Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
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Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (also titled Santa Claus Defeats the Aliens) is a 1964 science fiction film that regularly appears on lists of the worst films ever made. It is regularly featured in the "bottom 100" list on the Internet Movie Database. It was directed by Nicholas Webster, and it stars John Call as Santa Claus. It also includes an 8-year-old Pia Zadora playing the role of one of the Martian children.
Synopsis
The story involves the denizens of the planet Mars, including Momar ("Mom Martian") and Kimar ("King Martian") who are worried that their children Girmar ("Girl Martian") and Bomar ("Boy Martian") are watching too much Earth television, most notably station KIDD's interview with Santa Claus in his workshop at the North Pole. Consulting their ancient Martian sage Chochem, they are advised that the children of Mars are growing distracted due to the society's overly rigid structure; from infancy, all their education is fed into their brains through machines, and they are not allowed individuality or freedom of thought. Chochem sadly notes that he had seen this coming "for centuries", and states that the only way to help the children is to allow them to have freedom, to be allowed to have fun. To do this, they need a Santa Claus figure, like on Earth. Leaving the sage's dwelling, the Martian leaders decide to kidnap Santa Claus from Earth and bring him to Mars to make toys for the children of their planet. One warmongering Martian, however, is in constant disagreement with this idea and repeatedly tries to kill Santa Claus, as well as two kidnapped Earth children, as he believes that Santa is corrupting the children of Mars and turning them away from the race's original glory.Notes
- A remake has been rumoured since 2000 with David Zucker as producer.
- It has also been rumored that a complete script for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has been written by Chris Fawkes, though not in association with any studio.
- Like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and I Married a Monster from Outer Space, the film has been said to have Cold War subtexts, i.e. the Martians are Soviets trying to deal with American capitalism.
- One scene in the movie uses stock footage of military planes refueling in flight. This is the same footage used during the opening sequence of Dr. Strangelove.
- The movie also features a song called "Hooray for Santy Claus" (composed by Milton DeLugg).
- The movie is also watched and mocked in one of the most popular episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
- Every Christmas, airs Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, as a salute to bad sci-fi.
- The movie also inspired the name of the "band" The Laziest Men on Mars.
- The movie spawned a tongue-in-cheek novelization by Lou Harry, released by Penguin Books/Chamberlain Bros. in 2005. The book includes a DVD of the original film.
- This movie was filmed in some abandoned aircraft hangars in New Jersey
See also
External links
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