Holiday Classic: 'Miracle on 34th Street'

December 23, 8:41 AMAtlanta Movies ExaminerRyan McNally

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What happens when Santa Claus drops right in among us, cruising the holiday parade, manning the Santa chair at the NYC Macy’s, and spreading general goodwill? Is he celebrated for his kindness, or thrown into the loony bin for referring to himself as Kris Kringle? How a sometimes-jaded modern society reacts to Mr. Kringle is at the heart of the 1947 holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street.

Maureen O’Hara plays Doris Walker, a single mom with a cynical worldview. Sing to her young daughter Susan, encourage her to play make-believe, or tell her about the legend of Santa? Nah. Doris is all about realism over faith, even when it comes to her little daughter. Ironically, Doris runs the Macy’s Christmas Parade, and on the morning of the parade she discovers to her considerable chagrin that “Santa” is drunk as a skunk.

Enter the mysterious Kris Kringle (Edmund Glenn), who bears a distinct resemblance to Mr. Claus and does such a good job as a last-minute parade replacement that he’s invited to be Macy’s official Santa. He’s a whiz with the kids, so good that even though he sends children’s parents to rival stores for gifts Macy’s doesn’t have, he generates so much business that Macy’s president still loves him.

Alas, his stubborn notion that he is THE Santa Claus is troubling to Doris, who has him examined by the store psychologist. Things get more complicated when Kris moves in with Fred Gailey—a dreamer and would-be Doris suitor looking to crack her icy exterior—and develops a warm relationship with little Susan.

Unfortunately, Kringle’s mental competency again comes under question, this time in the form of a heavily publicized trial. With Fred as his defense attorney, they set out to prove that he is perfectly sane. Will Santa be freed, or is society so calloused that it throws him into a mental institution?

Miracle on 34th Street is the rare holiday film to be nominated for Best Picture, and it’s easy to see why. The combination of humor, romance and sentimentalism—hilariously chronicled in the film’s bizarre trailer—is a winner. The excellent screenplay, written by director George Seaton, keeps things light from the start, with an amusing sequence in which Kris Kringle stops to explain to an incredulous storekeeper how his storefront reindeer display is incorrectly arranged.

Despite its age, the film feels timely, especially in its depiction of big business trying to use Santa for its promotional benefit. And the idea of how a hardened society reacts to Santa’s presence resonates in today’s world, where innocent wonder is hard to find among the endless stream of confessional reality-TV pseudocelebs desperately grabbing for their 15 minutes of fame.

Acting-wise, the film’s highlight is Gwenn, pure perfection as Kris Kringle. His Santa loves kids and has a big heart, but he’s also got a quick wit and isn’t above the occasional fit of outage. Gwenn is convincing whether he’s fighting the system or joyfully interacting with kids, and the performance won him the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

With its entertaining mix of genres, and a heartfelt story that’s smart and sweet but never overdoes it on sugary sap, Miracle on 34th Street is a deserving holiday classic and essential viewing for the Christmas season.