205 - The Christmas Tree / Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Added 2024-12-24 08:00:12 +0000 UTCOn this episode of the Video Archives Podcast Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary unpack the ornaments to decorate The Christmas Tree. Quentin and Roger share their perspectives watching this turgid tearjerker as fathers of sons, the cinematic moments they’ve never seen before, and Roger’s personal connection to Terrence Young.
Next up — we better get to sleep and put out the milk and cookies, because Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town! In this Rankin / Bass Christmas Classic, postman S.D. Kluger — voiced by Fred Astaire — answers some of the most important questions about Santa Claus himself. Through song and dance we meet colorful characters voiced by Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, Paul Frees, Robie Lester, and Joan Gardner, and learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!
Comments
Definitely an all time favorite episode!
Zach
2025-02-02 20:52:07 +0000 UTC“Part of cinema is taking an audience and manipulating them to have emotions they can have in a safe way that would be too devastating to have in real life, and they get to vicariously experience the highs and lows of the movie characters, and if you do it with the right kind of velvet glove, that kind of crying and emotional out-leak can be fun, it can actually be pleasurable and cathartic.” - Q.T.
Zach
2025-02-02 20:51:47 +0000 UTCSuch a touching and jolly holiday episode. So genuinely sweet.
Craig & Friends
2024-12-27 01:57:40 +0000 UTCWait. Hold on. Did I miss something? That William Holden interview is not real. Right? It sounds like QT has taken an interview and recorded his question to match the answer Holden gave in some generic EPK. He doesn’t address any of the specifics of QT’s question. Just the broad idea behind it. I’m calling shenanigans on this. QT’s voice does not sound like a 15 year old kid. Was this suppose to be a bit and I just missed that? Because there is no way that interview happened lol
Stan the Man
2024-12-26 04:37:57 +0000 UTCWatched a screening of Hardcore at Roxy in NYC this weekend. It’s a Christmas adjacent movie also. Really appreciate George C Scott after seeing this, Last Run and They Might Be Giants.
Mary Walker
2024-12-25 19:27:09 +0000 UTCCurrently we are audio only, but video may be coming soon.
Video Archives Podcast
2024-12-25 17:18:49 +0000 UTCDo any of these episodes come with video? Or all traditional audio podcasts?
Adam Razz
2024-12-25 17:13:57 +0000 UTCIt's amazing. It's part of that run of Euro-heist movies. The Treasure of San Gennaro with Toto, Harry Guardino, Senta Berger and Super Mario Adorf, Grand Slam with Robert 'TV's Robinson Crusoe' Hoffmann, Edward G Robinson, Janet Leigh and Klaus Kinski , Diabolik, weirdly all seem to be Paramount releases (plus The Italian Job which I know you don't really like but was my favourite film as a kid). The Brain even has a bit where somehow they have commissioned an animation studio to make a cartoon of David Niven doing the heist as a training film. It also has one of my fave things - news bulletins on the television shot on film rather than video. I also forgot he was in Monte Carlo or Bust and The Longest Day. Bourvil is also in a really fun WW2 film called The Atlantic Wall, with Peter McEnery and Terry-Thomas, which is a kind of followup to Don't Look Now, We're Being Shot At, which was like Bourvil's biggest film, him and Louis de Funes and T-T too, one of the all-time French box office blockbusters. But the weird thing about the Atlantic Wall is set in England partly, and they have Frank Williams as a vicar. Now, Frank Williams played the Rev. Timothy Farthing in the much-loved if not most-loved BBC sitcom Dad's Army (1968-1977) plus the two films based on the series, and I guess the French crew turned on BBC one night, saw him being a camp vicar in WW2 England, and thought, 'get him'. So, it's almost accidentally got a crossover with a BBC sitcom.
George White
2024-12-25 10:56:45 +0000 UTCI’m grateful for your suggestions! I probably never would’ve given Little Darlings or Ice Castles a chance, but now I think they’re dynamite. And thanks for introducing me to spectacular films that I never even heard of like The Fool Killer and Amphibian Man. And I now cherish the extraordinary The One-Armed Executioner! So, thank you!! Perhaps one day you guys will discuss my favorite Christmas film: All Mine to Give starring Cameron Mitchell. It’s plenty turgid!! Cheers and happy holidays!!
Jacobsen Hart
2024-12-25 08:53:23 +0000 UTCBecause instead of solo stove paid adds, we play radio spots for movies during the break.
Q.T.
2024-12-25 04:31:27 +0000 UTCI just picked up a print of The Brain to see Bourvil.
Q.T.
2024-12-25 04:30:26 +0000 UTCOne of the best episodes ever. A slight correction-- "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921) was shot in Los Angeles, not at Victorine Studios* in Nice. Director Rex Ingram had ownership of the studio only from 1925 - 1927 -- AFTER he had made "The Four Horsemen" in Los Angeles. Ingram did, however, shoot four of his last five films at Victorine, starting with "Mare Nostrum." His last, "Baroud" (1933) was shot in Morocco. I've made a Letterboxd list (below) of all titles produced at Victorine prior to the occupation of Nice by the Nazis in 1943, for any who may be interested (which is probably nobody :)) https://letterboxd.com/damionmatthews/list/filmed-at-victorine-studios-nice * The studio, an attempt to create the "French Hollywood," began in 1919 at the site of the charming 19th century residence known as "La Victorine" (named after the original owner's daughter, Victoire, The Duchess of Montesquiou-Fezensac, who died a year earlier.)
