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Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (film)

1970 film by Jules Bass

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town is a 1970 Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. The film tells the story of how Santa Claus and several Claus-related Christmas traditions came to be. It is based on the hit Christmas song of the same name, which was introduced on radio by Eddie Cantor in 1934, and the story of Saint Nicholas.

Burgermeister Meisterburger

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  • [singing] It's a difficult responsibility
    That you accept from the #1 lawmaker, me
    Have it know throughout the land from sea to sea
    There'll be no more toy makers to the king!
  • Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful, and anyone found with a toy in his (or her) possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon. (No kidding!)

Dialogue

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Burgermeister Meisterburger: Ah, a perfect day. Everybody is glum. Ah, and see all the little children are playing with their toys. [gasps] Playing with their toys?! Stop, in the name of the law! You brats are under arrest! Take them away.
Kris: Don't arrest those children. It was my fault. I gave them the toys.
Burgermeister: You? How dare you! You are obviously a nonconformist and a rebel!
Kris: Me, rebel?
Burgermeister: Arrest this man immediately!
Kris: [takes out a toy] For you.
Burgermeister: [splutters] A yo-yo? I love yo-yos! I used to be able to do all kinds of tricks! Ooh, whee! Hoo hoo hoo hoo! [chuckles, plays with the yo-yo]
Grimsley: Excuse me, sir, but you're breaking your own laws.
Burgermeister: What, what do you think? [gasps and chokes] Ooohh, ooh, I have been bamboozled! Arrest him, arrest him!
Kris: You'd better watch out, better not cry, better not pout.
Children: Why?
Kris: I'm telling you why!
Children: Yeah?
Kris: 'Cause... I came to town. [pours some elf-made toys on the ground to show the children] And look what I've brought!
Children: [overjoyed, cheering up] Toys! Real toys!
Kris: Why, sure! Compliments of the Kringles!
Kris: [Encountering Winter Warlock who’s laughing after his tree monsters capture him] Look, uh, before you do me in, would you tell your tree friends to let me loose for a second? You see, I... I have something for you.
Winter Warlock: What is this? A trick?!
Kris: Oh-oh-oh, no, sir, Mr. Warlock. Or may I, uh, call you Winter?
Warlock: Mr. Warlock, if you please!
Kris: Oh, well, I managed to save one little toy, and I'd like you to have it.
Warlock: You... you wish to give me a present? A... a toy?
Kris: Yes, sir.
Warlock: But nobody ever gives me a mean old warlock... a toy.
Kris: I'd like to start a new custom. If you'd just call off...
Warlock: What, what? Oh, oh, yeah, uh. [Chuckles] Yes, of course, but you mustn't mind the tree monsters. Their bark is worse than their bite. [chuckles] Their bark is worse than their bite! [laughs] Hey, uh, Willy Willow, Peter Pine! Release the Kringle! Hmm? [the trees release Kris and Topper, laughs] And no tricks now.
Kris: Oh, no! No, sir, Mr. Warlock. [gives him a toy train]
Warlock: A... choo-choo! [Kisses it, starts sobbing] I've... always wanted one. [his scary appearance becomes good]
Kris: What's that?
Winter: [Sniffling, becoming good] My icy heart. It's... melting.
Kris: Uh, look, Mr. Warlock.
Winter: Please, please. [Shaking Kris's hand, thanking him for the gift and befriending him] Call me... Winter.
Kris: Winter?
Winter: Oh, yes, yes! Suddenly, my whole outlook has changed from bad to good!
Kris: Great!
Winter: Ah, but will it last? I really am a mean and despicable creature at heart, you know. It's so difficult to… [sighs in stress] really change.
Kris: Difficult? [laughs] Why, why look here. Changing from bad to good's as easy as taking your first step.
S.D. Kluger: And that is the story of Santa Claus.
Little Girl: Gee. He's so wonderful. Everybody must love him.
S.D. Kluger: Well, most everybody. Oh, he's not considered an outlaw anymore. But there still are some...
Ebenezer Scrooge: Eh, bah, humbug.
Disgruntled Retailer: Christmas is a bother. The noise, the crowd. I really wish it were outlawed.
Businessman: How can they talk about Santa Claus when there's so much unhappiness in the world?
S.D. Kluger: Poor, misguided folks. They've missed the whole point. Lots of unhappiness? Maybe so. But doesn't Santa take a little bit of that unhappiness away? Doesn't a smile on Christmas morning scratch out a tear cried on a sadder day? Not much, maybe. But what would happen if we all tried to be like Santa, and learned to give? As only he can give: of ourselves, our talents, our love and our hearts. Maybe if we could all learn Santa's beautiful lesson, maybe there would finally be peace on Earth, and goodwill toward men. Hey, it's getting late, and I've got these letters to deliver. You'd better be getting home, too. And remember: behave yourselves, 'cause Santa can still look into his magic snowball and see just what you're up to. And now that you know all about him, you can be darn sure that come snow or high water... [boards his van and drives away; starts singing] Santa Claus is comin' to town!

Cast

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  • Fred Astaire – S.D. Kluger
  • Mickey Rooney – Kris Kringle / Santa Claus
  • Greg Thomas - Young Kris Kringle
  • Keenan Wynn – Winter Warlock
  • Robie Lester – Mrs. Jessica Claus
  • Paul Frees – Burgermeister Meisterburger, Grimsley, Topper, Dingle Kringle, Wingle Kringle, Ringle Kringle, Tingle Kringle, Zingle Kringle, Newsreel Announcer, Somber Town Guards, Townsman, Children's Father, Angry Man, Business Executive
  • Joan Gardner – Tanta Kringle, Townswoman, Angry Woman
  • Dina Lynn, Greg Thomas, Gary White, and Andrea Sacino as the children
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