The Santa Clause

John Pasquin’s film came from a script Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick wrote on spec; the studio bought it late in 1992 for Tim Allen. Bill Murray and Chevy Chase were offered Scott Calvin first, Murray refusing a second Christmas picture after Scrooged. Lakeside, Illinois is really Ontario: interiors at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, exteriors around Toronto and Oakville, reindeer from Toronto Zoo. Eric Lloyd, who plays Charlie, knocked his teeth out on a day off and finished in false teeth. Scott’s staged change of beard, hair and weight brought Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. a make-up nomination at the 21st Saturn Awards, won by Rick Baker and Ve Neill for Ed Wood. At the 21st People’s Choice Awards the film won favourite comedy motion picture, and Tim Allen won favourite actor in a comedy motion picture. In early prints the toll free number Scott names as a joke really worked, reaching an adult line. The Associated Press reported it in December 1994; Disney cut the line from later home releases and the Disney+ print. A good fit if a custody and visitation dispute inside a Christmas fable reads as a feature, not a slip. Not for anyone bringing a small child who has never questioned Santa Claus: the opening has Santa fall off the roof and vanish.