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The original MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET has all the characteristics of a classic Christmas tale and even today is a fitting reflection of those questions over reality, imagination and criticisms of commercialism over that real feeling of the holiday season.
When Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) finds a drunken Santa about to take part in the New York Macy’s parade, he is appalled and heads to manager Doris Walker who is played naturally by Maureen O’Hara, a prominent actress from the 1950s and 60s. She agrees with his disappointment and instead puts Kris in the annual Thanksgiving Parade. Everyone is so taken with his warmth and genuine nature, they give him the job of Santa Claus in the Macy’s store.
Based on a story by Valentine Davies, it was then adapted and directed by George Seaton. Davies and Seaton both won an Oscar for bringing this to the big screen. That’s not all though, as 1948 also gave Edmund Gwenn the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role as Kris Kringle.
Here in 1947 New York, the department stores are fighting over customers and everyone is eager to do their best for their employers. When Kris starts to advise customers that they could go to another store to find what they can’t find at Macy’s, they are shocked but everyone shopping takes this as a good-will gesture and in fact… this encourages more people to come to the store.
However, when bitter and fussy psychiatrist Granville Sawyer (Porter Hall) tries to see if he really is Santa Claus, he feels Kris Kringle is patronising him and gets him sent to the mental institute by, well, lying. A court case ensues which is led by attorney Fred Gailey (John Payne), a neighbour to Doris Walker and a man keen to get to know the divorcee and her daughter Susan, wonderfully played by a young Natalie Wood – a girl who’d go on to become a bigger star in WEST SIDE STORY and REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE. Susan is a very honest child, her mother has taught her not to believe in the imagination and things that aren’t perceived to be real but Fred and Kris continue to believe that with a little hope and possibility, both ladies can open their minds a little more.
What makes this film especially distinctive is how nothing has really changed in the Christmas season. People are worried about commercialism and companies selling out to just making money and although this is touched upon as an advantage for everyone to have Santa Claus, the message that really filters through is about the spirit, the trust in just believing and all the good things that bring people together.
And in the words of Kris Kringle: ‘Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind… and that’s what’s been changing. That’s why I’m glad I’m here, maybe I can do something about it.’
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET really does do something about it. It’s an intelligent script but also reflective and when many films turn to sentiment, this is unquestionably enchanting and entirely worth adding to that list of Christmas films that everyone should watch.
