Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Classic Christmas Archive
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I was trying to knock off certain Christmas classics this year that I had yet watched. "It's a Wonderful Life" and this film, "Miracle on 34th Street", are such examples. I was fascinated by the message of "embracing imagi-nation" opposing "intellectual upbringing" as a working single mother (Maureen O'Hara) has raised her bright daughter (Natalie Wood) to avoid "fantasies and myths" (such as a belief in "Santa Claus" or "pretending" such as joining kids in a game of "zoo animals") while Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) hopes to encourage her to enjoy her childhood, actually pretend to be a monkey, and even believe in him. O'Hara's practical Macy's operations manager, Doris Walker, has brought up her daughter, Susan, to not give way to flights of fancy or imaginary fantasy. Insert Kris Kringle who continues to tell anyone who will listen that he is actually Santa Claus, "discovered" after Doris must replace a drunk as Santa during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kringle is soon working in Macy's, becoming quite popular, even convincing parents to go other places, like rival Gimbals, for better prices (or gift items their store might not have)! Before long Macy's and Gimbals are at odds with "being nice to each other" as a reputation of such "benevolence" starts a rivalry of "telling customers to go to the other store for the best offers". All because Santa felt the child and parent deserved the best option available so their Christmas could be altogether worthwhile. Kringle is eventually questioned for his sanity as even Doris, who grows fond of him (as does Susan), ponders whether or not he's in need of institutional help. But even a psychiatrist from a home where Kringle stays can vouch for his competency and mental stability...it is a psychologist at Macy's, named Sawyer (Porter Hall), who gives Kringle real irritation and trouble. Sawyer considers Kringle a nuisance, a problem that should be removed from the store, mainly because he calls him into question...Kringle considers Sawyer a malcontent, a fraud, a deceiver, devious. So their "rivalry" leads to Kris being cabbed to Bellevue against his will through chicanery (a cane pop to the head gives Sawyer the "evidence" pointed towards Kringle's "mental break", where Doris is incapable of turning her back on him while Macy's floor operator, Shellhammer (Philip Tongue) is willing to do so if he is a "threat" to their publicity), where attorney, Fred Gailey (John Payne), Doris' eventual romantic interest-lives in the same apartment complex and sparked a friendship with Susan-represents him in a case proposed before Judge Henry Harper (Gene Lockhart). The case is to "prove" that Kringle is who he says he is: Santa Claus.
Gwenn might be third-billed but he is the absolute glue of the film. He's the emotional center, the orbit of the film's gravitational pull. He's genuinely lovable, the twinkles, cheery cheeks, radiant positivity, congenial spirit, the works. Full of charm, delight, and intently listens to those who speak to him. The kids respond (as do the parents) because Gwenn's Kris Kringle gives them his undivided attention, and offers a response back to them. I think that is why the film continues to resonate. Say what you want about Kringle's convincing a highly intelligent girl, raised especially well by a mother who looks to further her education (at a progressive school specialized in the advancement of children's minds), about acting like a monkey or potentially believe that he's a "mythical character certain to confuse instead of enlighten", at least he has their best intentions at heart. And the film's refusal to diminish him as a nut off his rocker is especially noteworthy.
Memorable scenes include the preparations for the Macy's parade (Doris deserves credibility for organizing what looked like a disaster in the making), the trial of Santa (there is an introduced subplot about the judge's political aspirations and the success maker who steers his decision processes one direction or another, during the trial and behind closed doors), Santa and Susan's growing bond (she needs a reason to believe: a house for her and her mom), Santa's burgeoning popularity and how Macy's changes their policies accordingly, and Santa's convincing behavior that he's not crazy despite numerous tests to declare otherwise.
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I was trying to knock off certain Christmas classics this year that I had yet watched. "It's a Wonderful Life" and this film, "Miracle on 34th Street", are such examples. I was fascinated by the message of "embracing imagi-nation" opposing "intellectual upbringing" as a working single mother (Maureen O'Hara) has raised her bright daughter (Natalie Wood) to avoid "fantasies and myths" (such as a belief in "Santa Claus" or "pretending" such as joining kids in a game of "zoo animals") while Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) hopes to encourage her to enjoy her childhood, actually pretend to be a monkey, and even believe in him. O'Hara's practical Macy's operations manager, Doris Walker, has brought up her daughter, Susan, to not give way to flights of fancy or imaginary fantasy. Insert Kris Kringle who continues to tell anyone who will listen that he is actually Santa Claus, "discovered" after Doris must replace a drunk as Santa during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kringle is soon working in Macy's, becoming quite popular, even convincing parents to go other places, like rival Gimbals, for better prices (or gift items their store might not have)! Before long Macy's and Gimbals are at odds with "being nice to each other" as a reputation of such "benevolence" starts a rivalry of "telling customers to go to the other store for the best offers". All because Santa felt the child and parent deserved the best option available so their Christmas could be altogether worthwhile. Kringle is eventually questioned for his sanity as even Doris, who grows fond of him (as does Susan), ponders whether or not he's in need of institutional help. But even a psychiatrist from a home where Kringle stays can vouch for his competency and mental stability...it is a psychologist at Macy's, named Sawyer (Porter Hall), who gives Kringle real irritation and trouble. Sawyer considers Kringle a nuisance, a problem that should be removed from the store, mainly because he calls him into question...Kringle considers Sawyer a malcontent, a fraud, a deceiver, devious. So their "rivalry" leads to Kris being cabbed to Bellevue against his will through chicanery (a cane pop to the head gives Sawyer the "evidence" pointed towards Kringle's "mental break", where Doris is incapable of turning her back on him while Macy's floor operator, Shellhammer (Philip Tongue) is willing to do so if he is a "threat" to their publicity), where attorney, Fred Gailey (John Payne), Doris' eventual romantic interest-lives in the same apartment complex and sparked a friendship with Susan-represents him in a case proposed before Judge Henry Harper (Gene Lockhart). The case is to "prove" that Kringle is who he says he is: Santa Claus.
Gwenn might be third-billed but he is the absolute glue of the film. He's the emotional center, the orbit of the film's gravitational pull. He's genuinely lovable, the twinkles, cheery cheeks, radiant positivity, congenial spirit, the works. Full of charm, delight, and intently listens to those who speak to him. The kids respond (as do the parents) because Gwenn's Kris Kringle gives them his undivided attention, and offers a response back to them. I think that is why the film continues to resonate. Say what you want about Kringle's convincing a highly intelligent girl, raised especially well by a mother who looks to further her education (at a progressive school specialized in the advancement of children's minds), about acting like a monkey or potentially believe that he's a "mythical character certain to confuse instead of enlighten", at least he has their best intentions at heart. And the film's refusal to diminish him as a nut off his rocker is especially noteworthy.
Memorable scenes include the preparations for the Macy's parade (Doris deserves credibility for organizing what looked like a disaster in the making), the trial of Santa (there is an introduced subplot about the judge's political aspirations and the success maker who steers his decision processes one direction or another, during the trial and behind closed doors), Santa and Susan's growing bond (she needs a reason to believe: a house for her and her mom), Santa's burgeoning popularity and how Macy's changes their policies accordingly, and Santa's convincing behavior that he's not crazy despite numerous tests to declare otherwise.
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-------December 22|2018-------
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