Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
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A man claiming to be the real Santa Claus finds himself at the center of a legal and public relations battle in New York City.
The story
Set between Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York City, the story follows the aftermath of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A man named Kris Kringle, who claims to be the real Santa Claus, is hired to work at a department store on 34th Street. While his presence generates positive publicity, his claims spark concern among the staff. When a young girl, Susan, becomes enamored with the man, the situation becomes complicated by the store's management and a skeptical psychologist. The film explores the tension between the reality of the city and the magic of the holiday season as Kris faces scrutiny over his identity.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Kris Kringle is hired to work at a Macy's store on 34th Street. While he is a hit with customers, the store's psychologist, Mr. Sawyer, deems him mentally unstable and seeks to have him institutionalized. Kris is eventually taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he is tricked into a commitment. However, a lawyer named Fred Gailey takes his case to court. During the trial, the District Attorney forces Kris to declare his identity as Santa Claus. The case hinges on whether the court can prove he is the 'one and only' Santa. Evidence from the Post Office, which delivers letters to him, helps him win the case. On Christmas Day, Kris invites Fred, Doris, and Susan to a celebration. Although Susan is initially disappointed that he couldn't get her a dream house, she finds joy when she sees a house for sale that matches her description. The film ends with Fred and Doris considering buying the house, while Fred begins to wonder if Kris truly is the real Santa.
- Original title
- The Big Heart
- First release year
- 1947
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- George Seaton
- Writers
- George Seaton · screenplay; Valentine Davies · story
- Cast and characters
- Maureen O'Hara; John Payne; Edmund Gwenn · Kris Kringle; Natalie Wood; Gene Lockhart; Porter Hall; William Frawley; Jerome Cowan; Philip Tonge; Jack Albertson
- Genres
- comedy-drama; fantasy
- Themes
- faith
- Tone and mood
- sentimental; warm
- Premise and plot tags
- holiday; legal; fantasy
- Source material / true-story basis
- short novelization
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews and is considered a Christmas classic. It was noted for its 'gentle sentimentalism' and 'warm holiday message'.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actor in a Supporting Role · win; Academy Award · Best Writing, Original Story · win; Academy Award · Best Writing, Screenplay · win; Academy Award · Best Picture · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was initially released as 'The Big Heart' in the UK.; The film was one of the first full-length black and white films to be colorized.; The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade sequences were filmed live while the 1946 parade was happening.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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