[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPride MonthAmerican Black Film FestivalSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Santa Claus

  • 1959
  • G
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
2.7/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
Santa Claus (1959)
ComedyFamilyFantasyHolidayHorror

With Merlin's aid, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil Pitch to ruin Christmas.With Merlin's aid, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil Pitch to ruin Christmas.With Merlin's aid, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil Pitch to ruin Christmas.

  • Director
    • René Cardona
  • Writers
    • Adolfo Torres Portillo
    • René Cardona
  • Stars
    • José Elías Moreno
    • Cesáreo Quezadas 'Pulgarcito'
    • José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky'
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    2.7/10
    5.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • René Cardona
    • Writers
      • Adolfo Torres Portillo
      • René Cardona
    • Stars
      • José Elías Moreno
      • Cesáreo Quezadas 'Pulgarcito'
      • José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky'
    • 106User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos16

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 12
    View Poster

    Top cast22

    Edit
    José Elías Moreno
    José Elías Moreno
    • Santa Claus
    Cesáreo Quezadas 'Pulgarcito'
    • Pedro
    José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky'
    • El Diablo
    • (as José Luis Aguirre 'Trosky')
    Armando Arriola
    • El mago Merlín
    • (as Armando Arriola 'Arriolita')
    Lupita Quezadas
    • La niña pobre (Lupita)
    • (as Lupita)
    Antonio Díaz Conde hijo
    • El Niño Rico (Billy)
    Nora Veryán
    • Madre de Lupita
    Polo Ortín
    • Padre despertado
    • (as Leopoldo Ortín Jr.)
    Manuel Calvo
    • Padre de Billy
    • (as Manolo Calvo)
    José Carlos Méndez
    • Niño malo
    • (as niño J. Carlos Méndez)
    Jesús Brock
    • Niño malo
    • (as niño Jesús Brook)
    Rubén Ramírez
    • Niño malo
    Queta Lavat
    Queta Lavat
    • Madre despertada
    • (as Enriqueta Lavat)
    Ángel Di Stefani
    • El herrero Llavón
    • (as Ángel D'Stefani)
    Guillermo Bravo Sosa
    • Abuelo despertado
    • (as Gmo. Bravo Sosa)
    Graciela Lara
    • Madre de Billy
    Rosa María Aguilar
    Keith Hetherington
    • Narrator
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • René Cardona
    • Writers
      • Adolfo Torres Portillo
      • René Cardona
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews106

    2.75.3K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    4therascalsarchives

    What if FELLINI made a low-budget Christmas kiddie movie in Spanish!

    I saw this film numerous times in the late 60's/early 70's whenever it reared it's head like a reindeer with rabies every November-December as a Saturday matinée kiddie show.It was always stiff competition for THE CHRSTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN'T (oops-can I SAY "Christmas"?), perhaps the greatest,most iconic Christmas-season film of all time.But that's another review.

    At the time,I marveled that the on-screen tint of SANTA CLAUS was almost "pink and white", so much had the color of the sprocket-torn prints changed color.

    The film is kinda creepy! I thought so then--and still do, actually. I was highly entertained then, as I still am! It's amusing in a "retarted-elf" sort of way. By the way,the image quality looks much better on the DVD I have now than it did in the theater, circa 1969-74.

    If you are expecting maybe "the lost RANKIN-BASS Christmas special-forget it! If you want FELLINI DOES Christmas--read on...

    By nature, the dubbing on these foreign films (the original version here was in Spanish)always makes them seem "surreal". This adds to the films inherent oddness. It is also pretty scary in that a "mishevious demon" (as described in the original US trailer) spends the entire film trying to turn decent kids "evil". One particularly nightmarish scene has a young "latch-key" boy wishing he had parents for Christmas-suddenly the "port-a-family" emerges out of giant "Christmas presents-of-the-mind" until he realizes he's just daydreaming! See this,Christmas lovers--and if you're a stoner, save your stash--this film will make you think you're hallucinating...without drugs!
    1Dielanbomb

    Jeez RD wasn't kidding....

    All right I recently got a chance to rent this and watch Santa Claus conquers the martains. Although the children were much more sadistic in SCCTM, I would have to say that Santa Claus was a much worse movie. As a spanish assignment in Spanish 5 we all had to watch it. I'll tell you, usually when we watch a movie we are all just talking and eating food, but not for this movie. Everyone just kept there jaw open wondering what the evil Mr. Pitch was going to do next. Would Merlin help Santa Claus!?! or would his robot reindeer come and save the day? I would suggest renting it because it is the biggest piece of rubbish I have ever seen and I love it for that. :D
    5TheLittleSongbird

    Creepy and strange, but quite entertaining

    Santa Claus is not as bad a film as its reputation suggests, in fact I quite enjoyed it despite the obvious flaws. Is it a good movie? Not really. Is it entertaining? I think so. And I think it is better than Santa Claus Conquers the Martians which was hysterically bad but somewhat a must-see just to revel in its awfulness.

    To say that Santa Claus is strange is an understatement. The story is pretty much a shambles, with incoherent and disconnected scenes, and the writing is awful but makes me laugh, one of the few times when writing as bad as it is brings a smile to my face. The Devil himself looks very, very fake, while they do bastardise Santa Claus a bit. There are also some very night-marish images, as a child I got night-mares from the reindeer alone, as an adult I am not so scared any more but I do get the shivers even looking at them.

