Mrs. Santa Claus

Mrs. Santa Claus is a 1996 American made-for-television musical fantasy-comedy film starring Angela Lansbury in the title role as Mrs. Claus, the wife of Santa Claus. The film was billed as the first original musical written for television since Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella in 1957. It was originally broadcast as a Hallmark Entertainment presentation on CBS on December 8, 1996.[2]

This article is about a film. For the wife of Santa Claus, see Mrs. Claus.
Mrs. Santa Claus
Promotional poster
Genre
  • Comedy
  • Family
  • Fantasy
Written byMark Saltzman
Directed byTerry Hughes
StarringAngela Lansbury
Charles Durning
Michael Jeter
Terrence Mann
Lynsey Bartilson
David Norona
Music byJerry Herman
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
Production
Executive producer(s)David Shaw
Producer(s)J. Boyce Harman Jr.
Eric Ellenbogen
CinematographyStephen M. Katz
Editor(s)Stan Cole
Running time90 minutes
Production company(s)Hallmark Entertainment
Corymore Productions
DistributorCBS
Budget$11,000,000 [1]
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseDecember 8, 1996 (1996-12-08)

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

Background and production

Mrs. Santa Claus was filmed from August 12 to September 19, 1996 at the following studios:[3]

  • 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.

Nielsen ratings

The film's original broadcast brought in a 14.7/22 rating share, easily winning its timeslot, and tying with a special Thursday repeat of Men Behaving Badly on NBC, for #3 out of 110 programs airing that week.[4][5]

Soundtrack
Mrs. Santa Claus
(Original TV Cast Recording)
Soundtrack album
ReleasedNovember 26, 1996
RecordedAugust 8–22, 1996
StudioO'Henry Sound Studios
Burbank, California
Length40:50
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerDon Pippin, Jerry Herman

The original television cast recording of Mrs. Santa Claus was recorded from August 8 to 22, 1996 at O'Henry Sound Studios in Burbank, California. It 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
  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

Awards and nominations
YearPrimetime Emmy AwardsResult
1997Outstanding ChoreographyNominated
Art Direction - Miniseries or a Special (Mary Dodson)[6]Nominated
Costume Design - Miniseries or a SpecialNominated
Outstanding Hairstyling - Miniseries or a SpecialWon
Outstanding Music and Lyrics - "Mrs. Santa Claus"Nominated

Home media

Mrs. Santa Claus was released on VHS and Laserdisc on October 21, 1997 and again on VHS September 18, 2001. It was first released on DVD on September 23, 2003 and was long been out of print until a 2018 re-release by Sonar Entertainment.

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References
  1. Mrs. Santa Claus production notes, retrieved December 27, 2015.
  2. Lansbury Sings 'Mrs. Santa Claus' to Life at Los Angeles Times
  3. Mrs. Santa Claus at Variety, retrieved December 27, 2015.
  4. https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-12-16.pdf
  5. http://tvtango.com/listings/1996/12/08/
  6. Barnes, Mike (2016-02-21). "Mary Weaver Dodson, Art Director on 'Murder, She Wrote,' Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
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