Santa Claus (Versus The Devil) 1959

Santa Claus (Versus The Devil) 1959

With Merlin's aid, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil Pitch to ruin Christmas.
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Director: René Cardona
Writers: Adolfo Torres Portillo (story), René Cardona (story)
Stars: José Elías Moreno, Cesáreo Quezadas 'Pulgarcito', José Luis Aguirre 'Trotsky'

A bizarre flick from Mexico translated by K. Gordon Murray for children's matinees, in which Santa Claus is the envy of the CIA and avoids child labor laws by keeping his slaves in an orbital castle over the North Pole.
Currently #44 on IMDB's Bottom 100 of worst films, beating out "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" by a wide margin.

Trivia
Riffed on Mystery Science Theater 3000 on December 24, 1993. Season 6, episode 21. Then riffed years later by Rifftrax LIVE.

Goofs
When seen through Santa's telescope, the earth is revolving in the wrong direction.

Quotes
Evil Doll: Why don't you steal us. We can all be yours!

Lupita: No, you know that stealing is bad, and I want to be good.

Evil Doll: But you must learn to steal!

Lupita: No. You know stealing is bad, and I want to be good.

Evil Doll: We dolls don't like good little girls!

Lupita: No. To steal is evil, and I don't want to be evil.

Evil Doll: You must be evil if you want a doll!

Lupita: No, you know stealing is evil, and I don't want to be evil.

Evil Doll: Steal, fight, and we will all be yours!

Lupita: No. I don't want to be evil, and stealing is evil.

Evil Doll: You want to good, eh, you don't want to be bad?

Lupita: No, you know stealing is bad, and I want to be good.

Evil Doll: Well then, you'll never have a doll! HAHAHAHAH!

Alternate versions
A 1989 U.S. home video release was "substantially re-edited and abridged" to "remove all seemingly objectionable material." This version is missing all material involving Pitch. The running time was reduced to 63 minutes and the film retitled "Santa Claus: The Motion Picture" in order to cash in on the big budget production Santa Claus: The Movie (1985).

Connections
Edited into Santa's Enchanted Village (1964)

Soundtracks
Noche de Paz (Stille Nacht)
Music by Franz Xaver Gruber (uncredited)
Lyrics by Joseph Mohr (uncredited)
Public Domain