    That said, it is better paced than Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, it has better effects I think(they're not great but they aren't appalling either) and sets and colours wise it is quite lavish. The film is a good length, it starts off quite well with some interesting songs, the climax is thrilling and while they are not great by any stretch of the imagination the actors look as though they are having a ball.

    All in all, this is a very creepy and strange movie, but I was entertained. 5/10 Bethany Cox
    1Torgo_Approves

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!

    Some might say something like "Baby Geniuses" with its giant robot infants or "Dumbo" with its psychedelic drug-addled nightmare sequence would win the award for the most disturbing movie ever made for children. You might say that too, but you'd be wrong. Lo and behold, for I bring to you: Santa Claus, the most helplessly messed up family film since ... well, ever.

    From the opening scenes showing children from different parts of the world singing their insipid theme songs (seriously, this segment is nearly 20 freakin' minutes long and has nothing to do with the plot!) to the thrilling conclusion in which Merlin pops up from outta nowhere and saves the day (don't mind him, he's from Barcelona), this is childhood trauma at its finest. And no matter how hard I try, no matter how many different therapists I visit, I just... can't... get... those... reindeer's...laughter...out... of... my ... head!

    Avoid this mind-bending piece of trash like you'd avoid a sex-starved whale during mating season. Still, if flaming gay demons with a serious case of the overacting flu are something for you, I guess you should give it a try. But really, this movie isn't worth your time and mental health.
    boris-26

    Gather the relatives, kidnap the nieghbors, everybody will enjoy this one.

    Put this on the VCR on Christmas day, and let people gather round the boob tube. Have them gawk at the crazy, silly wonder at this Mexican produced version of St. Nick, and fun will seep in like vodka spiced egg-nog!

    Santa lives in space with little kids and a senile magician (Mrs. Claus probably filed for divorce decades ago!) He uses listening devices (made up of applainces and human organs. I am not kidding!!!) to spy on children on earth. he also pauses to watch a frightening puppet show, a Mexican glamour gal go shopping, etc. etc. Then we meet Santa's enemy- Pitch. Pitch is a prissy devil who dances alot, complains of stomach cramps, and uses wild hand gestures when he talks. Pitch has to destroy Christmas or Satan will make his ulcer worse!

    The plot gets crazier when Santa moonlights as a bartender, children have dreams that look like cheaply rendered LSD trips (with nagging dolls, parents that arrive in coffin-like boxes) I am not making any

    of this up. This is possibly the strangest Christmas movie ever made. Box up that CD of old Chrsitmas caroles. This Christmas, this loopy wonder should be on your TV.

    More like this

    Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
    2.7
    Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
    Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
    1.4
    Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
    Zindy, el fugitivo de los pantanos
    2.0
    Zindy, el fugitivo de los pantanos
    Yûsei ôji
    2.3
    Yûsei ôji
    Le conte du tsar Saltan
    7.2
    Le conte du tsar Saltan
    Santa Claus
    6.3
    Santa Claus
    Hillbillys in a Haunted House
    2.8
    Hillbillys in a Haunted House
    La merveilleuse aventure
    6.4
    La merveilleuse aventure
    Pulgarcito
    6.3
    Pulgarcito
    Jason et les Argonautes
    7.3
    Jason et les Argonautes
    L'Incroyable Homme puma
    2.3
    L'Incroyable Homme puma
    Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
    7.7
    Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film did not receive a general release in the United States. The U.S. distributor, K. Gordon Murray, booked it as a special children's matinée, to be shown once or twice.
    • Goofs
      When seen through Santa's telescope, the earth is revolving in the wrong direction.
    • Quotes

      Evil Doll: Why don't you steal us. We can all be yours!

      Lupita: No, you know that stealing is bad, and I want to be good.

      Evil Doll: But you must learn to steal!

      Lupita: No. You know stealing is bad, and I want to be good.

      Evil Doll: We dolls don't like good little girls!

      Lupita: No. To steal is evil, and I don't want to be evil.

      Evil Doll: You must be evil if you want a doll!

      Lupita: No, you know stealing is evil, and I don't want to be evil.

      Evil Doll: Steal, fight, and we will all be yours!

      Lupita: No. I don't want to be evil, and stealing is evil.

      Evil Doll: You want to good, eh, you don't want to be bad?

      Lupita: No, you know stealing is bad, and I want to be good.

      Evil Doll: Well then, you'll never have a doll! HAHAHAHAH!

    • Alternate versions
      A 1989 U.S. home video release was "substantially re-edited and abridged" to "remove all seemingly objectionable material." This version is missing all material involving Pitch. The running time was reduced to 63 minutes and the film retitled "Santa Claus: The Motion Picture" in order to cash in on the big budget production Santa Claus (1985).
    • Connections
      Edited into Santa's Enchanted Village (1964)
    • Soundtracks
      Noche de Paz (Stille Nacht)
      Music by Franz Xaver Gruber (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Joseph Mohr (uncredited)

      Public Domain

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is Santa Claus?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 26, 1959 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • Mexico
    • Languages
      • Spanish
      • Cantonese
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Russian
      • French
      • German
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Santa Claus vs. The Devil
    • Filming locations
      • Estudios Churubusco Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Cinematográfica Calderón S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Santa Claus (1959)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Santa Claus (1959)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.