Santa Claus (1985)

Director:

Jeannot Szwarc

Writers:

David Newman (story) and
Leslie Newman (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Guess Who's Coming To Town!

Plot:

The first half of this film, set hundreds of years ago, shows how the old man who eventually became Santa Claus was given immortality and chosen to deliver toys to all the children of the world. The second half moves into the modern era, in which Patch, the head elf, strikes out on his own and falls in with an evil toy manufacturer who wants to corner the market and eliminate Santa Claus.

Plot Keywords:

Toy | Santa Claus | Elf | Toy Making | Toy Factory

Cast

Dudley Moore	...	Patch
John Lithgow	...	B.Z.
David Huddleston	...	Santa Claus
Burgess Meredith	...	Ancient Elf
Judy Cornwell	...	Anya Claus
Jeffrey Kramer	...	Towzer
Christian Fitzpatrick	...	Joe
Carrie Kei Heim	...	Cornelia
John Barrard	...	Dooley
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Puffy
Melvyn Hayes	...	Goober
Don Estelle	...	Groot
Tim Stern	...	Boog
Peter O'Farrell	...	Honka
Christopher Ryan	...	Vout
Dickie Arnold	...	Goobler
Aimée Delamain	...	Storyteller (as Aimee Delamain)
Dorothea Phillips	...	Miss Tucker
John Hallam	...	Grizzard
Judith Morse	...	Miss Abruzzi
Jerry Harte	...	Senate Chairman
Paul Aspland	...	Reporter
Sally Cranfield	...	Reporter
Michael Drew	...	Reporter
Walter Goodman	...	Street Corner Santa
John Cassady	...	Wino
Ronald Fernee	...	Policeman
Michael A. Ross	...	Policeman (as Michael Ross)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Hudson	...	Elf (uncredited)
Caroline John	...	Woman (uncredited)
Shannon Spruill	...	Bratty Kid at Ballet Class (uncredited)

Directed by
Jeannot Szwarc

Writing credits
David Newman		(story) and
Leslie Newman		(story)
David Newman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ilya Salkind	....	producer
Robert Simmonds	....	associate producer
Pierre Spengler	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Peter Hollywood

Casting by
Anne Henderson

Production Design by
Anthony Pratt

Art Direction by
Don Dossett
John Hoesli
Tim Hutchinson		(supervising art director)
Malcolm Stone

Set Decoration by
Stephenie McMillan

Costume Design by
Bob Ringwood

Makeup Department
Elaine Bowerbank	....	hairdresser
Paul Engelen	....	makeup artist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Colin Jamison	....	hairdresser (as Colin Jamieson)
Jan Jamison	....	hairdresser (as Jan Jamieson)
Penny Shawyer	....	makeup artist: Dudley Moore

Production Management
Chris Coles	....	production manager: North America
Vincent Winter	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Derek Cracknell	....	first assistant director
David Lane	....	flying and second unit director
Raoul Girard	....	first assistant director (uncredited)
Gerard Wall	....	assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Julian Wall	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
David Edwards	....	construction supervisor
Eddie Fowlie	....	property master
Wally Hill	....	dressing supervisor
John Patterson	....	construction manager
Lucy Richardson	....	illustrator
John Rose	....	illustrator
Andrew Ackland-Snow	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Duncan Guest	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Tony Marks	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Kevin Phipps	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Crozier	....	sound mixer
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recordist (as Graham Hartstone)
Archie Ludski	....	sound editor
Rocky Phelan	....	sound editor
Don Sharpe	....	sound editor
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Martin Trevis	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Harry Bryce	....	effects trainee
John Coppinger	....	supervising animatronic designer
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects supervisor
Robert Harman	....	flying effects
Robert Harman	....	wire specialist
David Hayes	....	animatronic designer
Sue Higgins	....	foam lab
Graham High	....	animatronic designer
Tom McLaughlin	....	foam lab
Richard Padbury	....	animatronic designer
Gus Ramsden	....	animatronic designer
Kuo-Ren Wu	....	animatronics technician
Tad Krzanowski	....	animatronic designer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Janice Body	....	effects animator
Martin Body	....	matte camera operator
Peter Dorme	....	model unit trainee
Roy Field	....	supervisor of optical effects
Mark Gardiner	....	model cameraman
Michael McDermott	....	gaffer: model unit
Derek Meddings	....	director of miniature effects
Derek Meddings	....	director of visual effects
Roy Moores	....	front projection consultant
Tim Walton	....	special visual effects animator
Paul Wilson	....	visual effects photography
David Smith	....	optical cameraman: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
Steve Woosnam-Savage	....	special visual effects animator (uncredited)

