Christmas is about Santa, getting gifts and being nice to one another. But the greatest emphasis is on toys. That is all a child cares about when it comes to Christmas. The filmmakers won't boggle children down and make a "message movie". I guess they have time to learn about the true meaning of Christmas. Until that moment arrives though, "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" will entertain them.