BEST SCREEN SANTAS
Edmund Gwenn, “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947):
Arguably the ultimate screen Santa — who has a tough time proving he’s the real deal — Gwenn won an Oscar for his performance in this perennial holiday favorite.
Stan Francis (voice only), “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964, TV):
It wouldn’t be the season without the sound of this Santa who asks outcast Rudolph to guide his sleigh. The success of this program launched a whole set of “Animagic” stop-motion-animation specials from the RankinBass studio.
John Call, “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964): Even when spirited away by aliens — with a young Pia Zadora among them — Santa keeps an upbeat demeanor in this cult classic.
Alberto Rabagliati, “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t” (1966): While Santa’s meaning to youngsters is the same in any language, English remained the predominant language as director and star Rossano Brazzi made this fantasy in Italy.
Jeff Gillen, “A Christmas Story” (1983):
He’s on the screen only briefly, but this department-store Santa sticks in many memories for the way he sends an overanxious Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) sliding down backward out of his presence.
David Huddleston, “Santa Claus” (1985):
Also casting Dudley Moore as an elf, this fantasy wasn’t a success at the box office, but veteran character actor Huddleston was ideal casting as Father Christmas.
Ken Hudson Campbell, “Home Alone” (1990):
Given what he goes through when his vacationing family accidentally leaves him behind with thieves, resourceful young Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) deserves a session with Santa.
Tim Allen, “The Santa Clause” (1994):
Morphing into the new Santa proves complicated for a divorced dad whose belief in Kris Kringle has a payoff he never expected. Richard Attenborough, “Miracle on 34th Street” (1994): The aforementioned Gwenn is a very hard act to follow in the role of the man who claims to be Santa, but skilled actor-director Attenborough puts his own effective spin on the part.
Edward Asner (voice only), “The Story of Santa Claus” (1996, TV):
Seven-time Emmy winner Asner has been Santa in a number of projects, often in voice only, as is the case with this animated classic.
Tom Hanks, “The Polar Express” (2004):
Motion-capture animation enabled Hanks to play multiple roles, including Santa, in this captivating adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s book.