MovieChat Forums > Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1966) Discussion > Was this made for TV? Is it ironic?

Was this made for TV? Is it ironic?

posted 16 years ago by CameronMB
13 replies | jump to latest

Two questions. First, does anyone know if this movie actually got a significant theatrical release, or was it made for television? The opening of my version says "An Avco Embassy Television Presentation."

Also, I have to ask: don't some of you think that there is a certain amount of irony behind this movie? Let me explain: we all know that this is an utterly, absurdly bad movie. But unlike a lot of people, I get the sense that the filmmakers were TRYING to make something campy; that they knew it was horrible and were going for ironic laughs, not a sincere attempt at a children's sci-fi christmas movie that just happened to be terrible. In other words, the filmmakers seem to me to be in on the joke... they couldn't possibly have made a movie like this in seriousness... could they?

[–] mattcweber 16 years ago

It actually was in theatres, albeit small ones. I have an original 1-sheet theatrical poster on my wall and it says "sat.-sun. matinee special. I think this film needs a special edition with a documentary.

[–] rs3-1556 16 years ago

Indeed it was a theatrical release. I have an original 40"x60" poster myself. It couldn't have lasted for very long in any given movie house.

[–] churchr-1 16 years ago

I'd say that being a kid's movie made in 1964 they were dead serious. I've actually seen worse, though thankfully my mind has blocked out the details and names of those movies.

[–] metallak 16 years ago

i do remember when it came out at the theaters. it was advertized on TV, but didn't play for very long. seemed like a fun movie at the time. i guess when you're five years old, anything crazy like that flick is fun. anyone with a toddler has a good excuse to watch. ; )

[–] gppressingon 16 years ago

Metallak is right that this is a sincerely fun flick for five-year-olds. I watched it with my six-year-old son and he was really into it. I enjoy it immensely myself, at 40, and it's among the must-see movies every Christmas.

The campiness is there, but I don't think any of it was intentional, as in the producers saying, "Let's make a campy, cult classic!" As someone said (Roger Corman or David Friedman), filmmakers don't make cult classics; the audience gives it that status. And I think film fanatics who watch this stuff would know if they were being conned with a prepackaged cult fim. I think that's why Ed Wood's films are so beloved by us (assuming I'm among likeminded fans), the sincere attempt to make a good film by all involved endears it to us.

I really believe that SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS was made in sincerity with little kids as the target audience, and it really worked. As much as we laugh at the polar bear or Trog the tin can robot, my son took it all very seriously, as would most kindergarteners.

[–] SteveB-NY 16 years ago

I remember seeing it at the old movie house on 116th street, now long gone and seeing most of my first grade class in there as well.
Looking back it really is a horrible movie but I have a soft spot in my heart for it due to the memories of innocent wonder and joy it brings streaming back.

[–] shields-13 16 years ago

This is, I agree, bottom-of-the-barrel entertainment, even for kids. But it's not completely without intentional humour (OK, almost completely). There's a reference (almost too quick to catch) to a Werner von Green!? Most kids wouldn't have been aware that Werner von Braun was the scientist most responsible for developing rockets. Anyway, my "kids", now 20 and 23, still think it's great fun!

[–] tdl797 15 years ago

if it was made for TV that would have been extremely ironic as they constantly talk about how bad TV is for the kids.

[–] robert4770 11 years ago

Not only was it a theatrical release (I saw it there) it had many re-issues well into the early 70's.

[–] koppmeier_kevin 11 years ago

It was also in theaters in December of 2011

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hockeyhrs 11 years ago

It was a theatrical release.

It came out in late 1964 . . . for the express purpose of being a convenient place for parents to drop off their kids while they went Xmas shopping (for those same kids).

How do I know? I was one of those kids who got deposited in some suburban Philadelphia movie theatre showing SCCTM on a Saturday afternoon in December, 1964.

Think Don Draper's kids -- Sally & Bobby -- and you have your target audience.

[–] glasshull 7 years ago

I saw it in the theater when I was 10 years old, in 1964. Found it condescending and kind of stupid. It was advertised on television.