When, where you can see 'Saint Nick of Bethlehem'
The ever-genial Daniel Roebuck is preparing for his latest movie premiere, the sold-out opening of "Saint Nick of Bethlehem" on Sunday at Northampton's Roxy Theater. In it he plays a grieving man who rediscovers joy by portraying Santa Claus, and to explain what is expected of someone taking on that role, Roebuck — as one does — told a story about Elvis Presley.
"Years ago my brother-in-law and sister wanted to renew their marriage vows at the chapel where Elvis and Priscilla got married in Las Vegas," the Bethlehem native said Wednesday by phone from Chicago, where he was preparing to shoot a segment of the kitschy syndicated horror movie showcase "Svengoolie."
"We were all in Elvis costumes, the whole wedding party," Roebuck said. "There were 25 Elvises of varying ages walking through the casino and people wanted to take pictures. If you're dressed as Elvis, you can't say, 'Get away from me.' You give them the show."
So it is with Santa, he said. Donning the red suit and white beard instantly makes the portrayer an avatar of jollity and cheer, with the attendant responsibility of behaving that way.
"I understand the allure of putting on the costume and being that person," Roebuck said.
So, eventually, does his character, the forlorn Nick McNulty, whose wife has left him after their son's unexpected death. He has neglected himself, gaining weight and letting his beard grow to the point that he begins to resemble Santa.
McNulty has so thoroughly internalized his depression that when he is out shopping with his mother and learns the cashier's name is Dolores, he casually — and cluelessly — tells her it is Spanish for "pain and sorrow."
"That's awful," she says.
"Oh no, awful is in Greek," McNulty says. "In Greek it means grief."
Circumstances lead McNulty to begin playing Santa Claus to local children. He also rekindles a relationship with his first love.
The tone of the movie, Roebuck said, is reminiscent of "It's a Wonderful Life," the Frank Capra classic in which Jimmy Stewart's everyman character discovers, through divine intervention, that his seemingly mundane life was important in ways he never understood.
Roebuck said he hopes "Saint Nick" grows to have something else in common with the older film — status as a holiday classic, the kind families sit down to year after year. Like all his films, it has a strand of religious sensibility woven into the narrative, but isn't a religious film per se.
The movie is the fourth that Roebuck, a veteran character actor best known for his roles in "Matlock," "The Fugitive" and "Lost," has filmed in the Lehigh Valley.
Like the earlier films — "Getting Grace," "Lucky Louie" — part of the fun for Valley natives is seeing local landmarks. The "Saint Nick" trailer is loaded with them, including some stunning aerial nighttime shots of downtown Bethlehem. Other spots include St. Luke's Children's Hospital in Fountain Hill and the Kiffle Kitchen Bakery in Bath.
"Saint Nick" is based on the true story of a Clearfield County man, Allen Smith, who began playing Santa in the wake of his son's death. Roebuck's friend, filmmaker and producer Spencer Folmar told him the Smith story and the pair, who had long wanted to do a project together, decided to collaborate on a script.
"It made sense to set Allen's story in the Christmas City," Roebuck said. "It elevates it to where it belongs."
The production moved quickly under the codirection of Roebuck and Folmar. It was only last Nov. 13 that Roebuck announced the project at a Hotel Bethlehem news conference and the crew shot the first scene.
"Movie-wise, that's very fast," Roebuck said. "We just looked at it and thought, 'If we don't get it out this year, we'll have to wait a year to put it out.' "
Apart from Roebuck, the most familiar member of the "Saint Nick" cast is Cathy Moriarty, who made her acting debut in Martin Scorcese's "Raging Bull." She plays McNulty's mother. Other cast members include Valley residents Jennifer Porrata and Kathy Patterson.
Roebuck said "Saint Nick" is another opportunity to show the world the beauty of the Lehigh Valley. He has long wanted to establish a robust cinema community in the region and hopes the film will spur more support of that goal.
While public officials and many business owners have supported Roebuck's projects, "we've just got to get economic development people a little more involved in what we do," he said. "I take the movies around the country and I'm the de facto film commissioner of Bethlehem. One day I'm going to make that a legitimate title."
After Sunday's premiere, "my mania is getting people into the theaters," he said. "Why is it important that people go to the movie in theaters? If we really want to show off Bethlehem, I need to get the movie seen here. Other film bookers will see our numbers and say, 'I want in on that.' "
Roebuck is still trying to develop a suitable distribution deal for his other Valley-shot film, "The Hail Mary," the story of a nun who convinces a troubled loner to coach a high school football team.
He has more projects in store.
"The next one we're planning for the Valley is about veterans," he said. "It's four grumpy old men who do the honor guard at the cemetery and in their midst we set a 21-year-old kid who's defaced the cemetery."
After the premiere, the movie will begin what Roebuck called a "Christmas season residence" throughout the Valley. It will open Nov. 22 as a regular engagement at the Roxy, playing until Nov. 29. The Thanksgiving night showing will include Roebuck greeting and interacting with the audience.
Also Nov. 29, the movie will open at the ArtsQuest Frank Banko Alehouse Theater. It will play Dec. 5-8 at Shankweilers Drive-In and Dec. 13-19 at the State Theater in Boyertown. Other theaters will be added in the coming weeks.
Morning Call reporter Daniel Patrick Sheehan can be reached at 610-820-6598 or
