Rating: 
Summary: Te Best
Review: The best christmas movie made.Its timeless.
Rating:
Summary: Do You Believe?
Review: Santa Claus (Edmund Gwenn) is troubled by the commercialization of Christmas and takes a job as Santa in Macy's Department Store in New York in order to observe how much of the true Christmas spirit is left. He encounters a little girl (Natalie Wood) who doesn't believe in him, or anything else that isn't proven fact, and makes it his mission to convince her that he is the Santa Claus. He ends up being put on trial to prove that he is insane or that he is the real Santa Claus.Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood play their parts to perfection. The story is clear enough for children to understand, but complex enough to entertain adults. The climax of the trial is a true moment of joy. This film does everything right, and has irresistible warmth and magic. "Miracle on 34th Street" is probably the best Christmas movie there is. The remake movie was remade for television in 1973. Why? There's nothing wrong with the remake, except it has little of the magic of the original.
Rating:
Summary: This 1947 Thanksgiving / Christmas TRADITION now on DVD!
Review: This Original 1947 "Miracle on 34th Street" is the one Holiday Tradition starting with the "MACY's THANKSGIVING PARADE" to Christmas Day. Natalie Wood (is unforgetable & adorable) plays, Susie Walker an 8 year old grown-up who questions everything which is not factual or real. Her holiday skeptic single mother (Maureen O'Hara - is fantastic!) Doris, is a MACY's Junior Executive and Parade Coordinator. Prior to the Parades start Santa is fired for being drunk at the last minute. Miraculously a mysterious white bearded volunteer (Edmund Gwenn - delightful (won an Oscar))appears and saves Doris and the Parade. Hired on the spot this volunteer becomes / is Santa. Is he really Santa? Some believe he is not so he is put on trial to determine his true identity and the greatest tale since "Yes Alice there is a Santa Claus" begins. Summary: Santa wants to prove he is real and uses Susie & Doris as his challenge to bring the holiday spirit back. If they are converted he has succeeded in bringing back the Christmas Spirit. The actors are the best and the story is a timeless classic. A true HOLIDAY TRADITON to watch every year (or when you want to be inspired). The "Miracle" is, the entire family can enjoy the spirit of Christmas together!! This Black & White digitally restored FULLSCREEN DVD (before Widescreen) is beautifully reproduced.
Rating:
Summary: Very clever humour!
Review: The "dreams come true at Christmas" (especially at Macy's...) premise of this film could have become syrupy sweet had it not had the brilliantly skillful handling that makes this a fun classic. Much of the dialogue (handled, of course, by top actors) is wryly hilarious. Scenes I particularly enjoy are the conversations between Kris and Alfred ("make a buck, make a buck!"), anyone's chats with the young but wise Susie, and the wonderful Bill Frawley's reminding a judge that, especially with elections forthcoming, declaring there is no Santa Claus could have devastating consequences. The scene of Kris's trial (where the "allegedly mentally ill" old man so clearly has far more good sense than those around him) is brilliant. The acting is marvellous - no one, including Kris, is a caricature, other than the self-proclaimed "psychiatrist" who takes a swipe at Santa. The balance between "playing the characters straight" and actually quite sophisticated humour is extraordinary. The key for the viewer, of course, is to remember that Kris indeed is Santa Claus. The setting, where two major department stores unwittingly end up fighting for a greater image of detached good will, is social commentary, albeit of a very different sort, which Dickens would envy.
Rating:
Summary: I love this movie!
Review: This is without doubt one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made, the others being It's a Wonderful Life, The Bells Of St. Marys and A Christmas Carol. I saw Miracle on 34th Street on TV one year when they first started colorising black and white movies and I Just didnt care for it colorised it looked so cheesy! Give me black and white over colorized any day!!
Rating: 
Summary: Santa or not, I am not a cynic but was bored
Review: Santa or not, I am not a cynic but was bored. Good actors though. I am not going to see this movie a second time if i can help it.
