By: biggramma
This has always been one of my all time favorites. This a great family feature...

Natalie Wood (is unforgetable&adorable) plays, Susie Walker an 8 year old grown-up who questions everything which is not factual or real. Her holiday skeptic single mother (Maureen O'Hara - is fantastic!) Doris, is a MACY's Junior Executive and Parade Coordinator. Prior to the Parades start Santa is fired for being drunk at the last minute. Miraculously a mysterious white bearded volunteer (Edmund Gwenn - delightful (won an Oscar))appears and saves Doris and the Parade. Hired on the spot this volunteer becomes / is Santa. Is he really Santa? Some believe he is not so he is put on trial to determine his true identity and the greatest tale since "Yes Alice there is a Santa Claus" begins.

Summary: Santa wants to prove he is real and uses Susie&Doris as his challenge to bring the holiday spirit back. If they are converted he has succeeded in bringing back the Christmas Spirit.

The actors are the best and the story is a timeless classic. A true HOLIDAY TRADITON to watch every year (or when you want to be inspired).

The "Miracle" is, the entire family can enjoy the spirit of Christmas together!!

This Black&White digitally restored FULLSCREEN DVD (before Widescreen) is beautifully reproduced.

This version of this classic holiday film offers up the long trailer in which the publicity department tries to figure out how to market the film to the masses. A nice added bonus. However, the point of owning "Miracle on 34th Street" is to be able to watch it when it fits our holiday schedule and cry over our favorites scenes. The best times to cry during this movie are as follows: (1) When Susan overhears Kris talking Dutch to the little refugee girl; (2) When Mr. Macy admits under oath on the witness stand that he believes Kris to be Santa Claus; (3) When Susan writes "I believe in you too" on Susan's letter to Kris; (4) When Susan yells, "Stop, Uncle Fred! Stop!" and (5) when Fred sees the cane in the corner. Please feel free to add others to this list as you see fit. Now, excuse me, as I have to go dry my eyes and remember that some films have become holiday classics for good reasons and that remaking something in color does not mean just because it is new it is improved. Happy Turkey Day, everyone!

Maureen O'Hara is wonderful as the scorned woman (isn't it funny how a female character in a romantic comedy from the 1940's is so strong and independant, while nowadays the romatic leads are usually scatterbrained flaky blondes?), and Natalie Wood steals the show as the perfectly well brought up little girl who confuses imagination with schitzophrenia ("it's when you think you see something that isn't there" she tells Kris Kringle).

I remember loving this movie as a child, but it is actually a grown-up movie. Politics, pop psychology, and commercialism all take a wicked beating... if you are looking for treakly magical endings, you might be surprised at the motives behind what finally 'saves the day.'

If you've never seen it, or if you've only seen the 1994 sacharine-sticky-sweet remake, then you must see this movie. It is great for all ages: the kids will see the heartwarming plot, and the teenagers and adults will understand the delightful cynisism that crops up in the most surprising places.

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