SANTA CLAUS (René Cardona/K. Gordon Murray) from VCI on 12/06/11

[bgart13]

Santa Claus Blu-ray

Santa Claus Blu-ray Review

Yes, the twisted 1960's Mexican cult movie, SANTA CLAUS, is being released on bd. The transfer has been done from the negative and will have the KGM and Mexican versions, along with many extras by Daniel Griffith of Ballyhoo.





Dig the details:

The producers packed every magical, wacky, and just plain weird, holiday oddity known to man in to this wild-n-wonderful, and strangely charming, children’s classic! It’s not enough that Santa must deal with the usual suspects – the good little boys and girls, and the not so good little boys and girls – but this season Lucifer himself is out to ruin Christmas and has sent his chief minion, Pitch, on a mission to Earth to turn all the children of the world against Santa. But wait, there’s more! Santa’s workshop is located high above the North Pole in a Toyland castle in outer space, where he plays the organ and keeps watch over the children on earth through specialized equipment, while readying his mechanical reindeer for Christmas Eve action. Santa also enlists the aid of Merlin the Wizard, who provides him with magic sleeping powder and a flower that makes one disappear. But wait, there’s even more! Santa also receives a magic key that will unlock any door on Earth from Vulcan himself!

Tag Line: An Enchanting World of Make-Believe!
Starring: José Elías Moreno, Cesáreo Quezadas ,José Luis Aguirre, Armando Arriola, Cesáreo Quezadas, Lupita Quezadas, Antonio Diaz Conde, Angel D’Estefani
Narrated By: K. Gordon Murray
Directed by: René Cardona
Produced by: Guillermo Calderón
Short Actors: José Elías Moreno, Cesáreo Quezadas

Short Description: A wild and wonderful, and strangely charming, children’s classic! This holiday season Lucifer himself is out to ruin Christmas and has sent his chief minion to Earth to turn all the children of the world against Santa.

Written By: Adolfo Torres Portillo & René Cardona
Photography By: Raúl Martinez Solares
Music By: Antonio Díaz Conde
Sub Genre 1: Family
Bonus Features: Contains both the American K. Gordon Murray and Original Mexican Versions on one disc; Commentary by Daniel Griffith (K. Gordon Murray Historian), and more!
Runtime: 179 minutes
Year: 1959
Color: Color
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Anamorphic - Widescreen, 2.35:1
MPAA Rating: NR
Language: English, Spanish
Subtitles: English
Country: Mexico
Region Code: All Region
Release Date: 11/15/2011
Format: Blu-Ray
UPC: 089859901225
ISBN: 1-55739-775-9

Ad from VCI that also contains info on the re-release of A CHRISTMAS CAROL:

http://www.vcientertainment.com/new_...Nov_1_2011.pdf

[rafaelsalguero]

wow I love this movie!!!
1 day for me !!! I hope a good transfer

[Arkadin]

wow, I know nothing about this film.
looks interesting; certainly hope the original Spanish version looks as good as the US creation.

[lucaaugustus]

This is day 1 for me. I remember looking for this specific movie on DVD a few years back and finally purchased it from Best Buy online. This was a favorite childhood film for me.

[madlost1]

My introduction to this one was through MST3K. I honestly don't know if I could sit through the whole thing without their commentary.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by madlost1

My introduction to this one was through MST3K. I honestly don't know if I could sit through the whole thing without their commentary.

And for the next 25 posters about to ask:
The MST3K episode is Shout Factory, it's on disk (box 16), it's videotape, and the news thread asked already.

I'm actually geezer enough to have seen it on the bigscreen in the days of local kiddie matinees, and I'll agree with one commentor in the making-of featurette on the Shout disk:
"We realized it wasn't made in this country, so for many of us at that age, it was our first foreign film....And boy, was it foreign. "

[Arkadin]

can't possibly be stranger than Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
Now that's a true x-mas classic!
when is that one coming to blu-ray?

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) #1 - YouTube

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

can't possibly be stranger than Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
Now that's a true x-mas classic!
when is that one coming to blu-ray?
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) #1 - YouTube

the only ones that had careers after that film were Jamie Farr and Pia Zadora!

There was another cheesy Xmas film that had Rozzano Brazzi in it called "The Christmas that Almost Was'nt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUhVvEFMnsM

[MrLee]

I hunted this down a few years ago as I collect Christmas movies. Got a copy on DVD. It was TERRIBLE. I sold the dvd.

[manicsounds]

Originally Posted by MrLee

I hunted this down a few years ago as I collect Christmas movies. Got a copy on DVD. It was TERRIBLE. I sold the dvd.

You actually expected this movie to be good?

[MrLee]

I was hoping.....

[bgart13]

It's good, it's just...different!

[rafaelsalguero]

Finally, you can pre-order on Amazon for $19.99

[Nocturnaloner]

This film is amazing. It's a laugh riot from a bad movie perspective, but it also has some sets and ideas that were pretty innovative for its time. I think it's been MST3Kd, and deservedly so, but you don't need the bots for this one, if you have friends. Definite Christmas party material. If this movie gets a top quality blu ray restoration, I will fall out of my chair. Pre-ordered.

[bigshot]

The children of many lands sequence is great!

[rafaelsalguero]

I like the new OFFICIAL COVER !!!!

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by bigshot

The children of many lands sequence is great!

yep, especially the part where they show "The Orient" a bunch of arabic kids with turbans and a stash of guns to the left, hilarious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kO9ygaxVok

[jebhdb]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

can't possibly be stranger than Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
Now that's a true x-mas classic!
when is that one coming to blu-ray?
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) #1 - YouTube

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is a bonus feature on the Rare Exports A Christmas Tale blu ray.

[Indian Hills Theater]

Up until I found a $1 DVD a couple years ago, I only had the MST3K version. I saw this in the early 60's when I believed in Santa. My son saw it in the early 80's when he did too.

We also bought VCI's A Christmas Carol (60th) and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. They are doing some great work.

My son did a review of Scarecrow: http://www.flamesrising.com/dark-nig...recrow-review/

He got a note from the "Night of the Scarecrow" writer/creator!

Dear Steven, Just a note of thanks for your very kind and insightful review of DNotS. The restoration and presentation of the SD and current Blu Ray were a labor of love. The philosophy I work with in rendering Horror films is: "Gore is easy...good story telling is hard." Best regards,

J.D. Feigelson
Writer/Creator

[Crimson King]

delayed til Dec 06 now...