Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)

Neglected by her husband during the pre-Christmas rush, Mrs. Santa Claus takes the reindeer and sleigh out for a drive, only to end up stranded in the multi-cultural neighbourhood of ... See full summary »

Director:

Terry Hughes

Writer:

Mark Saltzman

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Michael Jeter, Terrence Mann

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Mrs. Santa Claus
Michael Jeter	...	Arvo
Terrence Mann	...	Augustus P. Tavish
Lynsey Bartilson	...	Nora Kilkenny
Bryan Murray	...	Officer Doyle
David Norona	...	Marcello Damaroco (as David Noroña)
Debra Wiseman	...	Sadie Lowenstein
Charles Durning	...	Santa Claus
Rosalind Harris	...	Mrs. Lowenstein
Grace Keagy	...	Mrs. Brandenheim
Linda Kerns	...	Mrs. Shaughnessy
Chachi Pittman	...	Izzy (as Chachi Pittmann)
Sabrina Bryan	...	Fritzie
Bret Easterling	...	Emilio
Mitchah Williams	...	Henry

Storyline

Neglected by her husband during the pre-Christmas rush, Mrs. Santa Claus takes the reindeer and sleigh out for a drive, only to end up stranded in the multi-cultural neighbourhood of Manhattan's Lower East Side of the early 1900s.

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Plot Keywords:

santa claus | manhattan new york city | female protagonist | husband wife relationship | female empowerment | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Mãe Natal

Filming Locations:

Hayvenhurst Studios - 7017 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Corymore Productions, Hallmark Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby SurroundTM)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Establishing the 1910-1912 era was a major decision for the costuming, because Terry Hughes had also suggested the 1919-1920's to establish the period musical. The '20's meant the Flapper period in costuming. Bob Mackie determined the "teens" was a better period "skirt look" than the '20's shorter hem line which would effect Angela's appearance, hair and wardrobe. Bob Mackie's Christmas green and red costume color palette dramatically determined the set's color range. Production Designer Hub Braden was confronted with the Universal Studios New York back-lot exteriors' color condition. The previous film company using the NY Street had painted all the exteriors in fresh coats of "city slicker contemporary" whites, grays, bright paint colors. New York City research for 1910 established "a look for" the NY City streets' building facades awash with a coal dust dirty patina. Specific building facades-exteriors chosen were repainted with variations of warm values either in muted rose or mistletoe green shades, alternating with beige and the color of "reindeer tan" shades. Iron fire-escapes added to the exterior buildings for cast members to be elevated above the street level for the production value in the musical street choreographed marches and dancing patterns. Establishing a conglomeration of Irish, Italian and Jewish neighborhood celebrating the holiday spirit, strings of bare bulbs were strung across the streets. With period Street Lamps, to justify a source light for all the night filming. 1910 dictated horse drawn wagons, carts, carriages instead of vintage motorized vehicles. The December snow required more selected areas for set dressing effects, which included watered down streets from melting snow... allowing planes of water pools reflecting for camera angles. Rehearsing the group marchers for the women's suffrage liberation issues were scheduled for morning activities, with summer morning temperatures near mid-90 to 100 degrees. Progressive filming of the street sequences required much patience for both cast, crowd and dance extras, animals, crew, and production personnel. Scheduling the day and night street filming became a critical lighting factor because of temperature, the sun and shadow path angles reflected for the point of view shooting direction for the multiple - main camera, for second and third camera positions.

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Quotes

Mrs. Santa Claus: [takes Nora aside] I have to go now, sweetheart.
Nora Kilkenny: All right, I'll see you tomorrow.
Mrs. Santa Claus: Actually, I'm going back home.
Nora Kilkenny: But you can't go! Not yet!
Mrs. Santa Claus: Someone back home really needs me. Now, don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I still have presents for you and the other kids.
Nora Kilkenny: Will I ever see you again?
Mrs. Santa Claus: Oh, I hope so. In the meantime, when you look up at the evening sky, and you see a star. You'll know who I'm thinking of.
[hugs Nora goodbye]

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Connections

Featured in Biography: Angela Lansbury: A Balancing Act (1998)

User Reviews

Wonderful for Jerry Herman and Angela Landsbury fans.

I loved this TV musical because it keeps the talents of Broadway present in the larger TV audience. I love anything Angela Landsbury does. I especially love that Jerry Herman rebounded from illness to then write the songs for this show starring his friend Angela. "Almost Young" is charming and hopeful and stands out for me among the great music of Jerry Herman. I am a huge fan of his work and so very grateful that he is hanging in there. If he ever tells his story, it would be an inspiring work. I can't find the CD for Mrs. Santa Claus, though I have tried to order it. I would love to buy the CD again since the first one I bought for my mother has literally worn out. She sang along with it every day for the last several years during her swims to deal with arthritis. We like these tunes even in the summer. We share a bond through musicals and especially shows like Hello Dolly and Mame. I add Mrs. Santa Claus to that list for us.