#miracle on 34th street 1947

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One Dress a Day Challenge

Anything Goes December

Miracle on 34th Street / Natalie Wood as Susan Walker

Susan has a couple of nice winter coats in this movie. I picked this double-breasted plaid one for three reasons. First, because it's a nice item in itself. Second, because Maureen O'Hara (as Doris Walker) and John Payne (as Fred Gailey) also have terrific costumes in the scene where it appears--just look at that gorgeous overcoat and perfectly sloped hat on Payne! And third, because I couldn't resist a chance to screencap Natalie Wood giving some truly epic sideye.

The tailoring on the coat is very nice: note how the stripes line up between the body and the sleeves. It also has a belt in the back to adjust the fit. With it, Susan wears a hood-style hat with rosettes over the ears, probably of felt.

This was always my favorite of the classic Christmas movies. Remakes? What remakes?

[lyledebeast]

Kind of wanting to write a post series about mothers in Christmas movies.  They’re always the characters who catch my attention every year when I watching this, this year more than most.  Unfortunately, Christmas movies tend to emphasize nostalgia and old fashioned values, which means mothers tend to be A. dead or B. self-effacingly devoted to their husbands and children (and punished if they’re not).  But some offer surprisingly thoughtful and affectionate portrayals of mothers who, refreshingly, actually feel like real people!

In the interests of space and (an attempt at) organization, I’m going to split my ideas into two posts: one on working mothers (1947′s Miracle on 34th Street and 2003′s Elf)  and the other on stay at home mothers (1973′s The Homecoming and 1983′s A Christmas Story).

But first, an honorable mention: The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974).  Most Rankin Bass holiday classics were released before a woman could take out a loan from a bank, and it shows! But this does have Mrs. Clause saving Christmas, even though she does so behind the scenes without taking any of the credit (Also, she’s not a mother, but I already wrote all this and don’t want to take it back, ha!)

And a dishonorable one: Beverely D’Angelo’s character in Christmas Vacation (1989) should have saved both her parents and her children a lot of future grief by using the holiday mayhem that ensues as a cover for murdering Clark and making it look like an accident. Clark Griswold is a menace, and she enables him.

[poppingmary]

Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood ia a publicity photo on “miracle on 34th Street” - 1947

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Miracle on 34th Street (1994, Les Mayfield)

03/01/2024

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1994 film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Richard Attenborough as Santa Claus. It is a remake of the famous 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street directed by George Seaton.

November 24th, Thanksgiving Day. Tony, the Santa Claus of the Cole department store, should close the big parade through the streets of New York on a sleigh pulled by fake reindeer; however he is caught drunk while carrying out his job by Mr. Kris Kringle.

Meanwhile, the Lanbergh stores, competitors of the Cole stores, hatch a plan to discredit Cole's Santa Klaus Kris Kringle, managing to have him arrested and locked up in a psychiatric clinic. When everything seems compromised for Kris Kringle since the true existence of Santa Claus has not been proven, little Susan approaches and shows the judge a Christmas card with a dollar bill.

Following the court case, Dorey and Bryan maneuvered by Kris into realizing their true feelings for each other, and they marry in a small ceremony just after midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 60% based on reviews from 35 critics. TV Guide called the film "curiously depressing", while Desson Howe of The Washington Post stated, in contrast to the 1947 version, that it "will no longer be found on television (or it's computer equivalent) in half a century." Its supporters included Gene Sisksl and Roger Ebert, who gave the film ("two thumbs up" on their show.

[sunkissedfawn]

Post gifs of your favorite movies without naming them: Christmas Edition 🎄❄️⛄️🎁

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Miracle on 34th Street with John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, & Edmund Gwenn, 1947

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"Miracle On 34th Street" (1947) Directed by George Seaton (Comedy/Drama/Family/Christmas) . . "Miracle On 34th Street" (1994) Directed by Les Mayfield (Drama/Family/Fantasy/Christmas)

[animefankotaro]

Trans Susan (Miracle on 34th Street)

December 1946

Susan Walker was a very special child Kris Kringle thought. For one she was almost like a grown up in a kids body. Her mother originally raised her this way teaching her the truth rather than lie. One thing that botherd Kris was that she thought her there was no Santa Claus. He thought that wasn't right. Susan is a kid and should get to act and think like one. She has all her life to be a bitter adult. That wasn't the biggest shock though. What was bigger was that Kris found out she was born a he. She used to be a boy named Stu but felt like a girl.