Rating:
Summary: Believe in Miracles
Review: After It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street is probably the most popular of all the films shown around the Christmas season, and for good reason. The story begins with the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. An exasperated Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) is the young Macy's executive in charge of the details of organizing the parade. When the man hired to play Santa Claus on one of the parade floats turns up stone drunk, a kindly bearded gentleman (Edmund Gwenn) fills in as Santa, saving the day. Gwenn's performance in the parade is so authentic, that Macy's offers him a job as their department store Santa, to the delight of both children and adults. There's only one problem, Gwenn thinks he really is Kris Kringle, i.e., Santa Claus! This "dilemma" presents serious problems for Mrs. Walker and her associate, Mr. Shellhammer (Philip Tonge), who realize what an asset and public relations ambassador Kris is for Macy's, but fear he may act out his "latent maniacal tendencies" as predicted by quack store psychologist Mr. Sawyer (Porter Hall). The plot thickens when apartment neighbor Fred Gailey (John Payne) takes notice of Mrs. Walker and her young daughter Susan (Natalie Wood). A promising young attorney, Payne tries to win over first daughter Wood, before charming his way into O'Hara's life. Due to a seemingly bitter divorce when Wood was a baby, O'Hara has shut down emotionally. She refuses to let her daughter believe in any fantasies of any kind, including the childhood belief in Santa Claus. It is her belief that parents must always be truthful with their children so they won't grow up to believe in fairy tale happy endings only to be disappointed by reality, which is revealed to be her own life experience. Payne on the other hand thinks that it's a good thing for children to fantasize while they are young and to believe in fairy tales and the like...even to believe in Santa Claus. This major difference of opinion when it comes to raising children becomes a real conflict for the two. One thing leads to another and before you know it, Kris Kringle is on trial for lunacy with Payne defending him as the one and only Santa Claus. Even though this film was released in 1947, its theme of believing in something larger than ourselves still holds true. O'Hara's role as a working single mom is even more in tune with today's reality than in 1947. She comes off as a competent, intelligent woman who is doing the best she can to raise her young daughter. A wonderfully enchanting movie with great performances from all the players, but the real star is Edmund Gwenn in his Academy Award winning role as Kris Kringle. His kind and gentle performance could convince anyone that he really is Santa Claus. A young Natalie Wood also shines as O'Hara's daughter and her scenes with Gwenn are natural and real. Filled with many memorable scenes (including the first glimpse of the great character actress Thelma Ritter) including my favorite: Kris speaking Dutch to a young war orphan who doesn't speak English while her adoptive mother looks on in amazement. In addition to the Oscar won by Gwenn, Miracle won two additional statues for Best Original Story (Valentine Davies) and Best Screenplay (George Seaton). Miracle on 34th Street deserves its well-earned reputation as a Christmas classic.
Rating: 
Summary: greatest chritmas movie
Review: i have seen this movie so many times. it one of those you never get tired of. even though the flim was made in the 40s it does not feel dated any.
Rating:
Summary: No Room For Cynics
Review: Oddly enough, I never saw this film as a child and was an adult for the first viewing. Cynically, I didn't expect to enjoy it much. So much for cynicism - the magic of the film and its message got to me. And it still does every time I watch it. Edmund Gwenn is excellent as Kris Kringle, the man who is a dead ringer for Santa Claus because he IS Santa Claus. Natalie Wood is the young girl (a cynic herself) who doesn't believe in him, having been taught by her mother, Maureen O'Hara, to be very realistic and practical. Not only was Wood a great adult actress, but she was also a gifted child star, delivering lines and emotions like a pro. Thelma Ritter has a small bit as a frustrated shopper, but she's a standout, as is the rest of the supporting cast. This film reminds you of the joy and magic that every Christmas should bring, whether you're an adult or a child.
Rating:
Summary: Truly gives you the spirit of Christmas
Review: This film is exceptional -- exceptionally casted, acted and brings such joy to one's heart. Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood steal the show, but the supporting actors are wonderfully casted. Edmund Gwenn is the only person who could have played the role of Kris Kringle. A lovely movie for all ages, it reminds us to believe in the magic of Christmas!
| 
