TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, DAY 11: “MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET”

EACH DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS, WE’LL PROFILE A TITLE WORTHY OF YOUR HOLIDAY VIEWING PLEASURE.

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)

Article by Briana Pugh

Miracle on 34^th Street is an everlasting Christmas classic. There are several films by the same name which have followed in the giant footsteps of this Twentieth Century Fox production. But it’s George Seaton‘s original 1947 creation which stands alone as a miraculous film in the cinematic hall of fame. This movie masterpiece is definitely one to add to your Christmas watch list. Miracle on 34^th Street is about miracles and the magic of Christmas, but most importantly it’s about believing in something special.

Doris Walker (Mureen O’Hara) is the Events Director at the Macy’s Department Store. At the Thanksgiving Day parade, the actor playing Santa shows up intoxicated and is discovered by a bearded old man (Edmund Gwenn). Doris Walker, in need of a sober Santa, enlists this bearded stranger to play the jovial old elf. After being such a success at the parade, Macy’s hires him to play Santa at the main outlet store. Shortly Doris learns that the old man calls himself Kris Kringle and claims to be the real Santa.

Cynical Doris Walker and her daughter Susan (Natalie Wood) are skeptical of this man and set out to prove, just like the rest of the town, if he really is St. Nicholas. In one of my favorite scenes, Doris obtains Kris Kringle’s employment card to ascertain whether this man really is Santa Clause and discovers that under the section titled “Next of Kin,” Kringle has listed his eight tiny reindeer. And under the section “Date of Birth” he has stated “As old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth.” This is just one of the humorous moments in this motion picture. Things escalate to the point where Santa is taken to court to prove that he is the real elf himself. Pretty soon Susan and her mother learn that believing in miracles is important too. In the wise words of Susan Walker, “If things don’t turn out just the way you want them to the first time, you still got to believe.”

If you want a film that has it all, this is the film for you. It’s hilarious, it’s romantic, it’s tender, it’s delightful and it’s just downright special. With great performances by John Payne, Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn and Maureen O’Hara, this Christmas classic is sure to be a favorite. When John Payne was asked which film he preferred, he maintained that his own film Miracle on 34^th Street was above all the rest. Simply because it was a reflection of his own strong spiritual belief system. I would have to agree with Payne on this one. Miracle on 34^th Street is about believing in something extraordinary and has all the heart and emotions to prove it. This Christmas pull out this Seaton classic and experience the reason why it was called Miracle on 34^th Street.

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

DAY 10- NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION – CLICK HERE
DAY 9- THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS – CLICK HERE
DAY 8- HOME ALONE – CLICK HERE
DAY 7- RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER– CLICK HERE
DAY 6- GREMLINS – CLICK HERE
DAY 5- MEET JOHN DOE– CLICK HERE
Day 4- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – CLICK HERE 
Day 3- DIE HARD – CLICK HERE
Day 2- ELF – CLICK HERE
Day 1- KRAMPUS – CLICK HERE

About Author

John Pugh

John Pugh’s lifelong passion for film led him to partner with Mast in creating Cinemast.net, where he works as a content developer and writer. Pugh shares his love for film and storytelling with others and resides in Southern Utah with his wife and three children.

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