Miracle on 34th Street Reviews and Ratings


  • Yelverton
    January 1, 2010
    Yelverton
    Heartwarming family movie. It's a classic.
  • QueenDebbie
    December 26, 2009
    QueenDebbie
    Brilliant Christmas film. Nice, interesting story and heartwarming!
  • davejdavies
    December 26, 2009
    davejdavies
    Excellent Christmas movie. The old movies are always the best.
  • AgentLexi2132
    December 25, 2009
    AgentLexi2132
    Pending a good ole review baby!
  • PvtCaboose91
    December 25, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for. It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles."


    Nothing says Christmas quite like the classics can. In a contemporar

    ...( read more)y cinematic age governed by a desire for cash over quality, few - if any - modern Christmas flicks are destined to be as popular as the seasonal favourites of old. One picture which ranks highly in the category of Yuletide classics is the 1947 masterpiece Miracle on 34th Street. It's interesting to note just how unlikely this film's success was - back in the '40s, it was a film the studio had no idea know how to handle. It was selected for a summer release (in America, that is, when movie-goers aren't in the mood for movies about Santa Claus), it was armed with a surprisingly astute social insight, it offered subtle jabs at festive commercialism, and was infused with an intersection of law and politics. But Miracle on 34th Street found its audience, and was bestowed with acclaim and Oscars. Anchored by a winning combination of warm, sincere performances, magical moments, and a screenplay that's both sentimental and smart, Miracle on 34th Street should be required viewing on Christmas Eve. Children will find it a rewarding fantasy about the existence of Santa, while older, more mature viewers will be rewarded with an intelligence often lacking in Christmastime entertainment.


    As the film begins, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is about to take place. The Santa Claus hired for said parade is found to be slightly inebriated, and the parade organiser, Doris Walker (O'Hara), is left with no other option but to hire an elderly man she encounters (Gwenn) who happens to look remarkably like Santa. Due to the success of the parade, this old man is then hired as the department store Santa at Macy's, and is a huge hit: he's wonderful with children and is genuinely full of the Christmas spirit. In fact, this man claims that he actually is Kris Kringle himself. Problem is, Doris is raising her daughter Susan (Wood) with directness and honestly, meaning a complete absence of fairy tales, myths...and Santa Claus. Kris' ostensibly ridiculous claim is challenged, of course. Ultimately, rationality and the fantastical meet head to head in a courtroom where the sanity of Kris Kringle is to be determined.


    Similar to other Christmas films set during the first half of the twentieth century (like A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life, to name a couple), Miracle on 34th Street evokes and captures a time of sheltered innocence far removed from this day and age. It's almost impossible to imagine a period ever existing - a time when a trip to the department store meant dressing in your very best clothes, and when a stranger across the hall could be trusted alone with a little girl. To view Miracle on 34th Street is not to step back in time per se, but to enter a nostalgic dream wherein an array of wonderful moments unfold: Kris Kringle singing with a little Dutch girl, the great Thelma Ritter in an unbilled cameo as an early benefactor of Kringle's natural goodwill, and the United States Postal Service opting to dump all the undelivered Santa letters on Kris when he's in court.


    George Seaton started as a radio actor before moving behind the camera during the 1930s. Miracle on 34th Street was only his fourth movie as a director, but he shows a solid sense of craftsmanship. Seaton's visuals may not exactly be outstanding, but he shows a true gift for working with actors (which comes back to the fact that he was an actor himself prior to his directorial career). Edward Gwenn's performance as Kris Kringle, for which he earned an Oscar, is wonderfully endearing - he's the perfect movie Santa Claus. Gwenn portrays the jolly fat man as the embodiment of goodwill and kind-heartedness; the type of person that makes you smile just by seeing them. Best of all, he deftly keeps his character ambiguous as to whether he genuinely is Santa Claus or just a sweetly deluded old man. Either way, you can't help but love the guy. Further additions to the cast include the wonderful Maureen O'Hara who's very convincing as Doris, and the precocious young Natalie Wood who's an utter joy as Susan.


