Miracle on 34th Street is all American Christmas classic that reminds us that anything is possible with a little faith in our fellow man. It is heartwarming and highlights many of the season’s traditions under a backdrop of progressive thinking and the conflicts that ensue, This black and white holiday movie has been both remade and colorized, but here we are offering Miracle on 34th Street in it’s original beauty.

Natalie Wood stars as Susan Walker a show stealing, very practical matter-of-fact child who being raised by a single Mom (Maureen O’Hara) is all too familiar with the realities of life. The story of Miracle on 34th Street is ultimately a romance, but it centers around a certain Kris Kringle played by Edmund Gwenn (aka Santa Claus) who is hired by O’Hara to be the Macy’s Parade Santa. He is super popular with the public as he speaks even to the foreigners in their native languages, and has a real beard and will direct parents to other stores, instead of pushing merchandise they don’t want. But he really gets into hot water when he declares that he is the real deal, not just some department store stand in.

It turns into a highly publicized court case that ensues which threatens to see Kris locked up in an insane asylum . John Payne playing lawyer Fred Gailey, comes to the old-timers defense. He is the neighbor to the Walkers and with the encouragement of Susan is spending more time with them, but he is desperate to find a suitable government authority to recognize Kris Kringle as the real Santa before Christmas.

Miracle on 34th Street is a feel good movie that’s filled with vintage ideals and nostalgia. A simple time when shopping for gifts was a pleasure and had to be done in a bricks and mortar store. Plus the American Dream wasn’t out of reach for most people. So for purely a feel good about life, Miracle on 34th Street scores an 8/10

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