Angela Lansbury does another good lead role in a TV film as she does any film.Mrs. Clause is not being paid attention to by her husband Santa at The North Pole and so she decides to take a trip of her own as a good cause for Christmas and for shortly before Christmas comes.Yes as My Mom,Mary E.(Garvey)Baer & I do agree it's very cute & even interesting as to how Mrs.Clause influences all of the people upon arrival & even before she does how all of the people are dancing & singing in the streets & including the Jewish People outside of their Synagogue & how she inspires them as well.Also in doing so it shows how even though faiths are different people are still all the same inside. It's also a very good follow up of the time in history in which it's placed in US History as well as in the streets of Brooklyn in 1910. Including how Mrs. Lowenstein had said "I must say I enjoy the festivities even more than I should." Then in addition to this how one woman on Avenue A is demonstrating how women aren't allowed to vote & of which is why even though she's Jewish she had proposed a Christmas toast because admittedly she has the biggest mouth on Avenue A and it makes her cause good for a number of good things as well.It was on Dec.25,1999 that I worked on my first Christmas ever & it was at a Movie Theater & I had even enjoyed working on it even more than I had anticipated that I would.

Truthfully, Stephen "Steve" G. Baer a.k.a. "Ste" of Framingham,MA.USA

I'll admit that this is charming, goofy fun that one can be embarrassed about enjoying yet watch every year without regret. Jerry Herman adds another fun-loving female to his cannon of musical leading ladies with Mrs. Claus played by the former Mame, Angela Lansbury, the bored wife of Santa Claus ( Charles Durning) who goes out for a midnight jaunt around the world and is delayed for her return before Christmas Eve happens. With one of the reindeer sidelined by an injury, she decides to explore the city and becomes involved in the treacherous activities of toy factory owner Terrance man who is basically a child slaver. Like what usually happens in Jerry Herman musicals, the heroin also plays matchmaker kill a star-crossed young couple, an Italian immigrant (David Norona) and a social activist (Lynsey Bartilson),and even gets to lead a woman's right to vote march. When does she sleep?

The Jerry Herman score is predictably bouncy and vibrant and the choreography by Rob Marshall a little bit cloying in its effort to make the audience grin. You can pretty much predict when Lansbury is going to break into song, and especially when it's going to lead into the big dance. Not a bad thing, but for those who don't like musicals, it's going to be difficult for them not to throw something at the TV. A lot of the characterizations are very cliched, and for a show that takes place on the Lower East Side in 1910, it doesn't really seem all that pretty and realistic. Other than Terrence Mann's Christmas hating villain, everybody is extremely pleasant and neighborly, even the stereotypical Irish cop who has a heart of gold.

Unfortunately, the wonderful Charles Durning and Michael Jeter as the head elf are a bit wasted, and footage at the North Pole is so sugar-coated that you may end up with cavities. I'm wondering if someone will ever adapt this to a stage musical for a limited Christmas run, and perhaps they could interpolate some of the songs from Herman's last score, "Miss Spectacular", which has never been staged. I give this a higher rating than I would do you normally simply because most of the Christmas movie made in the past 30 years has not really shown Christmas magic or the true spirit, and this has plenty of that. For that, it gets thumbs up in my review even though certain elements had me cringing but smiling at the same time.

I would have liked Mrs Santa Claus to be a tad longer, but I was really surprised at how good this film was when I saw it for the first time four years ago on TV. While not my favourite Christmas film, it is a seasonal classic and for several reasons is very special to me.

The production values are lovely. The sets are quite colourful with a magic quality to them. The costumes look warm and cosy. The scenery is breathtaking. And the photography is surprisingly skillful. Even the sleigh looks as though care was taken to construct it.

Jerry Herman's music is just wonderful. The orchestration is very memorable and mellow. But I just adored the songs, especially the beautiful Almost Young, which is the best performed vocally and emotionally rendition of the film. All the songs benefit from great melodies and catchy lyrics.

I love the choreography as well. There have been film musicals where it is sprightly and energetic such as in West Side Story, and some where it is messy and misconceived seen in The Wiz. Mrs Santa Claus's choreography left me transfixed, being neither being too simple or too difficult but showing evident care and skill.

That's not all. The story is not predictable or badly paced in any way. It is original, brisk, exciting and fun. Also towards the end it is even heart-warming.

The script is another strength. It is simple without being too simplistic or childish, mature without being too sophisticated or convoluted, charming and poignant without being schmaltzy and funny without any obscenities and crude humour. In short, it has something for the whole family, adults will love the choreography, script and titular performance and kids will love the production values, songs and story.

The acting is also very well done. Angela Lansbury, a fine character actress who has always had a special place in my heart, is perfection in the title role. Acting-wise she oozes with charm, choreographically she is as light as a feather and natural and singing-wise she emotes and sings beautifully. She is very well supported by the charming Michael Jester, the solid Terence Mann and a slightly underused but still okay Charles Durning.

All in all, Mrs Santa Claus is a seasonal classic in my view and a real treat for fans of a great talent like Lansbury. 9/10 Bethany Cox