This schlock masterpiece from the sixties used to show up every year around Christmas time on tv. It was famous for introducing the "talented" Miss Pia Zadora to the world.

Who could forget its classic theme song "Hooray for Santie Claus"!

This film depicted a broader spectrum of Martian society than War of the Worlds. Some Martians were good, some bad. Some smart, and some dumb. Reassuringly, Martian parents were depicted loving and devoted to their children.

Sad, that Mars didn't have its own Santa Claus and had to go kidnap Earth's.

Yeah. Also tragic how they couldn't afford really good hiding places on their spaceships, and had to inprovise with wooden fruit bins and silvery spray paint. There shoulda been a government inquiry.

I do believe this film was also the first to toy daringly with Santa's saintly image, speculating that the real reason for all his jollility was the fifth of Scotch he apparently downed just before stepping on-camera. Went a bit over the top sometimes, but still. You have to believe Billy Bob Thornton was taking notes...

Mystery Science Theater 3000 did an episode on Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
The question is; "What didn't they make fun of?"

A comparative analysis of Earth and Martian technology yields unexpected truthes. The Martians also rely on spacecraft with chemical rockets. The designs for their craft are similar to Earth's. Their society also has many parallels with ones on Earth. Biological processes and evolution took a similar path.

It was nice to see a science fiction film which adhered to sound scientific principles.

Yeah, like the sound idea of putting air vents in your lock-out hatches. LOL

Maybe they were contamination filtration units and not air vents.

nah, he used them to crawl into another part of the ship.

This is a superior example of 1960s science fiction cinema. It makes a superb companion to Mars Needs Women. Both films explore some of the societal problems of the red planet. These films show us that both Earth and Mars could learn from each other...a very positive humanistic outlook. Inspiring, simply inspiring.

They could make a prequel similar to Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith...Santa Claus: The Unholy Beginning! Pia Zadora could appear in a cameo role.

"They'll die in the vacuum, they'll burn on re-entry"...whoops, that's Mystery Science theater
mocking the end song of that movie.

Man, this is BAD!

Of course, it's a cult classic.

Indeed. One of my local TV stations ran it every Christmas for several years.

Truth be told, I'd watch this before I'd watch A Christmas Story.

The actor who portrays Dropo is best known for portraying Owen Jenkins in Steel Magnolias and had a recurring role on Sesame Street during the Eighties and Nineties as Uncle Wally.

The actors who portrayed Santa, Billy, and Bomar had been scouted from the original Broadway production of Oliver!, in which they appeared as Dr. Grimwig and two workhouse boys respectively.

Fascinating.