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Films: S is for...

Santa Claus: The Movie

"Is that some rain, dear?"Dudley Moore is subjected to more indignities with this uncalled-for film so dire there’s no humour to be had in its shortcomings. Burgess Meredith, Melvyn Hayes, Don Estelle, Christopher ‘Mike’ Ryan and John ‘Mallens’ Hallam are also implicated. Sheena Easton and the immortal Kaja provide the soundtrack.

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Richard Davies

    August 8, 2010 at 12:04 am

    For years this was shown on TV via a shockingly grainly & miscoloured print, making it look 10-15 years older than it actually was.

    I remember it was really hyped up on release but flopped badly at the box office.

    It’s probably paid back the production costs by being shown on every other Xmas period, & it looks like they can afford a decent transfer from the master reel.

  2. Lee James Turnock

    September 1, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    If ever a film ‘Scrooged’ both its stars and its audience, it’s this one.

  3. Neil Carruthers

    January 21, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Not having seen it for many years I was surprised to find that Santa was in fact the big Lebowski,David Huddlestone. ‘Do you speak English sir? Parla usted Inglese?’

  4. Scott McPhee

    December 5, 2016 at 8:47 am

    This film had Dudley Moore in the cast.

    What a pity that after he went to America, he never appeared in anything good or memorable.

    • Victor Field

      November 8, 2017 at 7:02 pm

      “Arthur” would like a word with Mr. McPhee.

  5. Andrew Barton

    October 13, 2021 at 7:13 pm

    The actress who played Cornelia in the film is in the first ever episode of The Equalizer. The original series,not the Queen Latifah one. At least she got some acting work, since I don’t recall the actor playing Joe getting any.

    One of the girls bulling Cornelia in the ballet class scene is none other than Nicole Appleton, who went onto better things later as part of All Saints.

  6. Andrew Barton

    October 13, 2021 at 9:28 pm

    *bullying.

  7. Richardpd

    October 13, 2021 at 10:21 pm

    I’ve mellowed down on this in recent years, probably not having to deal with Sweeney levels of gaininess makes it easier to appreciate it.

    Some slight “Been In Dr Who” fun to be had with this, but at one time Patrick Troughton was considered as one of the Elves & Jon Pertwee as another part.

  8. RD McPhee

    January 4, 2023 at 8:27 am

    Melvyn Hayes is in it. He wouldn’t appear in a bad movie, would he?

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