User reviews

Mailman Special Delivery Kluger (Fred Astaire) introduces the tale of Santa Claus. In the sad city of Sombertown ruled by the grumpy Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees), a baby named "Claus" is left to him to raise but he sends him to the Orphan Asylum. While transporting there, a wind blows the sled with the baby to the mountain of Whispering Winds. The forest creatures hide him from the Winter Warlock (Keenan Wynn) and bring him to the Kringle elf family. They name him Kris. He wants the Kringles to be the royal toy makers again but they can't get pass the Winter Warlock to bring the toys to Sombertown.

The stop-motion animation is elementary which gives it a childish charm. They're almost like little toy figurines. Even the age adds to its charm. The story is a little weird but it's a good Santa Claus origin story. I'm not that impressed with most of the songs with the exception of the title song "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town". It is one of the classic Christmas TV specials and it still holds up.

Why have so many of the best and special Xmas cartoons been discarded for Xmas shows that are non existent.We couldn't wait when Xmas came around to watch this show, I feel so sad for kids today, who grow up with no real Xmas shows, like the ones of the 60's and 70's!Why can't our TV stations make a special Xmas night, where all the great Xmas shows are on TV.Xmas Eve is a special night, and so many stupid and meaningless program's are displayed. Santa Claus is coming to town should be brought back. along with the little drummer boy, frosty the snow man, and any other Xmas cartoon of that time.

I really hope someone does read this, and gives me some info on where I could buy all the good old Xmas cartoons.I ALSO hope someone out there feels like I do.How great Fred Astaire was as the postman, and MICKY ROONEY as Santa. You can't beat these or this show. please!!! won't someone bring them back? It's not too much to ask really!

thank you.

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a 1970 Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. The film stars Fred Astaire as the narrator S.D. Kluger, Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus, Keenan Wynn as the Winter Warlock, and Paul Frees in various roles. 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.

This special is a classic. Some images have now been cut because of various stupid reasons.

This is still a cartoon that everyone will enjoy. If you have not seen it in years you should.

This film is solid storytelling. There is never a dull moment. BUY the DVD. Its worth seeing the original unedited version.

This is my favorite of all the Rankin/Bass specials (and they are all excellent). Many people get all the "Animagic" cartoons confused...so I'll try to pinpoint this one. This is not the one with Rudolph ("...the Red-Nosed Reindeer") and not the one with the Heat Miser and Snow Miser ("Year Without A Santa Claus"). This is the one with the toy-hating Burgermeister Meisterburger and.....the Winter Warlock!!

We get to see Santa Claus go from an orphaned baby raised by elves to a groovy, red-haired hip young adult who is outlawed for delivering toys to finally becoming the toy making/giving king of Christmas! We also get to see Mrs Claus as a groovilicious babe in her own right and she finally gets a name, Jessica.

Some charmingly dated scenes only add to the warm innocence of this show: like when Jessica realizes "her own town has turned against her" and begins singing of her love for and desire to be with Kris Kringle....transcending into a cornucopia of hippy-trippy flowers, swirls and polka-dots and finally catching a glimpse of her paper cutout reflection in the water fountain in the center of town. Remarkable!!

But, the show's main message is one of love and the courage to follow your heart and do what you know is right regardless of the obstacles that come in your way. A wonderful Christmas special that no holiday season is complete without.

I love the Rankin'/Bass Christmas specials. They are so timeless and relaxing to watch, and make you feel so cosy and warm, which is lacking in most Christmas movies of today. As of now, Santa Claus is Comin' To Town is one of my favourites, along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. There are so many things to like about this special, whether it is the animation, the music or the writing.

The animation is really lovely, perhaps a tad dated, but it does have this sophisticated look that adds to the special's innocence. The music is just gorgeous, the song that Jessica sings is just beautiful beyond words. As for the writing, I agree with anyone who says this one has the best writing out of the specials to come from Rankin'/Bass, a bit like I consider The Little Drummer Boy to be the most poignant. There are some sweet moments, but other parts are very funny, whether it is the interaction between the narrator and the children which was very entertaining, or the dialogue of the toy-hating Burgermeister Meisterburger such as "Ooooooouuu, I've been bamboozled". And anything Winter says borders on hysterical, like "you mustn't mind the tree monsters. Their bark is worse than their bite".

