Mrs. Santa Claus

Mrs. Santa Claus
Written by	Mark Saltzman
Directed by	Terry Hughes
Starring	Angela Lansbury Charles Durning Michael Jeter Terrence Mann Lynsey Bartilson David Norona
Music by	Jerry Herman
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	David Shaw
Producer(s)	J. Boyce Harman
Cinematography	Stephen M. Katz
Editor(s)	Stan Cole
Running time	90 minutes
Production company(s)	Hallmark Entertainment Corymore Productions
Budget	$11,000,000 [1]
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	December 8, 1996

Mrs. Santa Claus is a 1996 American made-for-television fantasy-musical film starring Angela Lansbury in the title role as Mrs. Anna Claus, the wife of Santa Claus. The film was originally broadcast December 8, 1996 on CBS as a Hallmark Entertainment presentation.

Synopsis

The movie is set in December 1910. Mrs. Santa Claus is trying to convince her husband, Santa Claus, to take a new route, but he is preoccupied with the Christmas rush and won't listen. Disgruntled, she takes the sleigh out herself, but is forced to land in New York City, where she is stranded when one of the reindeer (Cupid) becomes injured. As "Mrs. North", she takes up board with a family of Jewish immigrants who do not celebrate Christmas. She befriends many of the local children and women, and becomes involved with political issues of the period such as child labour and women's suffrage.

Cast

• Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Anna Claus
• Charles Durning as Santa Claus
• Michael Jeter as Arvo, Santa's Head Elf
• Lynsey Bartilson as Nora Kilkenny, an Irish immigrant in New York
• Debra Wiseman as Sadie Lowenstein, a Jewish immigrant girl who fights for women's rights
• Rosalind Harris as Mrs. Lowenstein, Sadie's mother, a Jewish immigrant who runs a boarding house
• David Norona as Marcello Damoroco, an Italian immigrant in New York, who is in love with Sadie
• Bryan Murray as Police Officer Doyle, an Irish immigrant in New York
• Terrence Mann as Augustus P. Tavish (Augie Tavish), owner of Tavish Toys

Background & production

Mrs. Santa Claus was filmed from August 12 to September 19, 1996 at the following studios: ^[2]

• Universal Studios, Universal City, California – exterior scenes of New York City at New York Street backlot set (Stage 22);
• Stewart Stages, Valencia, California – interior scenes of Santa Claus' workshop and Santa's office sets;
• Havenhurst Studios, Van Nuys, California – blue screen filming of Mrs. Claus in the red sleigh pulled by a herd of reindeer.

The film's musical score was written by Jerry Herman, the composer of such hit Broadway musicals as Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles. Directed by Terry Hughes, the costume designer was Bob Mackie with choreography by Rob Marshall. The executive producer, David Shaw, is the stepson of Angela Lansbury. Screenwriter Mark Saltzman based some of the script on family stories of the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Soundtrack

Mrs. Santa Claus (Original TV Cast Recording)
Soundtrack album
Released	November 26, 1996
Recorded	August 8–22, 1996 O'Henry Sound Studios Burbank, California
Length	40:50
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Don Pippin, Jerry Herman

The original television cast recording of Mrs. Santa Claus was recorded from August 8 to August 22, 1996 at O'Henry Sound Studios in Burbank, California and was released on CD and cassette tape by RCA Victor on November 26, 1996.

Track listing

1. "Overture" – Jerry Herman
2. "Seven Days 'Til Christmas" – Michael Jeter/Kristi Lynes/Jamie Torcellini/Angela Lansbury
3. "Mrs. Santa Claus" – Angela Lansbury
4. "Avenue A" – David Norona/Grace Keagy/Linda Kerns/Ensemble
5. "Avenue A (Reprise)" – Angela Lansbury
6. "A Tavish Toy" – Terrence Mann/The Kids
7. "Almost Young" – Angela Lansbury
8. "Almost Young (Reprise)" – The Kids/Angela Lansbury
9. "Suffragette March" – Linda Kerns/Grace Keagy/Debra Wiseman/Angela Lansbury/The Women
10. "We Don't Go Together at All" – Debra Wiseman/David Norona
11. "Whistle" – Angela Lansbury/Lynsey Bartilson
12. "Dear Mrs. Santa Claus" – Charles Durning
13. "Whistle (Reprise)" – Angela Lansbury/Lynsey Bartilson
14. "He Needs Me" – Angela Lansbury
15. "The Best Christmas of All" – Charles Durning/Angela Lansbury/Ensemble

Awards & nominations

Awards and Nominations	Nominated / Won
Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special (Mary Dodson)[3]	Nominated
Emmy for Outstanding Choreography	Nominated
Emmy for Outstanding Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special	Nominated
Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics ("Mrs. Santa Claus")	Nominated
Emmy for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special	Won
Excellence in Production Design Award: Television	Nominated

Home media

Mrs. Santa Claus was released on VHS on October 21, 1997 and September 18, 2001. It was first released on DVD on September 23, 2003 and has long been out of print.

References

1. Mrs. Santa Claus production notes, retrieved December 27, 2015.
2. Mrs. Santa Claus at Variety, retrieved December 27, 2015.
3. Barnes, Mike (2016-02-21). "Mary Weaver Dodson, Art Director on 'Murder, She Wrote,' Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-03-13.

External links

• New York Times review, December 6, 1996
• Mrs. Santa Claus at the Internet Movie Database
• Mrs. Santa Claus at AllMovie