La storia di Babbo Natale

I absolutely love this movie. It is, quite simply, the best Christmas movie there is. I discovered it when I was a teenager and have since watched it repeatedly every Christmas season - in fact, I've just finished watching it for the first time as a married women.

The story is uplifting and magical and real and is a *must see* for anyone who wants an instant touch of Christmas spirit. I can not recommend this movie highly enough!

Under-rated little family film that works due to a couple of over-the-top performances more than anything else. We get a glimpse into the history of the titled character (played by David Huddleston) and his wife (Judy Cornwell) as they make the North Pole their home. Years and years pass and we get to the present-day, but trouble looms as the toys manufactured by elf Dudley Moore (in a wonderful performance) start to fall apart on all the children of the world. Moore feels shame and decides that it would be better to leave. Thus he falls in with evil toy manufacturer John Lithgow (in another fine role) and this is when the fun really starts. Burgess Meredith also has a short, endearing cameo. A production that is tame enough for young children, but is also interesting enough to keep the adults happy as well. Good overall. 4 stars out of 5.

I've just read another review that says Dudley Moore wasn't an incredibly likable character, and I have to completely disagree! I have watched this movie nearly every single year... as I have the VHS, and it's one of the most terrific X-mas movies out there -- other than "Christmas Story", "A christmas Carol" (any version), and "The Night they Saved Christmas". I've watched this since I was a very little girl, and I always loved the character Joe. I think I might have had the tiniest crush on him, even! The man who plays Santa is amazingly wonderful, and he's definately the type of guy that a kid would just love to leap onto the lap of... and to take comfort and confidence in. As this Santa befriends a young homeless boy who has absolutely nothing and no one else... until both he and Santa meet the daughter of an extrodinarily rich and disasterously greedy culprit of a businessman ... of course he's the grandfatherly figure we all dream of having! He's beyond any other Santa I've ever EVER seen -- he even beats Mickey Rooney (though Granted Mickey was only Santa in those lovely little 'cartoons'.)

Anyhow, this is a great movie with a beautiful soundtrack, great actors, nice though not particularly wonderful sets, effects that were passable for the year they were made, and most definately a touching and memorable plot. It's for all ages, and I definately reccomend it.

This has been a holiday memory of mine since I was a little girl. Even now, at 23 years old, I simply love this movie. I'm shocked when I hear of someone that doesn't enjoy this unique and sweet story. I learned about friendship, the holidays, giving, sharing and not being afraid to go for your dreams. If those aren't the kind of lessons we want our youngsters to learn, I don't know what are...

I've just seen the movie on TV with my kids for the umpteenth time.

The first hour of the film is great...it really puts me in the Christmas spirit. The rest of the film...well I can take it or leave it! By the way, David Huddleston who played Santa, is for me, the greatest Santa in the world ever, honestly.