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Miracle on 34th Street 1947 20TH CENTURY FOX, DIRECTED BY GEORGE SEATON Starring Maureen O‘Hara, Edmund Gwenn, John Payne and Natalie Wood I’m not sure what to say about Miracle on 34th Street. I guess I assumed it would be just a little more Christmas filled. A little more Jolly. But instead, I spent much of the film wondering just when it would reach the point when I could predict the final outcome. Don’t be confused. This isn’t a bad movie. Its nowhere near disaster, but far from a classic in my personal opinion. I think maybe I held it up on a pedestal in light of my taste for classic movies and television shows. Just the other night, I enjoyed It’s a Wonderful Life. Perhaps that movie shares a little of the same concept as Miracle. Where is the Christmas? Edmund Gwenn plays Kris Kringle. At the opening, we find Kringle walking throughout the streets of New York City critiquing a reindeer scheme in a store window and taking in the sights of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After spotting a drunk Santa, he seeks out the parades director to voice his concerns. Doris Walker(Maureen O’Hara) insist Kringle take over. He’s a huge hit and makes a big impact in the Christmas festivities. Later on, he’s introduced to Doris’ daughter Susan(Natalie Wood), who is growing old at the age of six. She has zero imagination and is already well on her way to believing the world is out to get her. Kringle slowly but surely helps Susan see things in a different light. However, she gives him an ultimatum; he must give her the gift she wants for Christmas (a house), or else it proves he isn’t real. Even with that against him, he’s constantly under the microscope of everyone he comes in contact with. All the workers at Macy’s and even Susan’s mother are constantly up in arms over his apparent “dillusions”. When push comes to shove, we find Kris in court where the existence of Santa Clause is up for verdict. The biggest downfall I had was the story and its chain of events . It just felt so passively executed and turned down. There wasn’t any single scene that sticks out today, and that wasn’t any moment that built up to the big finish. For me, this movie flat-lined. At best It seems like I should have more to say. Perhaps exhaustion played a role in this. I couldn’t get interested. I couldn’t feel any sort of connection to anyone or the situations in which the story was to lead me. A classic for some, but at this time, I can say that I would suggest many other titles over this one. MOUNT CRUMPIT RATING: 2 / 5 |
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