    Miracle on 34th Street also stands out due to its innovative (for the time) and extensive use of authentic locations - Seaton managed to integrate his actors into the real Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Gwenn even played Santa for the event), and a few specific scenes were shot inside an actual Macy's department store with real workers and customers in the background. Such techniques are highly effective, as is the film's extraordinarily clever ambiguity. No-one ever definitively declares Kris to be the real Santa Claus, nor does the movie prove in any way that Santa exists, and there isn't a single shred of hard evidence to suggest Kris truly is Santa. Just as Doris and Susan slowly begin to gain faith in the unprovable, so does the audience. Sure, hints are presented in Kris' favour, but nothing is solid. It's up to us to believe and interpret the ending however we want.


    It may not approach the dizzying heights of the brilliant Christmas staple It's a Wonderful Life, but Miracle on 34th Street remains a smart, immensely enjoyable festive fable that carefully hedges its bets in playing the line between reality and fantasy. In this regard, Edmund Gwenn's performance as Kris Kringle is pitch-perfect because he's able to generate the belief that Santa Claus is not just a mere impossibility, even for the adults (both in the audience and in the film) who should "know better". Yet, this movie refuses to get mushy on us. The sentiment is earned and genuine, but never forced. Seaton's screenplay is sharp; the tender drama is deftly combined with sly humour (this is actually a very funny movie) and a knowing, biting commentary on the commercialism of Christmas that grows more relevant with each passing year (I wonder what Kris would think about the state of Christmas commercialism today...). Miracle on 34th Street is not some cornball effort that uses the Christmas backdrop as a way to cheaply jerk a tear...it's a simple story of how decency and kindness will win over the most cynical of hearts. Here is a movie that doesn't push the materialistic aspect of the festive season (Jingle All the Way, anyone?) but rather the spirit of the holiday. It is, quite plainly, the Christmas spirit put on film.
  • jackass001
    December 15, 2009
    jackass001
    one of the good classic christmas movie of the 1940's. this one is better than the 1994 remake. good plot and the some of casts.
  • sportboy
    November 30, 2009
    sportboy
    Review coming soon..
  • OCButterfly99
    November 29, 2009
    OCButterfly99
    I love this movie classic. Will always love forever!
  • Fragglefreak
    November 25, 2009
    Fragglefreak
    A must rewatch every Christmas. It's heartfelt and sweet and a great family movie.
  • kogrone
    November 23, 2009
    kogrone
    One of my fav Christmas movies that I watch anytime of the year.






    A family favorite and the best of the bunch - no remake has come close.
  • kluroda01
    November 23, 2009
    kluroda01
    oh come! it's a great christmas flic.. anyone who can't see how must live a dreary existence in regards to it.
  • whispersofecstacy
    November 10, 2009
    whispersofecstacy
    By far the best adaption of this story. Gwenn is the epitome of Santa Claus.
  • SageSlowdive
    August 24, 2009
    SageSlowdive
    Hard movie to review, since it's POINTLESS and utterly unbelivable.
  • djabonillojr2008
    August 22, 2009
    djabonillojr2008
    Add a review (optional)...
  • JamesThePirate
    July 27, 2009
    JamesThePirate
    SEEN IT
    REVIEW COMING SOON
  • nightwalker516
    July 9, 2009
    nightwalker516
    always a good one i've been watching this every years for over 40 years
  • jesusjames1
    July 9, 2009
    jesusjames1
    a classic, every Christmas I put it on my DVD to see it on family
  • AusChic
    June 21, 2009
    AusChic
    Its always a favourite to watch on that Sunday afternoon.
  • Joecuffaro
    June 15, 2009
    Joecuffaro
    some kids films around christmas time have a hidden gem status about them that make them fun for anyone to watch at time of festivities. Though a few people hold this film in high regard as one of those, i certainly do not.
  • ahhh1989
    May 25, 2009
    ahhh1989
    Weak compared to IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, but still quite enjoyable.
  • DreamsofRidingThestrals
    April 14, 2009
    DreamsofRidingThestrals
    Little Natalie Wood is the reason to see this classic film.
  • kronkles
    April 1, 2009
    kronkles
    this classic will be around fro a looooooong time to come
  • CherrySoda99
    March 10, 2009
    CherrySoda99
    Good classic Christmas movie
  • dolphinsandelves
    March 10, 2009
    dolphinsandelves
    One of my favourite christmas movies.
  • PuffyTheMagicDragon
    February 9, 2009
    PuffyTheMagicDragon
    omg is this the right version? coz that film is increble
  • paulanthonynelson
    January 12, 2009
    paulanthonynelson
    A Christmas favourite while growing up.
  • endeavourcrellc
    January 11, 2009
    endeavourcrellc
    The great among Holiday Classics, films like this are the measuring stick for todays.
    Great suprise ending.
  • ChristinaLovesMovies
    January 2, 2009
    ChristinaLovesMovies
    an ok black and white christmas classic about the innocence of childhood and santa claus. not really that entertaining a story, but still somewhat heartwarming.
  • wonderfell
    December 27, 2008
    wonderfell
    I couldn't believe how poised and articulate Natalie Wood was, even as a little girl, and I have to say, this movie made me believe again.
  • bradwest
    December 25, 2008
    bradwest
    Well, I have to review something festive this time of year and this picture isn't quite as schmaltzy as some.

