Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)

My Review

“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is a science fiction Christmas comedy that tells the story of the leader of the planet Mars, who is concerned that the children of Mars are becoming lazy from watching too much television from Earth. So he orders the kidnapping of old St. Nick in hopes that he will get them motivated again, but complications arise and the Holiday comedy and drama proceeds from there.

This movie is regularly on everyone’s “Worst 100 Movies” list, and indeed does have terrible production values from director Nicholas Webster, screenwriter-producer Paul L. Jacobson, and story by Glenville Mereth. The one historical item of note from the cast is that this was Pia Zadora’s first motion picture appearance as Girmar, the Martian child. Others include John Call as Santa Claus, Doris Rich as Mrs. Claus, and Vincent Beck as Voldar, leader of Mars.

The watchable “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is not the best Christmas film around, but does have some Christmas spirit in the script, especially towards the picture’s end. It was a box office disappointment upon its release in 1964, but for a number of years “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” was released every year at Christmas time and recouped some of it initial loses. It was filmed in Garden City, Long Island, New York.