No.2 Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Fred Astaire is our narrator, S.D. Kluger. Mickey Rooney is Santa. This story tells us about the origin of all of the stories associated with the big man himself; how he got his laugh, the seals; how he got his red suit, the Kringles; how he got to hide the toys in stockings, so the Burgermeister Meisterburger (BMMB) wouldn't find them of course.

It starts out with a baby being left at the Burgermeisters residence. The No. 1 lawkeeper, Grimsly, picked him up and showed him to the BMMB who promptly sent him to the orphanage.

During delivery of the boy the wind picked him up and flew him away into the woods. The animals knew the baby needed a home so they took him to the famous toy making Kringles. I am amazed at how bright and altruistic animals are in these stories. There he was loved by the 5 Kringle brothers and their mother? or sister? I never knew what her relationship was to them. They sang about being the first toy makers to the king and Kris, as they named him, was a man now and took the toys to Sombertown.

On his way he met Topper, a penguin. Who was never in any of the stories I heard about Santa Claus and I consider myself somewhat of an expert. On their way to Sombertown, they run into The Winter Warlock (TWW) who very menacingly vows to get them for crossing his mountain but after the commercial break says eh maybe next time.

Well, little did Kris know that the BMMB has just declared toys to be illegal and immoral since he had a mishap with a toy duck on the stairs which caused him to break his funny bone. He was derided for his choice of attire a time or two but he gave the kids the toys anyway, but only after a song during which a scolding takes place, "I'm telling you why." Geez, Santa, lighten up.

"If you sit on my lap today, a kiss a toy is the price you'll pay. If you sit on my left knee, don't be stingy be prepared to pay." Great song. Great lyrics.

He then meets Miss Jessica, the future Mrs Claus and woos her with a doll.

The BMMB sees all the children playing with toys and is OK with it until the realizes they aren't supposed to be. He orders the children arrested. In walks Kris, to save the kids and take the blame. He also gives the BMMB a gift. "A yoyo!" The BMMB is told by the #1 lawkeeper he is breaking his own law and he realizes he's been bamboozled. Kris escapes on his running, jumping, and climbing abilities.

Not all is hunky dory yet. Back in the woods on the way back to the Kringle household, he gets captured by Willy Willow and Peter Pine two of TWW's henchmen. But their bark is worse than their bite and when Kris offers Winter a gift, with no tricks attached, Winter orders the trees to let Kris go and they oblige. Kris gives TWW a train and his icy exterior melts to show a warm gentle man of ages who just wants to be loved. He puts one foot in front of the other and their friendship is born. TWW even shows Kris a trick or two. But not only that the Kringles move to TWW mountain to be closer to Sombertown which makes Winter happy because now he;s not alone.

Kris makes his way back to Sombertown a few times thwarting BMMB's efforts to stop the kids from getting toys every time. First BMMB locks the doors; Kris goes down the chimney. Then he searches the houses for toys, they are hidden in the stockings. Finally though, BMMB stakes out a house and Kris is caught.

Not only is he caught but all of the Kringles as well.

Miss Jessica takes it upon herself to free the Kringles. She goes to TWW's house and learns he has a few magic beans left that make reindeer fly. They feed the reindeer, and fly in to save the Kringles. TWW is heard to say, "I'm not such a loser after all." No TWW, you are anything but a loser my wintry friend.

Seeing as the Kringle name is now dangerous he reverts back to the name he had when the Kringles found him, Claus. He marries Miss Jessica and TWW even lights a tree with his last magic. The first Christmas tree.

As time goes by, the BMMB's die out and the people realize their laws are dumb. Kris decides because of all the toy requests to limit his trip to once a year; the night of profound love. Christmas Eve.

The music and the supporting characters make this my No. 2.

TWW saying, "...a chance to be reborn" and "I'm not such a loser after all." is worth the price of admission.