'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians': Cult favorite coming to Long Island theaters
John Call as Santa, Victor Stiles as young Billy, Bill McCutcheon as the dopey Martian Dropo, Donna Conforti as Betty and Leila Martin as Momar make merry in the outlandish "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians." The movie will get a Rifftrax Live screening at theaters in Westbury, Farmingdale and Holtsville on Dec. 5, 2013. Credit: Embassy Pictures
Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus -- in a cheesy rocket ship.
And what a ride it will be when the 1964 holiday turkey and cult fave "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" crash-lands in three local theaters Thursday night as part of NCM Fathom Events "RiffTrax Live" series. Adding to the merriment will be snide commentary from "Mystery Science Theater 3000" stars Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett.
The convoluted plot -- Martian parents kidnap Santa Claus to bring joy to their two children who are glued to a television broadcast from the North Pole -- should give the riffers plenty of juicy material. Especially ripe for a few jokes will be the young actress playing one of the Martian children -- future '80s sexpot Pia Zadora in her screen debut. She also performs the theme song, "Hooray for Santy Claus" (co- written by "Gong Show" bandleader Milton DeLugg), which has all the warmth of a lump of coal in your stocking.
The movie screens at 8 p.m. at UA Westbury Stadium 12, Farmingdale Multiplex Cinema and Holtsville's Island Cinema De Lux.
