Starring Rossano Brazzi, Paul Tripp, Alberto Rabagliti, and Lydia Brazzi
Directed by Rossano Brazzi
Music by Ray Carter; Lyrics by Paul Tripp
Our first holiday review takes us not only to the North Pole, but to Italy for this American-Italian co-production. Rossano Brazzi did several American films in the 1950's and 60's, including South Pacific. Tripp wrote the original book this is based on, but insisted on starring and writing the screenplay as well. Holiday fantasy movies for children's matinees were popular all around the world from the late 50's through the early 70's; many would turn up again on cable and independent stations, and later on video, in the 70's and 80's. How does Brazzi's attempt at a Christmas fantasy look today? Let's start in a city somewhere far away, and a long time ago, as lawyer Sam Whipple (Tripp) and the local kids prepare for the holiday, and find out...
The Story: Sam Whipple once wrote Santa as a boy thanking him for his presents and saying if he ever needed help, he should contact him. Santa (Rabaglitti) comes to him after the kids leave to announce today is the day. The nasty Mr. Prune (Brazzi) owns the mortgage on the North Pole and will throw him and his toys out if he doesn't pay by Christmas Eve. Prune hates Christmas, children, and everything to do with them. While Santa's head elf clerk Johnathan (Mischa Aurer) tries to figure out if Prune was ever a child, Santa and Sam first get a job to make the money. When that doesn't work, they turn to the most unlikely source.
The Song and Dance: This is really Brazzi's show, and he totally runs with it. He's reveling in every moment of over-the-top, campy villainy. As Mrs. Claus (Lydia Brazzi, Rossano 's second wife) points out, he acts more childish than the children he loathes. Tripp came up with some nice gags for him, including him wrecking havoc in the department store. Some of the music is surprisingly catchy, too, even when the lyrics are less-than-terrific. There's also the nifty and colorful animated opening credits sequence by Emanuele Luzzati that resembles a stained glass window or one of the stylized Christmas cards from this era.
Favorite Number: The catchy title song, performed by rock singer Glenn Yarbourgh, plays over the opening and closing credits and gives us an idea of what's to come. "Why Can't Every Day Be Christmas?" turns up twice, in the opening sequence as Sam and the children of the town trim their tree, and in the finale when Prune finally sees the light. Johnathan tries to keep the elves moving with the "Hustle Bustle" of the holiday season, but they continually slow down. "Kids Gets All the Breaks" laments Prune as he complains about people paying more attention to children than to him. He revels in telling the Clauses that "I'm Bad."
Johnathan and the elves try to find rhymes for Prune as they search for his name in their books and point out that "The Name of the Song Is Prune." Santa wonders "What Children are Like?" as he prepares for his job as a department store greeter. Sam tells the children clamoring at the department store that it's "Time for Christmas."
Trivia: Riffed on by the revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 2017.
What I Don't Like: Name a cliche that appeared in any "X saves Christmas" plot from 1966 (when the somewhat similar How the Grinch Stole Christmas also came out) to today and it probably originated in this movie. From Santa's dire predicament to the obviously evil rich jerk to the well-meaning everyman, this is nothing you haven't seen before. Frankly, the entire sequence at the department store is more there as padding and for slapstick than because it really has much to do with the film and probably could have been trimmed.
And then, there's Sam. For a guy who claims to be a lawyer, he doesn't really do much to help Santa. He never insists on seeing Prune in court or reads him his rights or even really asks many questions. Tripp is bland and dull, and is frankly pretty useless. Rabaglitti isn't much fun as Santa, either. Even in the department store, he's more depressing than jolly. Brazzi's wife doesn't really have much to do but hand out tea until the end. Speaking of the end, what's with the sequence that uses stills to depict Santa and Mrs. Claus dropping gifts into houses? This was the only way they could afford to do it? It looks as strange and cheap as it is.
The Big Finale: This is another one that's probably best for families with young kids. They'll be able to enjoy the campy plot and ear-hogging songs more than most adults, who'll likely be too distracted by the cliches, bad dialogue, and cheap production.
Home Media: Out of print and outrageously expensive on DVD. Your best bet is streaming, where it's usually found for free.
This is one of my favorite "guilty pleasures." I actually like Paul Tripp--but yeah, Sam's not much of a lawyer. If you can find it online, there's an episode of TALES OF TOMORROW called, I think, "Out of His Time." Tripp plays a guy who invents a time machine. His name in that story is also Sam Whipple! He's also on an episode of PERRY MASON where he plays a creepy uncle. He was most famous for his NYC children's show MR. I. MAGINATION, and he did a local NYC show called BIRTHDAY HOUSE for years. Oh, and he wrote "Tubby the Tuba."
ReplyDeleteI did see "Tales of Tomorrow" mentioned at a website. I might have to check out that and "Perry Mason." And no wonder he knew how to write catchy music. :)
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