Rating: 
Summary: As Warm as a Steaming Cup of Hot Cocoa!
Review: The original Miracle on 34th Street is an excellent movie, much better than the more recent remake which I found a little too cold. This classic version has a lot of heart and is as warm as a steaming cup of hot cocoa! Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara, Edmund Gwenn and John Payne are all very good and I recommend this black and white charmer very greatly! I had this movie on video and I really want to have it on DVD, I put it on my Christmas wish list but if I don't get it I will buy it for myself!
Rating:
Summary: This little kid, who watched the Macy*s Parade in 1950's,
Review: Absolutely LOVED and identified with this movie! I was "there" -- on many a Thanksgiving Day, on 6th Avenue watching the Macy*s parade, just a few years after this eternally delightful movie was filmed. And when I was little, everything, especially Santa, was breathtakingly real. No matter that I froze my little tail off standing on 34th Street and 6th Avenue for hours (starting at 7 am, so we could get a good view of the parade!) -- on each and every Thanksgiving Day, my heart was warmed by the floats, the merriment, and....especially, Santa. So naturally, while watching this movie, I almost felt like I could look into the crowd and see....me!!! I can really relate to this movie!! The casting was perfection! From the unbelieving shop owner and his reindeer props, to the innocent little boy on the witness stand, from the bustling crowds in the street, to the interior of the typical (for that era) NY apartment building, the cast of characters and the sets were totally realistic. And I loved the little girl played by cute little Natalie Wood -- hey back then, when I was 5 years old, I even WORE outfits just like hers!!! What's NOT to love in this movie!!??? Although I never chanced on this movie until the 1970's (which left me and my "little" sister awestruck), I have watched it faithfully every year since then. Each time I see it, I feel like I'm watching it for the first time over and over again -- this movie still speaks volumes to me. The funniest part of the movie (to me and Sis, anyway!) is when the Macy*s executive's wife (who is totally snockered) answers the (old, heavy, cast iron, just like my grandma's) phone. And the most breathtaking part of the movie-- well...is that really Kris Kringle's cane there, over in the corner? This movie should be "required viewing" in every grade school.
Rating:
Summary: Finally proof that Santa is real
Review: I will not bore you with a recap of the whole movie or state which is obvious to all that this 1947 black and white movie is one of the major Christmas Classics.
Kris Kringle (Edmond Gwenn) is appalled to find a Santa preparing to be in the Thanks Giving Day parade is intoxicated. Kris is hired to play the part of him self. He befriends a child Susan (Natalie Wood) who does not believe in Santa or the tooth fairy or giants. His employer Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) is dubious of her decision to hire him after learning that he believes he is Santa. In the spirit of Christmas he brings two rival stores together and is in the process of bringing the girl around to believing. Naturally I left out many other controversial questions and fun scenes. Among them is one where a Dutch girl recognizes him as Santa and he speaks Dutch to her.
Through a few misunderstandings he is put on trial and must prove he is Santa. Can his friend, who happens to be a lawyer, prove this? If not what will happen to him? What effect will this have on Susan? Or you?
Rating:
Summary: 50 Times and Counting
Review: It hardly seems necessary to write a review on "Miracle on 34th Street" because it's hard to believe that anyone hasn't already seen the movie. I'm 57 and I'll bet I've seen "Miracle" 50 times. Every year somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve I watch it again and every year I laugh in the same places, somehow surprised over and over even though I know most of the dialogue by heart. I also develop a few little tears here and there, also at the same scenes year after year. And every year I find some new little detail that I've missed. Well, perhaps I'm a little too sympathetic having been born on Christmas, but I can't imagine what Christmas was like before "Miracle on 34th Street". It is a thoroughly delightful movie that could not be improved on by the two remakes since its production in 1947. Add it to your Christmas collection.
Rating:
Summary: I Can Set it Again and Again and Again and...
Review: One of my favorite holiday films of all time. Especially, since I worked in Macy's the first time I saw it and was very familiar with a lot of the interior scenes including the employee locker area. The scene where the judge is buried by the Santa mail is priceless! Hard to believe that the girl was a young Natalie Wood.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Christmas Movie Ever!
