144) Santa Claus vs. the Devil (1959)

"Let's watch the little rich boy's dreams!" 

Director
Rene Cardona

Cast
José Elías Moreno - Santa Claus

José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky' - Pitch
Lupita Quezadas - Lupita
Nora Veryán - Lupita's mother
Antonio Díaz Conde - Billy
Ken Smith - Narrator

If there's a Christmas movie that's, without a doubt, well suited for a modern remake, it's the 1959 Mexican fantasy film "Santa Claus" also known as "Santa Claus vs. the Devil." 

Honestly, I cannot think of a more unique and fantastic on-screen match than the patron saint of children, St. Nicholas, versus the adversary of God and mankind, the devil.

I was torn between reviewing this Christmas gem, or the1964 sci-fi flick "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians." I had heard from a completely unreliable source that "Santa Claus vs. the Devil" is the better film. Although, I can't say that's saying much for this movie. 

While I'm sure I'll get to "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" at some point, and post a review of it, I chose to watch this movie now because its title doesn't give away the ending. 

I'm really stretching the meaning of horror to include this particular movie. The horror genre often reflects a culture and what it fears at the time. In this case, I'm really simplifying the meaning of horror when it comes to movies as being a film meant to induce fear. 

"Santa Claus vs. the Devil" does technically attempt to induce fear of wrongdoing, the devil, the possibility of damnation, all in a "child-friendly" manner. The devil can be pretty damn scary. In this case, he's portrayed by some guy (José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky') with the stereotypical red face, red tights, devil horns, black goatee and fake pointed plastic ears.
In this movie, Santa Claus (José Elías Moreno) doesn't live up in the North Pole. Santa actually lives in a magical castle out in space. He has an observatory in his castle where he checks in on the children of Earth through a large telescope with an eyeball at the end of it. He also has a machine which lets him see what children are dreaming while they're asleep. And he has a device that lets him hear their conversations, along with a large computer with huge lips that speaks. It's all creepy and unsettling though that's clearly not the intention. Regardless, those aspects certainly didn't age well. 

Santa is only allowed to visit Earth on Christmas Eve. 

Instead of Elves helping him build his toys, Santa has children from all around the world living with him in his castle and building all the toys. Again, another aspect that didn't age well. 

The movie starts with a narrator (Ken Smith) introducing the audience to every ethnic group of kids up in Santa's castle. And each group mentioned performs a song and dance native to their respective country as Santa plays an organ. That's not a euphemism, by the way.

As Santa prepares for his trip to Earth, down in Hell, Lucifer orders a demon named Pitch (José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky') to head up to Earth in order to tempt and entice children to commit evil deeds and ultimately turn their backs on Santa. 

Lucifer warns Pitch that if he fails, he'll be forced to eat chocolate ice cream for the rest of eternity. Keep in mind the movie is keeping things kid-friendly according to 1959 standards.

Knowing that Santa can't interfere much in his evil plans since he can only travel to Earth on Christmas Eve, Pitch starts in on a little girl in Mexico City, Mexico named Lupita (Lupita Quezadas). While she visits a marketplace with her mother, Pitch tries to temp Lupita to steal a doll, which the kid is certainly considering. But she resists the urge. Santa sees all this taking place. 

Santa is also keeping an eye on Billy (Antonio Díaz Conde), the son of wealthy but negligent parents. They often leave Billy alone in their large house while they go out for nights on the town. Santa can see Billy has a dream where he opens up two huge presents on Christmas morning, which turn out to be his parents.

It's certainly the most depressing part of the film. 

Pitch succeeds in tempting three young brothers to hurl rocks through a department store window, hitting a mechanical Santa on display. Their world just goes downhill from there. These brothers plot to sneak into Billy's house and steal his presents. These little punks then decide to write letters to Santa, full of big feckin' lies about how they've been good all year. But Santa isn't fooled and tells them in a looming disembodied voice from his castle observatory that he can see all the things they do. 

