ElMaruecan82
Every Christmas movie features the predictable moment where Santa Claus holds a child on his knees and asks what toy he or she would like for Christmas. Less predictable however is the way the scene is played in George Seaton's "Miracle on 34th Street", the hint that this film will be onto something special even by our modern standards.So Kris Kingle aka Edmund Gwenn takes care of the endless line-up of kids who showed at Macy's with their exhausted moms. One of them asks for a toy that isn't available, Santa Claus gives the mother the address of a little shop that sells it, her face says it all, she keeps on repeating 'I don't get it', and a few time later, the store manager realizes that basically this Santa Claus who seemed rather competent sent customers to their competitors. Now, in a lesser movie, that would have been enough a reason to fire him and makes the sappy sentimental comment on commercialism and its interference with the spirit of Christmas, but see what happens in the film. The mother, played by a priceless Thelma Ritter, actually congratulates the management for having placed the spirit of Christmas before profit and she promises to be back.This is one of the many delights of the script, while praising the 'spirit of Christmas' it also highlights the cynical smartness of capitalism that finds a profit in every situation. It comes to the funny point where a gesture that was motivated by Kingle's good heart became a marketing argument; in fact a win-win masterstroke of such profitable outcomes that even the competitors sent customers to Macy's. Even today, you can find countless marketing operations that rely on the pretension of being well-meaning and good-hearted, while never been disinterested. Interest is the soul of profit, the film gets it, and that's how brilliant it is.Actually, there's no shortage of adjectives to qualify "Miracle on 34th Street", I could also say enchanting, heart-warming, gentle, sweet, entertaining, and they would all be deserved, but the first word that comes to my mind is "smart", it is an intelligently written film, whose charm relies on the witty take on Christmas as a commercial event, a spirit, a state of mind from both children and adults' perspective and Edmund Gwenn who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for a performance that can be seen as a real gift to Hollywood: Gwenn is still today the most memorable cinematic Santa Claus. But the film also won an Oscar for the Screenplay, certainly for its intelligence and tact, it manages to "deliver" the message and make fun of the skeptics without accusing them.In lesser movies (again), only a miracle reveals the 'reality' of Christmas, but despite the fact that this film features the word 'Miracle' and that it was ranked number four in the American Film Institute's Top 10 Fantasies, the interrogation mark is maintained till the end. It's not on-the-nose miracle,the film contradicts the skeptics by extending their logic to such a length that they can't, by the end, state with their certitude that there's no Santa Claus. I just love the moment where Kris Kingle, as he calls himself, is assigned to trial in the Supreme Court of New York and Mr. Macy himself is asked whether he believes in Santa Claus, he imagines the headlines, what a contradiction if the owner of the biggest toy factory doesn't even believe in the most iconic toy provider. And no one is immune to the backlash in case they attack such a beloved icon, when the judge is asked to rule on the existence of Santa Claus, he is immediately warned by a friend who doesn't want to see him as a new Pontius Pilate.And it's not just about missing kisses from his grandchildren; he's got also a lot to lose. Indeed, how about all the Santa Claus syndicate workers, the Army of Salvation, it's a whole pyramidal business organization that will be thrown to pieces if he condemns Santa Claus, not to mention the political implications. The judge, while not negating his existence, moves it to another issue: how to prove that he's the real Santa Claus. The resolution of is one of the most memorable moments from the film but by that moment, it had already earned its status as a classic, because just seeing adults and responsible men making a case (literally) of Santa Claus existence and dealing it with in a very straightforward way is too delightful for words. At one moment, Kingle's lawyer says that if he believes he is Kris Kingle and acts accordingly so, there is no reason to deprive him from that right or doubt his sanity, I could see similar arguments being made today about transgender people.Psychology, psychiatry, consumerism, identity, "Miracle on 34th Street" is modern in so many ways it is hard to believe it was made in the 40's yet it really shaped all the archetypes of the genre, including many others such the workaholic mother (Maureen O'Hara) and the wise girl who couldn't believe in Christmas, played by a scene-stealing Nathalie Wood. All these clichés have become annoying because one could expect a little more from the screenwriter but having a divorced woman with a child, and telling her not to believe in fairy tales was hard to imagine in the 40's. And for all its modernity, this is still a film with a heart and a tender relationship between an old man and a little girl, something that would be impossible now without unveiling some sordid suspicion.But that's the power of "Miracle on 34th Street", it's a film you see with a mind from today but a heart from the past, and you feel so good after watching it.
Sean Lamberger
It takes a lot for me to fall for a sentimental Christmas movie, but this one has excellent balance, charming actors and an original angle that still remains pertinent seventy years after the fact. It all thrives on Edmund Gwenn's definitive performance as Kris Kringle, of course, the man who professes to be the true St. Nick despite the protests of his bosses and coworkers at a busy New York Macy's. His warmth is enveloping and genuine, from the twinkle in his eye to the snug connection he shares with the children. The film's cornerstone moment is an unexpectedly touching little interaction between Gwenn's Santa and a freshly-adopted little Dutch girl who blossoms when he speaks her native tongue. It's stuffed with such surprising bits of whimsy, even as the drama ratchets and we find ourselves in the midst of a courtroom drama, which keeps things from feeling excessively heavy. In short, a heartwarming bit of holiday cheer that nails the spirit of the season without feeling too cheesy, preachy or religious. Well worth its reputation as a classic.
Gideon24
Miracle on 34th Street is the enchanting 1947 holiday classic that made a star out of a 10-year girl named Natalie Wood.The film stars Maureen O'Hara as Doris Walker, a no-nonsense executive at Macy's Department Store who has to replace a drunken Santa Claus for the parade and hurriedly hires a replacement (Edmund Gwenn) who identifies himself as Kris Kringle. Though Mrs. Walker temporarily accepts his identification, she is bothered when, even though he is smashing success as the department store Santa, he makes an impression on her daughter, Susan (Wood), who is aware of her mother's job and has already been taught by her mother that there is no such thing as Santa Claus. However, evidence that Kris might be the real thing keeps piling up and when the man won't say he's anyone else, he is threatened with being institutionalized.This film pushes all the right emotional buttons, thanks primarily to the smooth direction of Seaton and his Oscar-winning screenplay with Valentine Davies. Edmund Gwenn also won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Kris Kringle, which fascinates because he actually makes you believe this guy is who he says he is. Natalie Wood is wonderful as little Susan, who somehow manages to make the character mature without being annoying. Wood's performance is probably my favorite performance by a child actor ever. Maureen O'Hara's crisp performance as Doris Walker is a nice anchor to the story and John Payne is charming as Fred Gailey, the lawyer who ends up defending Kris during his sanity trial who also falls for Doris.If you've never seen this classic, it's a must-see that will surely become a holiday tradition. The film was remade for television in 1973 and theatrically in 1994.
