NFR Project: “Miracle on 34th Street”
Dir: George Seaton
Scr: George Seaton, Valentine Davies
Pho: Lloyd Ahern Sr., Charles G. Clarke
Ed: Robert L. Simpson
Premiere: June 11, 1947
96 min.
It’s an enduring little fantasy picture, penned by one of Hollywood’s better screenwriters and lovingly crafted by one of its most dependable directors. It imagines what would happen if there really was a Satna Claus.
Valentine Davies was just starting out when he wrote this story, and it’s a winner. It’s Thanksgiving Day in New York City, and the Macy’s parade is about to start. The man playing Santa for the end of the parade is drunk. Macy’s employee Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) desperately needs someone to replace him. A jolly old stranger (Edmund Gwenn) shows up and fits the bill perfectly. Doris hires him to be Macy’s Santa in the mammoth department store.
Unfortunately this “Kris Kringle” asserts that is he really is Santa Claus. This perturbs Doris, as well as her child Susan (Natalie Wood), who has been brought up not to indulge in make-believe. Kris wins them over, even as he gets Macy’s to refer customers to other stores for presents if they don’t have what they’re looking for. It is only when Kris assaults a very un-Christmasy store psychologist that he is committed as a loony.
Lawyer Fred Gailey (John Payne) is sweet on Doris and Susan, and he decides to let Kris go to trial to prove that he is Santa Claus and that therefore he cannot be committed. Despite lots of testimony, the judge demands that an authority certify that he is the real thing.
That night, the post office sends all the letters to Santa to the courthouse. The next day, Fred has mailmen deliver sacks and sacks of mail to the judge’s desk. The judge interprets that this means that the federal government recognizes Kris as Santa Claus and sets him free. Doris and Fred get together; with Susan they find a house for sale that’s curiously close to Susan’s seemingly impossible wish for Christmas. The find Kris’ case tucked behind the front door.
The perfect little story chugs along, playing out all its premises with cheerful efficiency. Kris convinces Susan to take up make-believe and have a more childlike attitude toward life. Fred falls in love with Doris, and saves Kris. Doris finally breaks down and believe es in Kris as well. By film’s end, it’s obvious that Doris, Fred, and Susan will be creating a new family together.
The NFR is one writer’s attempt to review all the films listed in the National Film Registry in chronological order. Next time: Motion Painting No. 1.
