Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)
Is there anyone who hasn’t seen Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town? There are other origin stories out there, but there’s none more endearing or more classic than the Rankin & Bass stop-action movie from the 1970s. Mickey Rooney voices Kris Kringle, and Fred Astaire narrates the delightful story as a friendly postman delivering letters to Santa. Just between you and me, I didn’t know those actors were real people when I was a kid. When I finally saw Fred Astaire in a regular movie, I thought, “Gee, that guy looks like the cartoon!” Keenan Wynn costars as the Winter Warlock, Robie Lester is the love interest, and Paul Frees lends his many talents to several villainous voices.
The story itself is interesting enough, but the voices and the songs are what really make this a Christmas classic. As Fred opens letters and reads them aloud, he answers common questions from children. How did Santa Claus get his name? Why does he come down the chimney? How do reindeer fly? By answering the questions, he tells the story of an orphaned baby discovered by little toymaking elves who live in the snow. Fred’s voice is so gentle and soothing, it makes you want to ask him every question you’ve ever had. You won’t get to see him dance in this movie, but the cartoon version of him does a couple of twirls, and he serenades you with the beautiful romantic song, “What Better Way to Tell You.” That song is one of the reasons I love the snow and flocked Christmas trees so much!
Mickey Rooney, whose husky, cheerful voice truly personifies Santa, is so perfect, you’ll think twice before naming Edmund Gwenn as your favorite Santa. For me, Mickey, Teddy, and Jim Broadbent are in a three-way tie. When Mickey looks over his list and chuckles, “I guess they’ve all been pretty good,” it’s like you’re eavesdropping at the North Pole. He’s funny and sweet, with a really good heart and enough backbone to break the rules if it means a sick kid can hug a toy on Christmas morning.
Chances are you’ve seen this movie when you were a kid, but if it’s been a few years since you’ve seen it, rent it again this holiday season. If you can’t sing “Be Prepared to Pay” or “Put One Foot in Front of the Other” at the drop of a hat, it’s been too long. This is such a delightful movie, and the good news is there’s a sequel so you can hear Mickey Rooney voicing Santa again! There’s no more Fred in The Year Without a Santa Claus but there is the best Mrs. Claus voice ever: Shirley Booth!
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on YouTube and thanks "SuperMegaChristmas" for posting!
More Fred Astaire movies here!
More Mickey Rooney movies here!
More Christmas movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1974's The Year Without a Santa Claus here!
The story itself is interesting enough, but the voices and the songs are what really make this a Christmas classic. As Fred opens letters and reads them aloud, he answers common questions from children. How did Santa Claus get his name? Why does he come down the chimney? How do reindeer fly? By answering the questions, he tells the story of an orphaned baby discovered by little toymaking elves who live in the snow. Fred’s voice is so gentle and soothing, it makes you want to ask him every question you’ve ever had. You won’t get to see him dance in this movie, but the cartoon version of him does a couple of twirls, and he serenades you with the beautiful romantic song, “What Better Way to Tell You.” That song is one of the reasons I love the snow and flocked Christmas trees so much!
Mickey Rooney, whose husky, cheerful voice truly personifies Santa, is so perfect, you’ll think twice before naming Edmund Gwenn as your favorite Santa. For me, Mickey, Teddy, and Jim Broadbent are in a three-way tie. When Mickey looks over his list and chuckles, “I guess they’ve all been pretty good,” it’s like you’re eavesdropping at the North Pole. He’s funny and sweet, with a really good heart and enough backbone to break the rules if it means a sick kid can hug a toy on Christmas morning.
Chances are you’ve seen this movie when you were a kid, but if it’s been a few years since you’ve seen it, rent it again this holiday season. If you can’t sing “Be Prepared to Pay” or “Put One Foot in Front of the Other” at the drop of a hat, it’s been too long. This is such a delightful movie, and the good news is there’s a sequel so you can hear Mickey Rooney voicing Santa again! There’s no more Fred in The Year Without a Santa Claus but there is the best Mrs. Claus voice ever: Shirley Booth!
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on YouTube and thanks "SuperMegaChristmas" for posting!
More Fred Astaire movies here!
More Mickey Rooney movies here!
More Christmas movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1974's The Year Without a Santa Claus here!