The characters are wonderful, with Santa really charming here, and Burgermeister Meisterburger a sophisticated enough villain and a funny one too. And then we have the narrator, a wonderful one with some truly entertaining lines. And the voice work is outstanding, particularly strong work from Paul Frees in multiple roles including the villain of the piece Burgermeister Meisterburger. Mickey Rooney is his charming self as Santa/Kris Kringle, so he was an ideal casting choice, and Keenan Wynn was superb as Winter. And Fred Astaire, all I can say is like Rooney an inspired choice, and he was note-perfect. All in all, I am running out of things to say to praise Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, so little more to add than a 10/10. Bethany Cox

I will be 33 in January 2002. I only mention this so that readers will be able to gauge my review of this classic based on my age. While I was growing up, prior vcr tapes and dvd players, I and my friends would wait all year to view the various Christmas specials that aired each year. I remember sitting glued to the tv taking in every second of the shows. Back then if you missed part of the show or even the whole show you were border line depressed because you knew you couldn't see it again for a whole year. In some ways anticipation made the viewing of Christmas specials that much better.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN(SCICTT) is in my top five Rankin/Bass specials. Right along with RUDOLPH, FROSTY and The Year WITHOUT SANTA CLAUS. I enjoy the 1970's feel this classic has. The flowers that appear when Jessica sings, the simple toys the kids play with and the songs that are sung throughout this show. I can only imagine what a modern version of this show would sound like with its boy band sounding songs and electric toys and video games. Instead of watching Kris and Jessica court each other and wed we would probably see them live together while they consider marriage. This was a scary classic. The Winter Warlock was very scary when I viewed this as a kid. No matter how many times I saw this as a kid I would always wonder if Kris would make it past the warlock.

I suppose the best thing about this type of Christmas classic is that when people my age view it they can escape back to their innocent youth for a short while. Even though I now own the vhs of SCICTT and soon hope to purchase the DVD I make myself and my kids wait until Christmas season to watch it. It's not quite the same as when I was a kid but anticipation still increases the viewing pleasure once we do watch it.

'"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is an animated TV movie that first aired on NBC in December 1970. This is one of several Christmas holidays specials made by Rankin-Bass Productions. The company specialized in stop-animation using clay figures filmed many times with slight adjustments between each shot. These films were very popular with children over the holidays from the mid through end of the 20th century. Some favorites continue to be shown on TV.

In this film, a narrator tells the story of the origin of Santa Claus, itself a fictional tale. Fred Astaire voices the narrator and Mickey Rooney is the voice for Kris Kringle. Paul Frees is the voice for the nasty Burgermeister Meisterburger. Robie Leser is the voice for Miss Jessica, a school teacher. When she marries Kris, she becomes Mrs. Claus.

My children enjoyed watching these films along with other Christmas specials each holiday season. And, my grandkids have enjoyed them over the years after that. These are wholesome, often with light humor, and fun movies for kids of all ages - 2 to 92.

I am an adult, and probably shouldn't watch Christmas cartoons, but I love them anyway! "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" is my favorite of all Christmas cartoons. Anyone who knows me knows that I love this cartoon! (I was a kid in the 70's when all the Rankin/Bass cartoons were on during Christmas, so I remember and have most of them!) The mailman (Fred Astaire) is just adorable! Mickey Rooney as Santa was such a perfect choice! I love to settle in a comfy chair, knowing I won't be interrupted, and put this tape in my vcr.

I agree (a little bit) about the cartoon being dated. Yes, it has those tones mainly in the middle of the cartoon, but it can easily be dismissed. I would like to explain about the wedding celebration between Santa and Jessica in the forest. They got married in the forest because "no church would have them". This a wonderful, innocent Christmas cartoon - a joy for anyone to watch.

Just watched this on T.V. last night -- I didn't remember this one all that well from my childhood years.

So basically Santa became Santa because he was a revolutionary leader who had to go into hiding. O.k. who knew? He gets kudos from me for bagging Mrs. Claus though, who was exceptionally hot when younger, like a cross between Marian the Librarian and a brothel madame.