“What do you mean you were born a boy?” Kris asked.

“I was born wrong. I should have been a girl instead. I told my mom that I was one and she let me become a girl”

“Does your father know about this?” Kris asked. Susan hook her head.

“Mom thinks that if he finds out he'll take me away and make me be a boy again. He would also send mom to the nut house.”

“What about the other kids?”

“They make fun of me sometimes. One boy once saw me wearing a new dress and playing with a doll and said “What kind of boy plays with dolls and wear dresses?” and I said. “I'm not a boy I'm a girl. He then walked away with a weird face.”

Kris wasn't sure he understood. She claimed to have written to him once when her mom wasn't looking wishing to be a girl. When it didn't happen she believed her mother there was no Santa. Kris talked to Doris about it.

“She told me last year that she felt like a girl. At first I thought he just wanted my attention or was confused about something. So I bought him some dresses and called him by his new name Susan. Before I knew it Susan was here to stay.”

“What have the reactions been like?” Doris sighed.

“I have a lot of parents calling me crazy and that Susan should be taken away from me. One couple said they would cut Susans hair themselves. If that happened she would be devastated. It look her months to grow it long.”

“What do you plan to do for the future? Let her become a woman? There will be puberty in the future.” Doris nodded.

“I've read about how men used to have their bits removed so they're voice wouldn't drop back in the olden days. It would also prevent facial hair. Maybe if Susan is still sure in several years we can consider it. I'm not sure how she can get breast though. I know she could never get pregnant. I want her to be happy. I know she wants a new birth certificate with her new name and declaring that she's female. I've told her that won't be able to happen. I wish there was a way it could.”

During his court session Kris wondered it Susan would get a similar trial. While he was trying to prove he was Santa she would have to prove she was a girl. Kris chuckled. Maybe they weren't so different actually. Eventually Kris won the case and was legally Santa. It seems all was said and good. But he was unable to get Susan the house she wanted; or change her into a real girl. Susan was rather upset.

“I knew you weren't the real Santa.” Susan cried “You're just a nice man with a beard.”

“I'm sorry, Susan. I tried to get you that house but I was unable to.”

“And turn me into a girl.”

“That proved even harder. But look here.” He put her in front of a mirror. “Now what do you see?”

“You and me.” Susan said.

“Who am I in the mirror? Who's refection do you see?”

“Santa's.”

“Me too. And who's reflection do you see for yourself?”

“Me. Susan.”

“Exactly. Me too. I see a little girl named Susan. She's already proven she's a girl. She doesn't need a piece of paper for it.”

“I guess. You did though.” Susan replied.

“Proving to be Santa is a lot harder than proving you're a girl. Just remember Susan that this mirror already proves it.” Susan nodded though was still disappointed none the less. However, it didn't take long for Susan and her family to find her dream house. That wasn't it. There was also a birth certificate sent to them with Susan's new name and declaring she was female.

“I knew he was real I knew it!” Susan said happily. After Susan left the room Doris talked to Fred quietly.

“First the house now this. By law Susan is a girl.” Fred nodded.

“Yes. It seems like she got her wish.”

“We still have to worry about her in the future. She doesn't want a beard like Mr. Kringle.

“We'll find a doctor then who can fix her. Unless Kris can do something about it first.” He looked at a cane that was by the fireplace. Doris nodded happy that she meet Kris Kringle and made him Santa.

[yippeecheapdvds]

This week I watched “Miracle on 34th street” (1947) Christmas

Another cheap dvd. This one came with both original and colorized versions. It was a fine watch. Not that good, but good enough to revisit every other year. The plot was pretty ridiculous, every single character is at least a little dumb, and the conflict was kinda crazy. A lot of Santa movies have it, but this one especially made believing in Santa an allegory for belief in god.

