Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street is a splendid film, full of wonder and lovable characters. The best Christmas film I've seen to date. Maureen O'Hara particularly wonderful. I thought maybe Christmas movies were past me, but this a film for adults, a real keeper. 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, great also.

A compelling and heartwarming tale that will make you believe over and over again. Edmund Gwynn's Kris Kringle is one of those rare gems you wish you could lock away in a safe and hold on to. It's like precious gold. Gwynn won Oscar gold, but the performance is well beyond Oscars. Like George Bailey, Kris Kringle is a symbol, not only of Christmas, but of America. George Seaton beautifully directs the humor, the happiness and the heart. Maureen O'Hara and young Natalie Wood add sentiment to the piece and are simply lovely in their doing so.

"Miracle on 34th Street" may be the greatest Christmas movie ever made. It's also may be the most grown up one of all. There aren't any silly cute scenes aimed at a younger audience. No wise cracking kids. It doesn't cheat by playing hit pop Christmas songs. It just tells it's story in a beautifully straightforward way. The way it wraps up it's story is brilliantly clever. Not a dry eye in the house. "Miracle on 34th Street " is so good I can even watch the colorized version without complaining (Although, I much prefer the original B&W version).

This 1947 original is far superior to the travesty-remake of 47 years later. It's the gift that keeps on giving, thanks in large part to Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, who won an Oscar for his Santa Claus performance, Macy's, New York City the writers, Director and a superb supporting cast. MO34th Street is one of the things my family and friends most look forward to every holiday season.

Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) is running the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. She is a no nonsense woman who tells her daughter Susan (Natalie Wood) the truth no matter what. She insists that there is no Santa Claus. When the parade's Santa Claus falls over drunk, she grabs Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) to take his place. He then gets the job as Macy's Santa. The store's miserable psychologist refuses to believe in Kris Kringle, and schemes to put him into Bellevue. Fred Gaily (John Payne) refuse to let him go, and bring his case to court. The only thing he has to do is to prove that Kris Kringle is the one and only true Santa Claus. There are a lot of scenes that will tuck at your heartstrings. This is especially true in the first half as he does things to make people believe that he's the real deal. When he speaks to the little Dutch girl, it would put a smile on the grinchiest Grinch. Then there is the great climax in the courtroom. There is nothing better.

In my opinion, this is the best holiday film of all-time. This is saying a lot, as other films such as A Christmas STORY and HOLIDAY AFFAIR are amazing films in their own right. I think the reason I feel this is the best of the lot is that it has a certain magical quality the others just can't reach. The story is tops--clever, cute and memorable. The acting is terrific--who could be better than Edmund Gwenn? Natalie Wood had perhaps one of the best performances by a child actor ever in this film--she is a child yet seemed so real. Maureen O'Hara, John Payne and the rest are simply terrific! Overall, a brilliant film. However, please don't assume that the sequels are worth seeing. Sebastian Cabot and Richard Attenborough are simply NOT Santa--and can't hold a candle to the original