I probably enjoyed the character of Meisterburger Burgermeister the most, who declares a moratorium on toys and jails any offenders. Keenan Wynn also does nice work as the voice of the Winter Warlock, who requests that people just call him Winter after he gives up his warlock ways.

The nostalgia attached to these films are always going to make them special in a way that today's state-of-the-art animation will never match. Do you think any kids today have the patience for these creaky movies? I hope so....

Grade: B+

This is the best of the Rankin-Bass animated holiday specials, much more entertaining than Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which is much better known. The songs are catchier, the invented story elements less silly and more pertinent, and the vocal performances more accomplished.

That's not to say it's perfect. The story is less silly than Rudolph, but it's still pretty silly in spots. Some of the appeal of this is a campy quality that applies to all of these shows. But the songs in this are catchy and memorable, much more so than the other shows. I think it's a shame that this has been relegated to minor cable showings while Rudolph still gets a network showcase every year.

Rankin & Bass will forever be tied to the spirit of Christmas, producing some of the most iconic holiday adventures. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town tells the story of Kris Kringle as he grows into his role as the big jolly man in the red suit. Giving an origin to every aspect of Santa, we see him acquire each and every piece that makes him who he is. While this is fun and silly, the length makes it drag a bit in parts. The musical numbers are memorable and fun to replay around the holiday season, but nothing that stands out as much as other songs from similar films. The iconic animation instantly makes this recognizable and brings childhood memories of wonderfully innocent Christmas's. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town gives all of the festive feeling for the holiday season and will be a classic, each and every year.

The 1977 TV movie "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" is by far the best Rankin/Bass movie and one of the best Christmas movies altogether. This family classic is about the early life of "Kris Kringle" and his road to becoming the man everyone knows as Santa Clause. Its humorous comprehensible plot and excellent character building make this movie a keeper. The catchy songs easily get stuck in your head and the brilliant animation style is fun to watch. All of the new Christmas movies so far have failed to impress me. The (Jim Carrey) Grinch was in my opinion a cheesy shallow take on what Christmas is all about and the Polar Express was too caught up in the special effects. However, Santa Clause is coming to Town takes you back to the true meaning of Christmas. So next time you're wondering how reindeer fly or why Santa goes down chimneys, watch Santa Clause is Coming to Town.\ Christmas Movie Score (8.5/10) Overall Movie Score (8/10) Recommended

Like Rudolph in the way it looks, this X-mas special would come out six years after Rudolph and while it looks good, it just is not as entertaining as Rudolph. Still somewhat good for a kid, but it lags a bit more so than does Rudolph. This one does not have the lively characters and takes itself way to seriously at times too. However, at least Santa Claus is never quite as mean spirited as he got at times during the Rudolph special. This one shows how Santa, became Santa. Basically his early days, before he was a tubby guy with white beard. No, here for the most part he is a red head who grows a red beard before finally becoming the Santa we all know and love, or loath a bit if we work retail. The animation is like that used in the 1964 Rudolph special, however it is a step or two better. The main drawback is the story just is not as fun as the previous story. There are no misfit toys, know crazy elf wanting to be a dentist or a Yeti who wants to attack then befriend the denizens of the north pole. Instead, you get a guy who bans all toys cause he is a clumsy idiot. Just not on par, but it is still good enough to be okay.

This movie is insanely infuriating,all the lines are so over the top,annoying ,and pretty infuriating,the characters I really don't like,and the narrator with the kids in the background annoyed me so much,watch elf instead of this garbage

Great show. I loved it as a kid and my kids love it too. It's VERY early 70's from Santa's (or Kris Kringle's)Bobby Sherman-like haircut to the psychedelic song sung by Jessica (aka the future Mrs. Claus). I just saw it again last night and it was a trip. It's very cute and very innocent and I absolutely agree with the other posters here that this is from another time. I'm cynical also but I appreciate something that is done with the best intentions and with heart. Today's "holiday" fare has to be hip with lots of pop references and such. Nothing like that here. The animation here appears ancient by today's standards but the show believes in itself and it's overall very charming. But that song that Jessica sings. Whoo boy...right back to '70 alright.