Stunts
Kevin Hudson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Beeson	....	additional photographer
Wally Byatt	....	camera operator
Trevor Coop	....	camera operator
Ron Goodman	....	camera operator: Gyrosphere
John May	....	electrical supervisor
John Morgan	....	camera operator
Jeff Paynter	....	camera operator
Bob Penn	....	still photographer
Jack Thetford	....	electrical supervisor
Freddie Webster	....	electrical supervisor (as Fred Webster)
Marc Wolff	....	camera pilot
David Worley	....	camera operator
Keith Blake	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Raymond Flindall	....	rigger (uncredited)
Vince Goddard	....	electrician (uncredited)
Paul Kenward	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Martin Kenzie	....	first assistant camera: second camera (uncredited)
Brad Larner	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Animation Department
Steve Woosnam-Savage	....	special animation effects (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patrick Wheatley	....	wardrobe master
Alan Flyng	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Les Healey	....	assistant editor
Beverley Lamb	....	assistant editor
Brian Mann	....	optical editor
Margaret Thompson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Burt Berman	....	soundtrack album consultant
Bob Buziak	....	soundtrack album consultant
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor (as Bob Hathaway)
Dick Lewzey	....	music recordist: The Music Centre (as Dick Lewsey)
Henry Mancini	....	conductor
Percy Edwards	....	reindeer vocalizations (uncredited)
Richard Nash	....	musician: trombone soloist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mark White	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Gordon Arnell	....	director of publicity
Trudy Balen	....	personal assistant: Pierre Spengler
Elaine Burt	....	production assistant
Pamela Carlton	....	script supervisor
Pauline Coutelenq	....	production executive
Jane Dixie	....	secretary to director
Pat Garrett	....	choreographer
Barry Isaacson	....	personal assistant: Ilya Salkind
Bobbie Johnson	....	accountant (as Bobby Johnson)
Maria Monreal	....	executive assistant to producers
Eyal Rimmon	....	personal assistant: Alexander Salkind
Alexander Salkind	....	presenter
Christine Samways	....	accountant
John Trehy	....	production accountant
Suzie F. Wiesmann	....	production assistant (as Susan Ford)
Betty Williams	....	accountant
Marc Wolff	....	pilot
Brian Henson	....	animatronic puppeteer: reindeers (uncredited)
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)
Howard R. Schuster	....	financing (uncredited)
Gerard Wall	....	floor runner (uncredited)
Mak Wilson	....	lead puppeteer: "Donner" (uncredited)
Marc Wolff	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Frans J. Afman	....	special thanks: Credit Lyonnais Bank Nederland N.V.

Production Companies

• Calash Corporation
• GGG
• Santa Claus Ltd.
• TriStar Pictures

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1985) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2008) (United Arab Emirates) (DVD) (Middle East)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (25th Anniversay Edition)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray) (25th Anniversary Edition)
• Media Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Video King (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (1990) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates
• Optical Film Effects

Other Companies

• Animal Actors of Hollywood  animals provided by
• Berman's and Nathan's  costumes (as Berman's and Nathan's Limited)
• Camera Effects  end title design
• Credit Lyonnais Bank (Nederland) N.V.  special thanks
• EMI America Records  original soundtrack album available on (as EMI America Records and Cassettes)
• Gyrosphere  aerial sequences photographed with
• Joe Dunton Cameras  cameras and anamorphic lenses (as Joe Dunton Cameras Limited)
• Lynn Stalmaster & Associates  casting
• McDonald's Corporation  the producers would also like to thank
• Music Centre, The  music recorded at
• Nyman Libson Paul  auditors (as Nyman, Libson Paul & Co.)
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recorded at
• Springgreene Marketing Associates Inc.  promotional consultants
• Time Magazine  the producers would also like to thank

Also Known As:

"Santa Claus: The Movie" - USA (promotional title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:PG | Norway:7 | Singapore:PG | West Germany:o.Al. | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Calash Corporation

Trivia:

The role of B.Z. was offered to Harrison Ford, Burt Reynolds, Dustin Hoffman and Johnny Carson all of whom turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Cornelia leaves the plate of food outside for Joe the can of Coke is positioned so the word "Coke" is showing. When Joe picks up the plate moments later the can has turned to show the words "Coca-Cola" in cursive on the other side of the can.

Quotes:

Towzer:The retailers are pulling our toys off the shelves so fast you'd think they're disease carriers.
B.Z.:Cowards.
Towzer:And an article in the Post said that anyone who gives his kid a B.Z. toy ought to have his head examined.
B.Z.:Swine! Cancel my subscription.
Towzer:We have to meet a payroll by the end of the month for 2,000 factor workers.
B.Z.:Commies!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Best Ever Christmas Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Thank You, Santa!

A Christmas treat!

While this movie admittedly has its detractors I personally am NOT one of them. It's utterly charming. Among it's strengths-it's perfectly cast, all the way from Dudley Moore on down to the extras. The sets are breathtaking, and the music is engaging (including Sheena Easton's beautiful "Christmas All Over the World"). With all this movie has going for it it does have its drawbacks. The first half definitely works better than the latter. It seems almost as if they were trying to make 2 movies for the price of 1, and that does detract from the overall effect. It gets a bit confusing once it hits the half-way point but it is still worth seeing all the way through. It's the sort of movie that can still hold up after repeated viewings. You can watch it with your kids, or make a guilty pleasure out of watching it by yourself. Either way do yourself a favor and watch it.