Miracle On 34th Street (1947)....

[Warped9]

I watched this yesterday afternoon--in its original B&W--as I try to watch it every year. This year I finally got the dvd to avoid missing it when aired on TV.

I love this film and for me it's the best depiction of Santa Claus within context of putting him the real world. Edmund Gwen nails it as Kris Kringle. And all the contemporary concerns about Santa Claus and commercialism in Christmas are right there to be seen even after more than sixty years.

One thing I really like about the film is its down-to-earth approach. No elaborate f/x are used to concretely establish that Gwen is the real Santa Claus, but his magic is telegraphed indirectly, and mostly by his affect on the people around him. You can't help but believe because of the excellent writing and how Gwen plays Santa.

I also like to watch the film as a primer before I don my own old-fashioned style Santa suit and head out to meet the neighbourhood kids and folks in the local community. I also stopped in at work (on my day off) yesterday while Brockville was experiencing a nonstop Christmas like snowfall when we were supposed to get only flurries. It felt magical.

This film story has been remade a number of times and for me none have been able to match the original. They got it right the first time.

 

[May 20]

I agree. This is my favorite version. The others pale in comparison. It's the only version I own, and the one we watch every year. It's one of my favorite Christmas movies.

 

[Warped9]

I must note that my first exposure to this story was the 1970's television remake with Sebastian Cabot as Santa. It was only some years later that I learned of the original. When I finally got to see it sometime later I was sold.

 

[bigdaddy]

I watched it last night in HD and in color, looked stunning!

Great movie, I also like the newer version. I don't think there can be a bad version of this movie.

Plus it really holds up well, besides the phones, and the glass milk cartons the movie could take place today.

 

[auntiehill]

I love the original. Young Natalie Wood is so perfect in her role, as is Edmund Gwen in his. It's just so charming without being nauseatingly saccharine.

 

[Warped9]

...without being nauseatingly saccharine.

Yep. Something far too many contemporary productions are laden with.

 

[JiNX-01]

This is one of my three all-time favorite must-see Christmas movies, along with "It's a Wonderful Life" and of course "A Christmas Carol" (with Alastair Sim or Mr. Magoo -- nope, I'm not kidding. ).

 

[bigdaddy]

This is one of my three all-time favorite must-see Christmas movies, along with "It's a Wonderful Life" and of course "A Christmas Carol" (with Alastair Sim or Mr. Magoo -- nope, I'm not kidding. ).

What?!?! no Christmas Story?!?!

 

[137th Gebirg]

Always thought "Scrooged" was pretty good. Didn't like the sticky-sweet singing ending as much, though.

 

[Vendikarr]

This is one of my three all-time favorite must-see Christmas movies, along with "It's a Wonderful Life" and of course "A Christmas Carol" (with Alastair Sim or Mr. Magoo -- nope, I'm not kidding. ).

Add Murray in "Scrooged", Chase in "Christmas Vacation" and Crosby and Kaye in "White Christmas" and I have my holiday marathon.

 

[JiNX-01]

This is one of my three all-time favorite must-see Christmas movies, along with "It's a Wonderful Life" and of course "A Christmas Carol" (with Alastair Sim or Mr. Magoo -- nope, I'm not kidding. ).

What?!?! no Christmas Story?!?!

Sorry, no.

 

[Random_Spock]

...without being nauseatingly saccharine.

Yep. Something far too many contemporary productions are laden with.

So true. I've seen my share of holiday films which are so sickeningly sweet that it makes me want to vomit.

 

[scotpens]

Has anyone seen all four versions of Miracle on 34th Street -- the original 1947 film, the 1959 TV version with Ed Wynn, the 1973 TV-movie with Sebastian Cabot, and the 1994 movie with Richard Attenborough? How would you say they compare with each other?

. . .Plus it really holds up well, besides the phones, and the glass milk cartons the movie could take place today.

Uh, I don't mean to sound like an obnoxious know-it-all, but I believe they're called "bottles."

 

[Warped9]

Has anyone seen all four versions of Miracle on 34th Street -- the original 1947 film, the 1959 TV version with Ed Wynn, the 1973 TV-movie with Sebastian Cabot, and the 1994 movie with Richard Attenborough? How would you say they compare with each other?

I've only seen the '47 and '73 versions. I've seen snippets of the '94 film and nothing of the '59 version which I didn't even know existed until I watched the special features on the '47 version's dvd.