I love the Rankin-Bass Christmas specials! They are timeless and relaxing to watch (for the most part), and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town is one of my favorites, alongside Rudolph and Frosty, but I ironically haven't watched it as much as the latter two specials. It has the same lifelike stop motion animation style as most of the other RB movies. I can't imagine a holiday season without a single RB special.

If you've seen this before, you know that this is Santa Claus's origin story. One of the best aspects of the special/TV movie is that it reveals a number of "secrets" about Santa and his helpers and Christmas in general that have been kept for God knows how long. It is shown how the big guy got his name, why he delivers presents once a year, how he knows if we've been bad or good, how he met the elves and Mrs. Claus, how reindeer fly, why we hang up stockings, Mrs. Claus's first name is Jessica, and many more. In case it isn't obvious, a majority of the "burning" questions one may have about Santa and his helpers are answered here.

The movie's main message is to have the love and courage to do what you know is right regardless of the obstacles that come in your way. Santa (previously named Kris Kringle) found out that toys were illegal in the sad city of Sombertown, and he knew that the Meisterburgers were always after him, but he didn't let these complications stop him from giving away his toys, and he'd always find an inventive way to stay out of jail. This led to him making Sombertown a happier place and its residents not being all work and no play people anymore. That, and when he gave the Winter Warlock aka Winter the toy train he always wanted, Winter received a present for the first time in his life, which caused him to redeem himself and his icy heart to melt. This shows that even a small act of kindness can make someone's day, and Santa truly believes that everyone deserves a second chance, which I can relate to. Second chances give people an opportunity to make up for their mistakes, improve their behavior, and prove that they're good people deep down inside or want to be, and Winter is no exception. The man in red briefly mentions that he doesn't like sour faces. After all, who does? I agree with him that toys being illegal is a ridiculously silly law.

The songs are catchy and memorable. My favorite one is Put One Foot in Front of the Other. It's about doing simple acts of kindness and the simplicity of changing from bad to good, and it has a fast paced, bouncy beat. Santa/Kris is right about turning from bad to good being just as easy as taking your first step, even though Winter didn't need any help walking. Enough said.

The ending is my favorite part. The main villain, Burgermeister Meisterburger, dies off screen, and thankfully society starts to love Santa and realize how silly the former's "no toys" law was. The narrator, SD Kluger (voiced by Fred Astaire), calmly delivers a heartfelt and inspiring lesson for all: it's true that there is a lot of unhappiness in the world, but Santa can easily take some unhappiness away and bring happiness to others, and if we could all be more like him and give ourselves, our love, our talents, and our hearts to others, the world would be a better place to live in! Like Mr. Kluger says, that's the true lesson of Santa Claus, and he (Santa) has likely been trying to pass this message onto the world for generations.

The Rankin-Bass classics will likely be around for years to come, and this is no exception. Like the holiday season in general, the story of Santa Claus will live on forever as long as hope, faith, and kindness exist. I highly recommend Santa Claus Is Coming to Town!

It's something when you charm an old codger like me with a cartoon. But I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the 'real' story of the history of Santa Claus as told in animation. By a lantern jawed mailman telling the kids on his route how things came to be hundreds of years ago. Funny thing was that the mailman looked a whole lot like the man who supplied the voice, Fred Astaire.

The only other people you'll know as suppliers of voice are Mickey Rooney as the young foundling taken in by the Kringle family after he's abandoned and given the name of Kris. He does however as a baby had a medallion attached to him with the single name of Claus. But I really enjoyed how Keenan Wynn voiced the evil mountain king who was changed with a random act of kindness by young Kris Kringle.

All the traditions are explained and I won't mention how a lot of things came to be in the Santa Claus legend. But it all starts because an evil burgomeister voiced by that master of 10,000 voices Paul Frees decided that toys were to be abolished in one of his bad whims. Believe it or not Santa Claus starts out as an outlaw smuggler of toys.

Animation techniques will change and improve, but cartoons never go out of style. Neither will Christmas so you can't do much better than Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. And of course Fred Astaire sings the song.

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

Jesus would get more recognition at Christmas if he'd only allow children to sit on his lap at the local shopping mall.

Until then the holiday belongs to the urchin in this animated movie.

