Dorchester’s favourite Santa Claus is Kris Kringle, as played by Richard Attenborough in the 1994 classic film ‘Miracle on 34th Street’.
ODEON – Europe’s largest cinema group, asked film fans across the town to vote for their favourite silver screen Santa as ODEON Dorchester gears up for the Christmas season, which will see classic films played alongside new blockbuster releases on the silver screen.
Attenborough beat a host of famed Santas including Tom Hanks in 3D animated musical fantasy film ‘The Polar Express’ (14.1 per cent) and Tim Allen in ‘The Santa Clause’ (6.3 per cent) which sees the American actor magically recruited as the next Santa.
Edmund Gwenn and Sebastian Cabot, who both played Kris Kringle in the 1947 and 1973 versions of ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, also featured in the top 10 alongside other well-known faces such as Billy Bob Thornton in ‘Bad Santa’, Alec Baldwin in ‘Rise of the Guardians’ and Jim Broadbent in ‘Arthur Christmas’.
Filmgoers in Dorchester will have the chance to watch their third favourite Santa, Billy Bob Thornton, as the actor reprises his role in ‘Bad Santa 2’ which hits ODEON Dorchester on Friday December 9.
Film fans across the town also voted for their favorite Mrs. Claus with Angela Lansbury in ‘Mrs. Santa Claus’ taking top spot with 25 per cent of public votes.
Others who made the top five included Imelda Staunton in ‘Arthur Christmas’ (22 per cent), Miranda Richardson in ‘Fred Claus’ (16.2 per cent), Judy Cornwell in ‘Santa Claus’ (9.4 per cent) and June Lockhart in ‘The Night They Saved Christmas’ (7.9 per cent).
DORCHESTER TOP 10 SILVER SCREEN SANTAS:
1) Richard Attenborough, as Kris Kringle in ‘Miracle On 34th Street,’ 1994 – 22 per cent
2) Tom Hanks as Santa Claus in ‘The Polar Express,’ 2004 – 14.1 per cent
3) Billy Bob Thornton, as Willie in ‘Bad Santa,’ 2003 – 7.9 per cent
4) Tim Allen, as Scott Calvin/Santa Claus in ‘The Santa Clause,’ 1994 – 6.3 per cent
5) Leslie Nielsen, as Santa in ‘All I Want For Christmas,’ 1991 – 5.2 per cent
6) Sebastian Cabot, as Kris Kringle in ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ 1973 – 4.7 per cent
7) =Edward Asner, as Santa in ‘Elf,’ 2003 – 4.2 per cent
=Jim Broadbent, as Santa in ‘Arthur Christmas,’ 2011 – 4.2 per cent
8) Edmund Gwenn, as Kris Kringle in ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ 1947 – 3.7 per cent
9) David Huddleston, as Santa Claus in ‘Santa Claus: The Movie,’ 1985 – 3.1 per cent
10) =John Goodman, as Santa Claus in ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie,’ 1998 – 2.6 per cent
=Alec Baldwin, as North in ‘Rise of the Guardians,’ 2012 – 2.6 per cent
Andy Edge, commercial director at ODEON UK and Ireland said: “From Tom Hanks to Tim Allen, Edmund Gwenn to Mickey Rooney – many famous faces have taken on the challenge of playing the big man himself, but it seems that no one has quite the same on-screen magic as Richard Attenborough.
“Whoever your favourite silver screen Santa is, Christmas really isn’t Christmas without some festive film. Whether it’s old classics or new blockbusters, we can’t wait to open our doors and celebrate the season with our guests in the coming weeks.”
ODEON Dorchester is situated within the Brewery Square development and tickets start from £3 with family tickets available. For further information visitwww.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/dorchester/214.
