Capra Survived Potshots, and So Will ‘Santa’

Sibelius wrote, “There is no city in the world where a statue has been erected to commemorate a critic.” But if Chris Willman never writes another line, he has immortalized himself.

One hundred years from now, he will be remembered as the person who reviewed “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus,” starring Richard Thomas, Edward Asner and Charles Bronson (Calendar, Dec. 7), and bended up by writing, “This telepicture will be lucky to be rerun next year”--as our great-grandchildren are watching it on television, on cassettes and maybe on Mars.

In these cacophonous times of screeching tires, wailing sirens, burning brakes and blasting gunshots, to say nothing of bold headlines spouting “safe sex,” it is sometimes difficult for viewers and critics alike to savor the taste of tender grapes from the vine and to hear the voice of the turtle.

But through the discord of disorder and the drumbeat of despair, somehow the eternal hope inherent in mankind shines through the muck and makes itself seen and heard and felt.

The slings and arrows of cheap shots went right through Frank Capra and Michael Landon, and when the wounds healed, the message and the messengers were stronger than ever. “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Highway to Heaven” and their other stories somehow survive and prevail.

Willman took his shot. Happily, there are diverse opinions. Another critic (Linda Renaud, the Hollywood Reporter, Dec. 6) wrote: “Whether you ‘believe’ in Santa Claus or not, you will be charmed by this wonderfully sentimental film . . . turn on your VCRs. ‘Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus’ is an instant perennial.”

Mr. Willman, meet Ms. Renaud.

Rather than refute in detail Willman’s inaccuracies and inanities, sufficient a single example:

That “foam-smothered back lot” Willman wrote about was actually the streets of Gastown and the swales of Stanley Park, Vancouver, glaceed with $40,000 worth of ice transformed into snow by a crew of the best special-effects people in the world.

The remainder of his comments can be comparably considered.

Merry “Chris”-mas, Mr. Willman.