An orphan named Claus fortuitously finds his way into the home of a family of toy-making elves named Kringle.

Raised as one of their own, Kris (Mickey Rooney) vows to deliver elf-made toys to the kids of Sombertown - despite the Burgermeister's (Paul Frees) stringent laws against it.

For years, Kris, his wife (Robie Lester) and their woodland friends outwit the Burgermeister's men with what are now Clausian traits, i.e. sneaking down chimneys.

Narrated by Fred Astaire, this Rankin-Bass stop-motion origin tale maintains the company's reputation for quality holiday fair.

With memorable songs and oddball supporting characters, this is a believable beginning to an unbelievable legend.

Furthermore, it's more inspiring than Santa's real origins as a Coca-Cola mascot.

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It's hard not to compare this Rankin/Bass production to their classic Rudolph. But this is in a separate class! Rudolph is a simple story which moves straight from beginning to end. But SCICTT is a finely crafted tale with several sub-plots that are told in detail. The cast is fantastic! Famous stars like Fred Aistare (the mailman and narrator), Mickey Rooney (Kris Kringle) and Keenan Wynn (Winter Warlock) bring their characters to life in depth. As does the remainder of the cast. Some people have complained that Topper is too weak of a sidekick, merely honking his way through the film. I disagree. He is one of my favorite characters and is written to balance the strength and importance of Kris Kringle. A larger character would have weakened the importance of Santa Claus. And this is part of the reason I am so impressed with the script. There are many stories to be told. And they are told in a manner that doesn't affect the overall story but accrete to it. The transformation of Winter. The love story with Jessica. The demise of Bergermeister Meisterberger. The story of the elves. And the many scattered explanations of the Santa story! *Phew* There is so much and everything is expertly knitted into a cohesive script.

All held together by the magic of Santa Claus!

Well you better not pout or cry cause Santa Claus is coming to town...

This animated classic that chronicles the birth and life of Santa Claus as he fights conformity in order to deliver toys to the children of the world. So will Santa overcome the dreaded Burgermiester or the Evil Warlock? Well now you should check it out.

This movie is really corny and the voice acting is pretty bad but at the same time this movie actually has a plot to it and entertaining sing along songs for the children. As movies go this belongs as a Christmas classic and therefore though my least favorite of the classic animated films I have to give it props and it is a million times the quality of some of the ones I've viewed. So if you have a family to watch this with you should definitely enjoy this film.

Let's be real, we should all thank Rankin Bass for giving us our Christmas childhoods for their specials we all know and love. But in my opinion, Santa Claus is Comin' To Town is easily the best Christmas special they have made. Yeah, the animation is nostalgic but has some minor movements that did not age well. But you got to give the movie credit for telling an excellent origin story about Santa Claus and how he got his abilities. Along with characters that serve a really nice purpose and charming and memorable songs. Anyone that celebrate Christmas? This is definitely a great option to watch traditionally, especially for Santa believers. Even if some still celebrate Christmas but don't believe in Santa, they will appreciate how the special presents the jolly man. Looking back when watching this from my childhood, that's exactly the charm it has given me. A special of Santa that really makes Christmas feel special. This really is a wonderful time to be a lot more like Santa, to be giving and caring. Merry Christmas.

now, any stoner can point to a bizarre or avant-garde sequence in a film, especially an animated one, and make outlandish claims that the creators were smoking some serious weed when they came up with it. Usually, I would tend to disagree with this dramatic stereotype. But the creators of Santa Claus is Coming to Town must have been toking something righteous when they designed what is by far the most psychedelic christmas special ever. Beyond the confusing 30 second musical sequences and violent pupil dilations, santa claus is coming to town is an interesting look at a young Santa Claus' rise to fame over a toy-hating mayor burgermeiser meiserburger. Excluding camp value, for which i give this piece a 10, the plotline is thoroughly entertaining and the animation unique to its time period. The color schemes of the delightfully morbid town then meiserburger inhabits supposovely inspired none other than Mr. morbid himself, Tim Burton. particularly interesting to this non-denomonational piece are the portraits of Santa Claus as a Christ-like figure and the inclusion of a warlock whom Santa befriends, which i suppose adds to and detracts from the commercialization of Christmas as an all-religions afair.