12 Reviews of Christmas - Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. Today for 12 Reviews of Christmas, we're taking a look at a genuine Christmas classic: Miracle on 34th Street starring Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, John Davies, and Natalie Wood. 

         So, the movie tells the story of how a man named Kris Kringle is hired to step in to be Santa Claus for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle is such a success that Doris Walker, who hired him to fill in for the previously hired Santa (who was drunk), to sit in as Santa at Macy's Department Store on 34th Street in New York City. 

        As the days continue, Kringle is proving to be quite the enigma, ignoring instructions from Macy's toy department head Mr. Shellhammer to upsell overstocked items by suggesting that a mother look at a competing department store for the toy she's looking for to get as a Christmas gift for her son. Appreciative of Kringle's honesty, the woman decides to become a loyal customer for Macy's going forward. 

       More and more, the question of whether or not Kringle is the real Santa Claus comes int play, and many don't believe that he is. However, store owner R.H. Macy is impressed with how much good will has been gained because of Kringle, and so he plans to reward everyone with bonuses. However, Shellhammer suggests hiring a psychologist named Sawyer to evaluate Kringle. Sawyer's evaluation leads to a recommendation of Kringle's dismissal from Macy's and have him confined at Bellevue. 

       All of this drama leads to a court trial, presided over by Judge Harper. The district attorney seeks to prove that not only is Kringle NOT Santa Claus, but there is no Santa Claus. As the trial goes on, more and more information is piled up that is split between proving Kringle IS Santa, and also proving that Kringle ISN'T Santa. In one last ditch effort, Doris's neighbor Fred Gailey, who is representing Kris, learns of bags and bags of letters to Santa held by the US Postal Service, which is a branch of the government. And, if those letters are delivered to Kringle, it proves that Kringle is, indeed, Santa in the eyes of the Federal government. Seeing bags upon bags of Santa letters from children, Judge Harper dismisses the case, and Kringle wishes him a Merry Christmas. 

       At an office party, Doris's daughter Susan is worried that she won't be getting her dream house as Kringle promised. However, Doris, Susan, and Fred follow a route left to them by Kringle, leading to Susan's dream house with a "For Sale" sign in front of it. Susan ultimately believes that Kringle really is Santa, but when Fred spots Kringle's came inside of the house, he isn't completely certain. 

       Okay, so Miracle on 34th Street is one of those holiday classics that is a must watch. Director George Sexton really has lightning in a bottle with this movie, with the perfect cast and an absolutely fantastic story. Yeah, the notion of a court case proving the existence of Santa Claus isn't particularly interesting, but the way the movie builds up to it easily makes it intriguing to keep watching. Edmund Gwenn gives an absolutely stellar performance as Kris Kringle, as do Maureen O'Hara as Doris and John Davies as Fred. Natalie Wood as Susan was also a highlight, showing a real maturity for someone that young. A genuine must-watch for the Christmas season, I'm giving Miracle on 34th Street a rating of 5/5. 

        Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and join me tomorrow as we take a look at Merry Little Batman as 12 Reviews of Christmas rolls on.

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