Santa checks in on Lupita while she's asleep with his machine that lets him to see children's dreams. She's still tormented by Pitch who wants her to steal the friggin' doll. So, he gives her nightmares in which she's surrounded by life-size versions of the doll which dance around her. Finally, one of the dolls talks to her in a creepy voice trying to get her to steal. 

But, Lupita, being the six-year old bastion of honor and moral righteousness, refuses claiming that stealing is wrong and that she wants to be a good girl. 

As Santa makes the last few preparations for his Christmas visit, he consults Merlin the Wizard (Armando Arriola) for some sleep-inducing powder to use on children trying to catch a glimpse of Santa. He also has Merlin make him a flower that turns him invisible each time he smells it. 

Santa's private blacksmith makes him a key that will unlock any door. 

Equipped with all these tools, Santa gets his reindeer ready to fly through space. The reindeer, by the way, are mechanical. So, Santa has to wind them up like a toy. And they must make the trip around the world before the sun rises in the morning, or they'll turn to dust. 

Santa begins in Mexico City where the three bothers plot of kidnap him and steal all the toys he's going to deliver. 

Also, Lupita and her mother say a prayer to the infant Jesus, asking that she'll get the doll she so desperately wants along with a second one which she'll give to Him as a present. 

Her mother, knowing how poor they are, is worried as they can't afford a doll. Her dad, by the way, can't find work. She doesn't want to break her daughter's spirits and hopes.

Santa turns his focus onto Billy's parents in the hopes that they realize what deadbeats they are, and go spend Christmas Eve with their damn son, for crying out loud. He does this by slipping them a "special drink" while they're at a nightclub on Christmas Eve, while Billy is again home alone. 

As Santa makes his rounds, Pitch does all he can to hinder the trip and force him to fail once and for all. 

The movie is more of a battle of wills than it is a fight. Pitch does more damage against Santa, while Santa does very little. What little Santa does are more gotcha moments, such as shooting Pitch in his ass with a toy canon or blowing soot up a chimney into Pitch's face. 

The "climax" sees Pitch trapping Santa in a tree with an angry guard dog barking at him. Pitch entices the family inside the house to call the police and fire department by whispering to them that there's an intruder outside their home, as well as a fire. Before this happens, Pitch cut a hole in Santa's sleep powder bag, which also leads to the flower of invisibility falling out into the streets of Mexico City along with the sleep powder. 

I can't necessarily recommend this movie. Nor do I feel justified in ridiculing or criticizing it. Sure, it's a really easy target. It's most certainly a product of its time. It's ambitious. And it certainly tries to lead young audiences in a moral and decent direction with the clear understanding that bad actions have bad consequences. Integrity counts for something. That's a fact which is certainly lost on too many of today's "adults." 

"Santa Claus vs. the Devil" even won the Golden Gate Award for "Best International Family Film" at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 1959. 

With the narrator explaining every single scene, along with commentary - "Hurry, Santa, hurry!" or "the devil likes rude little boys" the entire movie feels more like an old school PSA, or teaching film. 

"Santa Claus vs. the Devil" was featured on episode 521 of "Mystery Science Theater 3000." And Pitch became a reoccurring character on the show as well. Again, it's an easy film to mock and laugh it. I certainly laughed while watching it. 

It's an oddity of a film which has the best of intentions. But, like so many other films of its time, it's a movie that can't stand under the weight of today's social climate. The sugary 1950s sentimentalism makes it impossible to take seriously. 

The narration (in the American version, which is the version I watched) is annoying as Ken Smith explains everything the audience is seeing. Granted, it's told in a story time/ teaching format clearly aimed at children. Maybe that's an unfair criticism. But it's still annoying. 

The movie is now public domain, popping up from time to time on lists of strange and unusual holiday films. 

Call it nostalgic kitsch, or banal Holiday sentimentality. Whatever. "Santa Claus vs. the Devil" is something to get a good laugh over on a cold winter's Friday night during Christmas. But, in the end, at least poor little Lupita got her doll without resorting to thievery. Well done, Lupita!