Damion Matthews
2024-12-25 04:25:01 +0000 UTCOh, wow. Have listened to the entire episode now. (Doh).
Dan brown
2024-12-25 02:42:13 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas from the edge of the North Atlantic, Newfoundland and Labrador! Love the festive episode, even those the first isn’t really a Christmas movie haha But now I gotta see it! Cheers folks!
Mitch
2024-12-25 01:54:41 +0000 UTCLoved the episode. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to the VA crew!
Ian Gonzales
2024-12-24 22:10:04 +0000 UTCThe Medveds infamous 50 Worst Movies book listed this as one of them. Totally disagree. I was 6 when my Aunt and her brother, my Dad, took me to Radio City Music Hall to see this...in October on my birthday. Love this episode. Was Virna Lisi not one of the most beautiful actresses ever?
Louis Letizia
2024-12-24 21:59:13 +0000 UTCFuck yea
Fuck yea
2024-12-24 21:51:07 +0000 UTCI believe that it's when Jessica sings "My World is Beginning Today" in Santa Claus is Coming to Town, but if I'm incorrect Josh can chime in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cC3uXGn1f4
Video Archives Podcast
2024-12-24 20:47:18 +0000 UTCCan you elaborate please?
Dan brown
2024-12-24 20:33:13 +0000 UTCHere's the great "Christmas Warning" Grandpa monologue from Silent Night, Deadly Night - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G94lC__HkFs
Gary Lime
2024-12-24 18:13:49 +0000 UTCThat William Holden interview with QT has to be the greatest Christmas gift. Jesus what a document!
Bill Athan
2024-12-24 18:11:22 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas from the blustery west of Ireland, have a wonderful holiday and prosperous new year!!
Orson Wellies
2024-12-24 18:02:36 +0000 UTCOh, very cool!
Paul Rowlands
2024-12-24 17:28:57 +0000 UTCTHE CHRISTMAS TREE episode pole-vaults ahead of the STAR ‘80 discussion as the greatest episode so far. Now I’ve gotta actually see it. 🫠
Kevin
2024-12-24 17:06:19 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas 🎄🎁 to the V.A Crew !!
Ghost Wolf 🐺
2024-12-24 17:03:10 +0000 UTCListening now and loving it - especially QT’s shoutout to the CBS Friday Late Movie! I mentioned this in the Archives chat, but there’s a trailer they showed that scared the hell out of me as a kid. A woman walking at night turns to see like 20 hands bursting from the ground. Could’ve been a NIGHT STALKER episode - they showed ‘em in that time slot - but I’ve never been able to identify. If Quentin can name the movie it’s the best Xmas ever! 😂
Aaron Lee
2024-12-24 16:52:35 +0000 UTCwho sings to end the show? what song is that?
Jay Curcuru
2024-12-24 16:17:59 +0000 UTCWe are going to start featuring more trailers from Quentin’s collection — it was taped off of a record!
Video Archives Podcast
2024-12-24 16:06:59 +0000 UTC2018
Joann Hinojosa
2024-12-24 16:01:21 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas everyone! Greetings from Greece!
Bill Athan
2024-12-24 15:26:24 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas VAP family!
Andrew Lapointe
2024-12-24 14:27:20 +0000 UTCCrazy but true George Scott story. Richard Nixon was so a big fan of “Patton” he used to watch it on regular basis at the White House. (He thought he was Patton a misunderstood genius who history would redeem) Nixon even made his staff watch Patton.
John Imperio
2024-12-24 14:11:12 +0000 UTCOn the subject of how strong horses can be check out the scene in “international velvet” where the horse goes “crazy” on a airplane during mid-flight.
John Imperio
2024-12-24 14:04:09 +0000 UTCThanks for another great episode! Merry Christmas from Norway :-)
Per-Ingvar Tomren
2024-12-24 13:59:30 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas, Movie Rental House!
Mark Ibarra
2024-12-24 12:36:24 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas everyone!
Darren Franz
2024-12-24 12:34:50 +0000 UTCI look forward to hearing more Clarence pool tapes throughout the rest of the season.
John Imperio
2024-12-24 11:29:57 +0000 UTCBourvil was in some Melville films. But he was also in a film I'm surprised you guys haven't seen, The Brain with Belmondo, Niven and Wallach, which is a crazy film.
George White
2024-12-24 10:11:11 +0000 UTCHope it becomes an episode.
Paul Rowlands
2024-12-24 09:40:58 +0000 UTCMerry Xmas Quentin, Roger, Gala, Josh … and all VAP fans!
Paul Rowlands
2024-12-24 09:31:57 +0000 UTCIt's here! 🎧🎄 Have a great Christmas Eve everyone! 🎁🧑🎄
Thanasis Tryfonas
2024-12-24 09:29:24 +0000 UTC'Cause you can never have enough George C. Scott, man. Or Stacy Keach
juan blondo
2024-12-24 08:41:26 +0000 UTCWhy was there a trailer for The New Centurions?
Paul Rowlands
2024-12-24 08:39:15 +0000 UTC
