Mailman Special Delivery Kluger (Fred Astaire) introduces the tale of Santa Claus. In the sad city of Sombertown ruled by the grumpy Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees),a baby named "Claus" is left to him to raise but he sends him to the Orphan Asylum. While transporting there, a wind blows the sled with the baby to the mountain of Whispering Winds. The forest creatures hide him from the Winter Warlock (Keenan Wynn) and bring him to the Kringle elf family. They name him Kris. He wants the Kringles to be the royal toy makers again but they can't get pass the Winter Warlock to bring the toys to Sombertown.

The stop-motion animation is elementary which gives it a childish charm. They're almost like little toy figurines. Even the age adds to its charm. The story is a little weird but it's a good Santa Claus origin story. I'm not that impressed with most of the songs with the exception of the title song "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town". It is one of the classic Christmas TV specials and it still holds up.

Back in 1964, Rankin-Bass Studios brought the world RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER and it instantly became a Christmas classic. A few years later, they made the cartoon FROSTY THE SNOWMAN and although it was a lovely film, unlike RUDOLPH it was not stop-motion and seemed to lose a bit in the translation. Fortunately, here with SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, the studio wisely decided to return to its roots and made the film in the old stop-motion style. And, with several stop-motion films made in between, the resulting film is definitely a bit higher quality even if the story isn't quite as magical as RUDOLPH--and it sure comes close.

The film is about the supposed roots of the character "Santa Claus", though the story really has nothing to do with the traditional Santar (that version isn't as much fun, believe me). Instead, it's a bizarre tale involving a town where the mayor, "Burgermeister Meisterburger" refuses to allow children to have toys! And, naturally, it's up to a younger and thinner Kris Kringle to save the day!

The film features great voice talents with Paul Frees playing a totally over-the-top Burgermeister Meisterburger and Mickey Rooney playing the voice of Santa. The narrator is Fred Astaire and his beautiful voice really helped give the film an air of quality and class. Well worth seeing without your kids...or without.

I love the Rankin'/Bass Christmas specials. They are so timeless and relaxing to watch, and make you feel so cosy and warm, which is lacking in most Christmas movies of today. As of now, Santa Claus is Comin' To Town is one of my favourites, along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. There are so many things to like about this special, whether it is the animation, the music or the writing.

The animation is really lovely, perhaps a tad dated, but it does have this sophisticated look that adds to the special's innocence. The music is just gorgeous, the song that Jessica sings is just beautiful beyond words. As for the writing, I agree with anyone who says this one has the best writing out of the specials to come from Rankin'/Bass, a bit like I consider The Little Drummer Boy to be the most poignant. There are some sweet moments, but other parts are very funny, whether it is the interaction between the narrator and the children which was very entertaining, or the dialogue of the toy-hating Burgermeister Meisterburger such as "Ooooooouuu, I've been bamboozled". And anything Winter says borders on hysterical, like "you mustn't mind the tree monsters. Their bark is worse than their bite".

The characters are wonderful, with Santa really charming here, and Burgermeister Meisterburger a sophisticated enough villain and a funny one too. And then we have the narrator, a wonderful one with some truly entertaining lines. And the voice work is outstanding, particularly strong work from Paul Frees in multiple roles including the villain of the piece Burgermeister Meisterburger. Mickey Rooney is his charming self as Santa/Kris Kringle, so he was an ideal casting choice, and Keenan Wynn was superb as Winter. And Fred Astaire, all I can say is like Rooney an inspired choice, and he was note-perfect. All in all, I am running out of things to say to praise Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, so little more to add than a 10/10. Bethany Cox