User reviews

This is the sort of movie that you just have to go with.

It's about as historically accurate as an episode of "Peabody and Sherman," but it's simply adorable if you give it a chance.

There is some nonsense about this being a Dutch legend...yeah, sure.

But it is an old-fashioned story of "Saint Nick" and his traveling companion "Pete" and their adventures in the New World.

Told mostly in flashback, we see how elements of our modern Santa Claus came together, bringing peace, love, families, and cultures together.

This movie has such a good heart, and such an earnest cast, that you'd need a heart of coal not to want to go along.

By the way, I bought this on the "Christmas Collector's Set Volume Six" DVD set.

I happened to turn the channel to find this movie just starting. Each scene held me in rapture. It was honestly the best Christmas movie I've seen. It can only compare to "It's a Wonderful Life", with Jimmy Stewart. I have talked about this film for the last three years to all my friends and family. No one believes it even exists. I have looked for this film every Christmas afterwards and it's never on TV or available for sale anywhere. I love the story and all the characters. It has a beautiful old world charm and teaches a great story of how Christmas came to be. Please let me know how to find this movie on DVD!!!!!

I saw this movie on Hulu in 2009. It's a sweet movie that hints at some spirituality and incorporates a small amount of history to show how the story of Santa and Christmas has evolved. The movie says the story comes from a Dutch legend and I have seen various other locations mention a Santa and Pete Dutch legend although probably significantly different. It is enjoyable for the whole family. My children were enraptured and the adults found it fun and wholesome. At the time of this post the book that the movie is based on and the movie can be found on Amazon. I would say the phrase 'Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men' summarizes the goal of the multicultural angle of the movie. It is an enjoyable piece without many adult themes which is a rare find.

I love reading stories to my children. It was great seeing James Earl Jones gently tying the movie together by playing a grandfather telling his grandson this very special story. I was delighted with the setting of early America. The story was filled with a mix of familiar and less heard elements of the Santa Claus traditions. Perhaps this stems from European origins, which fits well with the early American setting. The movie also did well to transcend multi-cultural lines that so many Christmas stories fall short of. My young children love viewing Christmas stories all year around. I am anxious for this to become available on VHS or DVD. "Santa and Pete" is a must see for those of you who love the feelings surrounding the Christmas holidays.

The recent passing of one of my favorite actors, Hume Cronyn, made me think of this charming television movie which I saw a few years ago. It is a very lovely story which I hope will be shown more often. Hume Cronyn was the best Santa Claus ever!

I usually look at everything made for Christmas viewing. I wasn't sure what this one was going to be. I have seen many movies that describe themselves as Christmas stories, simply because they take place at Christmas. "One Magic Christmas" is one of that breed. When I saw "Santa and Pete" for the first time, I was hooked. This was a delightful little story of Saint Nicholas and his helper; how he visited the new world for the first time and how he became "modernized". The story held my interest from beginning to end and stayed in my heart and mind much longer than that. Using James Earl Jones as the grandfather relating the story to his grandson for the first time was a stroke of pure genius in casting. The writers could have gone anywhere with this tale, and they wisely chose to tell it as a story of hope, peace, charity, love, and family. Their are many Christmas movies in my collection, and "Santa and Pete" ranks up with the best of them. The sooner this is released on VHS and DVD, the better The ratings That have been given are understandable when I note the demographics connected with them. I urge all who voted and gave somewhat low marks, to see this picture again after a few years and see if their perspective has changed. They may be surprised! God Bless Us - everyone.

Like Cheetos, this movie is dangerously cheesy. But since it's a Christmas movie, I think it can get by with it. It offers a pretty unique take on Santa Claus and I love that the Dutch folk character of Black Pete (or Zwarte Piet) has been turned into an actual helper for Santa rather than his evil opposite that delights in torturing bad children. It's also nice that the racist implications for the Black Pete character have been stripped away by making him a positive black character instead. Also, James Earl Jones is in this movie and I say that's a good reason on its own to see it.

All in all, it's a fun, wholesome family movie and even adults without children can get into the story and characters. An underappreciated Christmas flick.

This movie takes us back to the days when the settlers came to america.And it explains how santa got his Get-up and how his reindeers could fly they should bring it to Video It's very Heart Warming.This Movie aint just a childrens movie i'ts a movie the whole family could enjoy.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.

Grandpa Nicholas is seen decorating a Christmas tree before the arrival of his daughter Cassie with her husband James and son Terence. While decorating the tree together Terence finds an ornament of Santa and a second ornament Grandpa Nicholas says is Pete. Realizing Terence does not know who Pete is Grandpa Nicholas starts telling him the story of Santa and Pete.

When I saw the jacket of this movie it showed "Santa" with a dog. There was never a dog in the movie. I wish that people that designed the DVD cover would of been more honest. If they have I would have seen this film years ago.

The story is basically how Santa came to be and why he has a red suit. It is a great film that that I wish I saw years ago.

This film is available in DVD sets that have more than one film. It sells for about $9.00. If you see it for sale get. Watch it and share it.

Oh yes! What a wonderful Christmas story. I, too, just "happened" across it when flipping channels a few years back and was mesmerized. It IS indeed a lovely story and I have watched for it every year on television, in video stores and told others (who have no idea what I am talking about). I would most definitely purchase it if it was available knowing it would be watched each year. I am perplexed as to why it has had no more play and was not advertised. It is clearly a loss when one sees the "drivel" put out each year that are called Christmas stories which are really just an excuse for a Harlequin romance. Albeit there are Christmas decorations and the characters wear red and green. Anyway, Santa and Pete..see it if you can!

I don't remember where I stumbled across this sweet movie. I had to find it and buy it on DVD. I now also on a digital copy on my phone so I can watch it whenever I'm feeling down.

I am a Dutch American, so the story is extra special to me. It is the story of how Sinterklaas/Saint Nicolas became Santa Claus.

There is a little historical aspect about it at the first that is touched on briefly. I love the fact that Piet is so lovable. It takes away the whole stigma of what I grew up with. I absolutely adore this Piet.

This show brings in so many aspects of the New World to create Santa Claus, new Amsterdam, the children, no longer wearing wooden shoes, the Native Americans, the governor and fruitcake LOL of all the things.

This show it may be old, but it is timeless. I love how it revolves around the sweetest family who had just lost their grandma. This show is multicultural, and it speaks to the heart. It speaks of love.

Yes, this movie makes me a great big believer in happy endings.

Halfway through I started to remember that I saw this movie when it came out. What a truly inspiring little gem it is. A wonderful tale of the legend of Santa that spans race, creed and religion. I hope more people discover this film filled with wonderful actors and a great message.