    It's quite cute, with writing actually better than 75% of what's produced today. The kids aren't annoying, the court scenes almost play like they could've come from Bo...( read more)ston Legal and there's enough screwball comedy to make it worth sitting through.

    You could do worse (and if you watch the remake you will).
  • ember22
    December 24, 2008
    ember22
    "Faith is believing in something even if common sense tells you not to"

    Finally managed to watch it from start to finish and it was brilliant. It even put me in the mood for christmas and i dont think i felt like that since i was about 12. Good acting, espcially from a very youn...( read more)g Natalie Wood in the role of Susan and Edmund Gwenn who playing Santa himself. Its got some great lines in it aswell. No its not a deep or psycho/socio-analytic movie, nor is it visually stunning and it wont get stuck in your head but its a heart warmer and thats what it's meant to be.
  • organgrinder136
    December 24, 2008
    organgrinder136
    a decent christmas film. worth watching. it's the complete opposite of bad santa but almost just as good. the scene where all the letters arrive is awesomesauce. heart warming
  • katangel13
    December 21, 2008
    katangel13
    really really good ^-^ the acting was a little funny but the story saved it. Definately want to buy it!
  • terris85017
    December 21, 2008
    terris85017
    Impossible to beat the best! WONDERFUL! and the little child star Natalie Wood!
  • triskelt
    December 21, 2008
    triskelt
    An original Christmas Classic no one should miss every Christmas!
  • elizabethapato
    December 19, 2008
    elizabethapato
    This version is waaaayyyy better than the new one...
  • godsend311
    December 17, 2008
    godsend311
    Great touching Christmas story. Although a remake has been made, I prefer the classic original.
  • angelamcardle2002
    December 13, 2008
    angelamcardle2002
    Loved it, a very sweet film
  • dubja706
    December 12, 2008
    dubja706
    And last but not least Miracle on 34th street. Maybe that's where I need to relocate to Ha!
  • dan9fromouterspace
    December 12, 2008
    dan9fromouterspace
    A highly entertaining christmas classic that manages to be touching without being preachy or mushy.
  • ladydia2007
    December 9, 2008
    ladydia2007
    one of the best christmas shows from the old days.
  • kimbermcleod
    December 7, 2008
    kimbermcleod
    I hadn't watched this movie in an age. But the kids are older so I thought this year might be time to introduce them to it. Ah, I'd forgotten how much I like it.

    The premise is a bit sketchy, but all in all I love the way it puts "I Believe" into a more modern perspective;...( read more) capitalism, political realities and all.

    I don't care who else has ever played Santa there will never be any "live action" Santa for me but Edmund Gwenn. A perfect blending of the Jolly Old Elf and the Coca Cola Construct. Natalie Wood offers a wonderful portrait of both cynicism and the incorruptible innocence of youth. Not an easy thing to do, in my opinion. :)

    Excellent feel good spirit of Christmas movie.
  • alexrosa743
    December 7, 2008
    alexrosa743
    ONE OF THE FIRST X-MAS MOVIES I EVER SAW AND HAVE LOVED IT EVER SINCE!
  • adaraayres
    December 5, 2008
    adaraayres
    One of the few movies I prefer the 2nd version, and thatīs the only reason I do~īt put all 5 stars.

Summary

Miracle on 34th Street Summary