Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street is a splendid film, full of wonder and lovable characters.This is the best Christmas film I've seen to date. Maureen O'Hara was particularly wonderful. I wasn't sure whether to watch this, I thought maybe Christmas movies were past me, but this is a film for adults, a real keeper. It was pleasant without being fluffy at all and it doesn't try and over do it. Writer and director George Seaton did "The Country Girl" with Grace Kelly, which was great also.

Miracle on 34th Street, the original from 1947, is one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies. Particularly, Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle who is the iconic Santa Claus in my opinion. Most of the film features an endearing story of a non-believer being presented with an unbelievable reality. There is the court case aspect of the film, which is a little silly but doesn't tarnish this classic film. I give Miracle on 34th Street the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating.Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) winds up working as a Macy's Santa Claus after covering for a drunk during the annual parade. He manages to convince many that he is the real thing except for a psychiatrist named Granville Sawyer (Porter Hall). Sawyer looks to prove Kringle is insane while Kris focuses on convincing Susan (Natalie Wood) and her mother Doris (Maureen O'Hara) that he is in fact Santa.The theme in this film is one common within Christmas movies about Santa Claus. The power of believing is so great that it defies logic. It's a positive idea that is displayed by the characters in the film at various periods. The adults are all hesitant to accept Kris Kringle as the one true Santa Claus, but they are also hesitant to outright dismiss it. There is clearly something about his presence that they can't quite pinpoint. It's the same feeling I get when I watch the movie as I know it's Edmund Gwenn, but he really looks and acts like Santa. It's why I come back to this film almost every Christmas.The film culminates with Kris's sanity being put on trial after he strikes Sawyer with his cane. Sawyer had predicted that Kris would go violent, but he fabricated the facts as to why. Ultimately, Kris ends up trying to help Alfred (Alvin Greenman) who Sawyer has been manipulating. After confronting Sawyer, Kris does strike him only because he finds him a horrible human being. The court case is interesting and eventually comes down to Fred Gailey's (John Payne) ability to prove that Kris is the one true Santa. I won't spoil it, but you can guess it'll end in a happy way.This classic Christmas movie is one that I'll watch probably the rest of my life. It reminds me of my childhood and the power of believing. Sure, logic dictates most of my actions, but sometimes it's more fun to believe. What's wrong with a magical man delivering presents to all the good children across the world. Nothing...nothing is wrong with that.

This Christmas movie, about a man named Kris Kringle who says he is Santa Clause, is a tastefully and brilliantly done classic that will make you believe in miracles and encourage you to escape reality for a while and let your imagination run free. Filled with humor, innocence, solid acting, and intrigue, this is a must-see movie to celebrate the Christmas season.The gestures of goodwill in the story, and the will to have faith are cornerstones of the quick-paced plot. This movie is surely one of a kind and definitely one that will be enjoyed my families for generations to come.Grade A

There was a kindness in the forties. Granted, society wasn't all that great. Minorities had no rights. Women had few opportunities for advancement. Most of the time, there was a war on. But for most people, it was a time of pulling together, not complaining, doing what you had to do. This is what my mother did, despite growing up in the Depression. In this movie, a little girl who has had to become sophisticated because of the breakup of her mother's marriage, sees little positive in the world. It's Christmas time and she doesn't believe in Santa Claus or even the concept of him. Enter Edmund Gwen who works at Macy's as a store Santa. He claims to actually be St. Nick because he sees so much unhappiness in little Natalie Wood (superb child actress). Gwen is now seen as a nut case because of his statements. He is hauled into court to see what can be done to get him off the street. The case that ensues is quite touching and should be seen by everyone every Christmas season. Good performances all the way around.