Miracle on 34th Street (film)
"Miracle on 34th Street" is a classic 1947 film that blends fantasy, romance, and a compelling narrative centered around the Christmas season. The story follows Doris Walker, a single mother and successful career woman portrayed by Maureen O'Hara, who raises her daughter Susan (Natalie Wood) without the myths of childhood, including Santa Claus. The plot unfolds in the context of the rivalry between two iconic New York department stores, Macy's and Gimbels. Doris hires an elderly man, Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), to play Santa at Macy's, who genuinely believes he is the real Santa, leading to conflicts that culminate in a courtroom trial to determine his identity. The film highlights themes of faith, tradition, and the importance of believing in the magic of childhood. It received three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Gwenn, and is recognized as a quintessential holiday film, often celebrated alongside other classics such as "It's a Wonderful Life." Despite several remakes, the original remains the most beloved and is esteemed by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten films in the fantasy genre.
Miracle on 34th Street (film)
Identification Classic Christmas film
Date Released on May 2, 1947
This film focuses on the charm of holiday legends. Designed to appeal to all ages, it is a perennial favorite aired during the Christmas season.
Miracle on 34th Street combines fantasy, romance, and a good story. Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) plays a single mother and dedicated career woman who has raised her daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood), without childhood myths such as Santa Claus. In an era when women are encouraged to leave the job market to be full-time homemakers, Doris is a successful retail executive.
The film also focuses on the rivalry between Macy’s and Gimbels in New York during the Christmas season. As the story opens, Doris hires an elderly man, Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), as Macy’s new Santa Claus. Kris believes that he actually is Santa Claus, which leads to his being fired. Attorney Fred Gailey (John Payne) is Doris’s neighbor and suitor, who befriends Kris and defends him in a trial to decide whether he is Santa.
The film won three Oscars: Gwenn for best supporting actor, George Seaton for best screenplay, and Valentine Davies for best original story. It lost out as best film to Gentleman’s Agreement.
Impact
Miracle on 34th Street emphasizes the need to keep a childlike faith in traditions like Santa Claus. The film established Wood as a child star. Although seldom noted, it is one of the last post-World War II films to feature a successful career woman. Several remakes of this classic film for television (1955) and feature film (1994) have not been as successful. The 1947 film has been honored by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten films in the category of fantasy. Like It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street is a holiday favorite.
Bibliography
Danielson, Sarah Parker. Miracle on 34th Street: A Holiday Classic. New York: Smithmark, 1993.
Davies, Valentine. Miracle on 34th Street. New York: Pocket Books, 1952.
Dixon, Wheeler Winston. American Cinema of the 1940’s: Themes and Variations. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 2005.