Review: Miracle on 34th Street is not only a classical Christmas movie, but simply a hollywood classic that can never be forgotten. With an all-star cast of Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, and Natalie Wood, this movie shows what good acting and plot are all about. Oh sure, there's been a remake of this classic like many others, which I haven't seen, but I hear it's not even worth watching because the story is so convoluted. For starters, the acting is great and each actor/actress portrays his/her character extremely well. The writing is great also in that the lines are never corny and every situation in the movie is meaningful. But what makes this movie a classic is its acting. All of the actors/actresses got along very well while filming this movie and it is evident in their performance. The chemistry between the characters is genuine and really makes the movie come to life. I truly pitty all those who dare say that the remake of this film is just as good or better than the original. NO REMAKE ever beats classic movies. I still scratch my head in confusion when directors try to do so. If you're contemplating whether you should buy this movie, don't. BUY it as soon as you can. It's a classic and you can preserve it in DVD format.
Rating:
Summary: An Enduring Christmas Story
Review: That Christmas is synonymous with "big business" and profits are not new concepts. The Miracle on 34th Street, which was released in 1947 by 20th Century-Fox, evolves around this same theme. Today, times haven't really changed much, if not things have gotten worse. That is probably why an updated version in 1994 of this Oscar-winning picture was also successful. But, in this black and white comedy classic that was directed by George Seaton, Edmund Gwenn, who delivered an Oscar-winning performance as Kris Kringle, attempts to change the minds of each parent and child about the true meaning of Christmas. He is hired as Santa Claus for Macy's in New York by divorced mother Doris Walker, who is played by the beautiful Maureen O'Hara, though her acting is somewhat stilted in this movie. It is easy to see why Gwenn received the Oscar with his quit wit and flowing lines, as he works his way into the hearts of the public as Santa Claus. As Santa Claus, he encourages Macy's shoppers to use other store chains when products are unavailable or the quality of the item is not the best. These recommendations promote Macy's as a company of good will and the "miracle" begins. Not to be out done, Macy's competitors join in the fray by adopting similar practices. Doris Walker's daughter Susan (played by a very young Natalie Wood) has been taught by her mother not to believe in dreams or fairy tales, and she is very skeptical when she meets Santa Claus. Doris, who is concerned about the man she has hired as Santa Claus and fears that he may be somewhat delusional, has Kris Kringle examined by the store's nasty psychologist. Because Kris Kringle truly believes he is Santa Claus, the psychologist tricks Kris Kringle and has him placed in a mental institution. John Payne, who plays attorney Fred Gailey and who has also taken a personal interest in the Walker's, befriends Santa Claus. The writers did an excellent job developing Gailey's character and his interaction with the Walker's and Santa Claus. Mr. Gailey takes on Kris Kringle's case to prevent the state from permanently committing him to an institution for only trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. The miracle of this enduring movie is that we need to remember to believe in our dreams just as this jolly ole Saint Nick tried to remind all of the people on 34th Street. This film is timeless and was well done. It also won awards for Best Original Story and Best Screenplay. It is a great family movie and it deserves a "look", especially during the holiday season.
Rating:
Summary: Heart-warming, enchanting Christmas classic
Review: The original upstages the remake in so many ways. Here, in this version, is all the reasons why to believe in a Santa and why Christmas is one of the best times of the year. The story flows like eggnog, smooth and warm, and develops the characters at a moderate pace so that we understand how and why they act the way they do. The actor playing Santa plays his part well, and he may be one of the best Santa's ever put on film. One of the milestones of this film, at least to me, comes with the character of the young, teenage janitor Santa befriends. He's depressed because his father isn't much of a dad, and he says he only finds joy in playing Santa as it makes other people happy. It is my belief that the boy really wants to commit suicide - and Santa knows that. Thats why through out the movie Santa invites him to a game of chess later, or just sets dates for them to have fun, or just encourages him to play Santa all the more. It not only gives depth to the movie, but it gives depth to the character of Santa. All in all, one of the best movies to watch around Christmas time next to "Its a Wonderful Life."
Rating:
Summary: The original is still the best
Review: Various folks have tried to remake this tale with decidedly MIXED results. Why bother? Watch this one over and over. Gwenn is incomparable as Kris Kringle. And who can compare with Maureen O'Hara as the self-made woman who is really a little girl who grew up too fast. What a treasure to have Natalie Wood's performance captured for posterity. Gene Lockhart and William Frawley give classic performances as well. And don't miss a cameo by Thelma Ritter as the greatful mother. Sure it's cheesy in spots, over-the-top even, but IT WORKS!!! This one is an annual tradition in my house, and will be for years to come! This DVD version has an interesting look behind the scenes and a star-studded trailer as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This is a classic film with a great cast, the likes of
which we will never see again. This version is far better
in every way than any of the cheesy, poorly cast remakes.
If you want to see a great film like this one, stick to
the original and skip the poorly done, politically correct
remakes.
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