5/10

[adamwatchesmovies]

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street will have the most influence during the Christmas season but even a bright summer day couldn't hinder this story’s impact, its lush characters, infectious sentiments of joy and hope, or its pitch-perfect ending. This movie effortlessly washes away any kind of cynicism you may have about Christmas without using any cheap sentiments.

When the actor hired to play Santa Claus during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is found drunk, Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) persuades a jolly old man (Edmund Gwenn) to replace him. He does such an outstanding job that he is hired to play Santa at Macy’s flagship New York City store on 34th street. His performance is in every way exemplary but when Kris claims to be the real Santa Claus, eyebrows are raised.

The heart of the story concerns Doris, her daughter Susan (Natalie Wood), their neighbor Fred (John Payne) and Kris. Their tale is a microcosm of everything else we see. Working in a field almost entirely governed by men, combined with her divorce from Susan's father (never seen in the film) has made her cynical. Her daughter has followed suit. Even if you never believed in Santa, Susan's lack of faith breaks your heart. In this story, that belief is more than a childhood fantasy. It's a stand-in for hope, kindness and love. It’s clear that Fred loves Susan like a daughter and that he and Doris are attracted to each other. As long as Susan doesn’t believe that Kris is the real deal, as long as the people at Macy’s think he’s a loon, and as long as we don’t believe he is the real Santa Clause, then the family-to-be will not happen. If they can’t get together, then there is no room for happiness in this world.

What begins as an amusing tale about the holidays becomes so much more. In a completely organic and earnest fashion, the movie goes on to ask some profound questions about belief. In a higher power, yes, but mostly about how much we can accept something without physical proof. When the question of Kris’ identity blows up and the whole world begins looking for a concrete answer, you don’t know what’ll happen next. You want with all your heart for something to prove that Kris is the real thing. There’s no way it’ll happen because you and I both know there is no such thing as Santa Clause... but what if? It would mean so much if by some miracle things went the way we want them to. He’s such a kind of man. He’s so good at what he does. What’s the harm in indulging in a bit of fantasy?

On paper, Miracle on 34th Street does not sound possible. Explaining to someone why this film feels so important is a struggle. It makes the results that much more special. I'll credit the success to the pitch-perfect ending, script and most importantly, the cast. All the actors work off each other so well. The romantic leads have excellent chemistry - and it’s obvious from their first scene together, which makes you extra excited to see where things will grow with them. Edmund Gwenn is simply perfect as Kris. Every actor who ever chooses to play Santa Claus will be compared to him. All of the side characters are given little moments that make them feel alive. Everyone feels real, even the people who seek to burst the bubble.

Even if you know how Miracle on 34th Street ends, the film enchants you, it sweeps you into its emotions. This is a wonderful film.  There is no one I wouldn’t recommend it to, particularly around the Holiday season. (On Blu-ray, December 21, 2019)

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MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) | DIR. BY GEORGE SEATON

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MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) dir. George Seaton

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Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood on set of George Seaton’s MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) and John Stahl’s FATHER WAS A FULLBACK (1949). They play mother and daughter in both movies.

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MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) - Directed by George Seaton

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

Miracle on 34th (1947, George Seaton)

05/01/2024

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 American film written and directed by George Seaton. It starts Maureen O'Hara and John Payne; the plot takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York and centers on the effects of a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa Claus.

Having become a Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street won three Oscars: best supporting actor for Gwenn, best story for Valentine Davies and best screenplay for Seaton. In 2005 it was chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

The Santa Claus who inaugurates the Christmas celebrations at the Macy's department store in New York is drunk, so the dynamic marketing director, Doris Walker, decides to have him replaced by Kris Kringle, an elderly gentleman who had already harshly rebuked the man for his conduct scandalous, and who seems (and personally claims to be) the authentic Santa Claus.

The prosecutor Ed Collins, a friend of Lamberg, as well as the judge, takes pains to obtain the man's interdiction, but Fred, who has given an engagement ring to Doris in vain, assumes Kringle's defense, and, causing a trial, with clever technicalities he manages to get a sentence issued in his favor.