Really Surprised!

A lot of fun.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

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 has become one of the only two movies that has become a yearly must see tradition...the other one, It's a Wonderful Life, has a different theme, yet is every bit as traditional as this movie...Miracle tells the tale of Kris Kringle, a gentle, somewhat eccentric old man, who is hired by Maureen O'Sullivan as the official Santa at Macy's Department store. The warmth, and humor begin right away, as Kris begins a marketing campaign by sending shoppers to other stores, if Macy doesn't carry the product. It lands him in hot water, but Mr Macy himself sees the tremendous goodwill that such a move will bring to the store...From there, Kris finds a challenge in convincing Maureen's daughter that there really is a Santa Claus. He wins her over, then finds a bigger challenge in bringing Mom around...It isn't so much that a fantasy movie was produced so well, it is the way it is told that grabs everyone, young and old alike. Miracle on 34th Street is timeless entertainment, that never loses it's magic...

Valentine Davies' story is well realized on film in this classic Yuletide perennial. It's a charming fantasy about a kindly, persuasive old man (Edmund Gwenn, a most deserving Oscar winner) who truly believes himself to be "Kris Kringle". Hired to work as a Santa Claus for Macy's Department Store, he's ultimately put on trial where his lawyer / new friend Fred Gailey (John Payne) must prove to to the New York City courts that yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.Written for the screen and masterfully directed by George Seaton, "Miracle on 34th Street" is so completely involving that its 97 minute run time practically flies by. Its themes of the power of belief and faith still resonate almost 70 years later. There's plenty of entertaining dialogue, all brought to life by an excellent cast. The lovely Maureen O'Hara plays Macy's employee Doris Walker, a young woman who's raised her daughter Susan (adorable Natalie Wood) to be grounded in reality. Payne is very amiable as the well meaning Fred. Gwenn is an absolute delight. Gene Lockhart is the judge, Porter Hall the weaselly store psychiatrist (you'll really end up hating this guy), William Frawley the savvy political expert, Jerome Cowan the understandably flustered district attorney, and Philip Tonge the nervous Shellhammer. There are also some great bit parts for Thelma Ritter and Jack Albertson.This is one fable that really does warm ones' heart, holding up just fine upon repeat viewings. Gwenns' sincere portrayal is the glue that holds all of it together.Eight out of 10.

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.