(2013-05-17 12:01:56)

AWESOME!!!!

I saw this movie on On Demand and it was awesome. Maureen O'Hara didn't like the script, which accounts for her suffering perfomance, which otherwise was a perfect movie.

(2013-05-17 00:17:30)

Great Improvement

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) I was pleasantly surprised at the improved quality of the Blu Ray edition of Miracle on 34th Street. Glad I bought this one.

(2013-05-14 09:31:26)

Miracle on 34th street

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street (Special Edition) (DVD) This is one of the christmas classics that I have always loved. When my daughter said that her kids had never seen this movie I decided to get the movie for them as a gift.It was perfect and when they had seen the movie the kids wanted to see it again. I'm 71 and I still love Christmas and if there were no Santa Clause then I'd find a way to invent him.

(2013-05-13 11:20:53)

The perfect Christmas movie

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street (DVD) The only drawback of this DVD is the colorized version. Technicolor was available when this movie was made, but the director and producers chose not to use it. Maybe there was a reason for that.Fortunately, the black and white version is here too- the better one.Here's a thought though. Why is it that every time a person is presented in something other than a fantasy- as someone who believes himself to be Santa Claus- he's always shown as a mental patient?

(2013-05-12 05:40:44)

Miracle on 34th Street - Natalie Wood

I have loved this movie since I was a child. Now I have it on DVD and never get tired of seeing it. I have put it in with my students Christmas movies. Wonderful movie! In fact, I have bought both versions on this movie!

(2013-05-11 23:18:14)

Santa or not, I am not a cynic but was bored

Santa or not, I am not a cynic but was bored. Good actors though. I am not going to see this movie a second time if i can help it.

(2013-05-09 18:49:57)

Lovely children's classic

Although I've seen other versions of this film, this is the one I enjoy the most, probably because I enjoy the nostalgia of the classic black and white cinematography and the "Hollywood Era" stars. There are colorized versions of it, but because I grew up with the black and white version, I prefer the latter. A very young Natalie Wood stars as the little girl Susan who doesn't believe in Santa Claus, because her mother has decided she should grow up practical and realistic about the world. She's so dear and so precocious you can relate to her instantly. Her attempt to learn about the Imagi-nation by imitating a monkey is classic.Edmund Gwenn is the ultimate Khris Kringle--although I did enjoy Sebastian Cabot's version also. He's charming and loveable in the role, and whether you believe he is who he says he is or not, you definitely like him. Maureen O'Hara is at her most beautiful in the post war fashions of the 40s and is the thoroughly modern woman of her era. A divorced, working Mom with no illusions about the world and the people in it, she gives Santa a greater task than her daughter does, since it's not just Santa in which she has lost faith. This film was made in 1947 only a few years after the end of World War II, and women had only just achieved a degree of "can do" status because of their war time participation, so the film has some pretty interesting things to say about society. Generally speaking, divorce for any reason had been considered a bad thing and divorced women had often been socially ostracized, so this is a great departure from earlier social norms. The fact, however, that she is being encouraged to "believe" in Santa and abandon her pragmatism and independance may well be part of the move to return women to the "good old days" where their only role was the household. Certainly the 1950s would see a far less light handed attempt to force women back into the home and subservience and convince them that they were a little too stupid to actually deal with life outside of it--at least in film. This was more due to a radical about face of the film industry under the very real political threats posed by conservative elements during the McCarthy era than it was to the realities of life during the period. Like it or not, real life would never be that simplistic and certainly by the 1960s both society and the cinema saw all "hell break loose" from the top to the bottom of society. For a little while at least, there was a little warmth and charm at Christmas.A wonderful Christmas classic.

(2013-05-09 08:29:39)

Great movie

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street (Special Edition) (DVD) This is a great Christmas movie for Santa Clause. Always remember though that Jesus Christ's birthday is the reason for Christmas

(2013-05-09 05:16:23)

COLORIZED MIRACLE

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street (Special Edition) (DVD) Unlike a lot of critics who are totally against colorization of classic movies, my wife and I love them. This is one of our favorites. There;'s nothing more to say. If anyone else know of any other colorized classic films we'd sure apprciate it.

(2013-05-08 18:14:28)

Santa on Trial

'Miracle on 34th Street' is still an enduring holiday movie. There is a lot of novelty to draw upon. A man from a nursing home takes over the Santa helm at Macy's Department store and has all the charm and warmth to replace his drunken predecessor in a pinch. He's liked well enough until he takes the role seriously enough to proclaim he is 'the' Santa Claus and even writes it on his job form. Although endearing, he alarms his employer who objects when he insists to his daughter (Natalie Wood, who looks the same when she's grown up, only smaller) that Santa is the real and he's the real McCoy. The cynical won't have it, and Macy's psychiatrist and a local politician behind the judge (William Frawley, later Fred of 'I Love Lucy' fame) analyse the situation until it becomes a ticklish affair among the press. With some realistic acting by key players and a fun premise that is both fanciful and true-to-life, 'Miracle on 34th Street' is believable enough to keep us all going.

ShootingShark

(2013-05-06 00:48:17)

Kringle Has Been Declared A Menace To Society

Doris Walker works for Macy's department store in New York and hires anunusual man, Kris Kringle, to play Santa Claus. The problem is Kringleclaims he really is Santa Claus and wants to convince Doris and herdaughter Susan of the need to believe in magic …Everybody likes a good Christmas movie (my favourite is Gremlins) andthis is one of the best, with a funny script by writer-director Seaton,excellent performances throughout and a cheerfully whimsicalatmosphere. What I particularly like about it is that it lets you makeup your own mind about Kris Kringle - is he really Santa Claus, or justa somewhat deluded but nice old man ? What's important is not so muchwhether you believe in Santa but whether you believe he believes he'sSanta, and the story wisely never resorts to having him perform somemiracle, thereby ruining the wonder and mystery. Gwenn is fabulous inthe pivotal role, but then he's always good (check him out also inForeign Correspondent, Them! and particularly The Trouble With Harry).He plays scenes like the one where he talks to the Dutch girl withoutever overdoing it or sentimentalising; he's more irascible anddown-to-Earth than your average movie Santa. For me, this is also aquintessential Noo Yawk picture, with Bugs Bunny accents, bubblegumkids (eight-year-old Wood is remarkably sassy and straight-laced) and aslightly cracked wiseguy sensibility. It somehow manages to be bothtender and streetwise, but most of all is just good fun. There are alot of Christmas movies - everybody from Monty Python to ArnoldSchwarzenegger has tried one - but this is one of the best. Remadeseveral times for TV and again as a feature in 1994, but none of themare as good as this original. An Oscar-winner for both Seaton andGwenn, and a warm-hearted classic.

cassc1

(2013-05-05 18:45:24)

wonderful film all year long

A Miracle of Thirty-Fourth Street is a heart warming tale that extolsthe virtue of unleashing the inner child in each one of us. Thisfabulous story teaches us to follow our heart, use our imagination, andbelieve in the impossible. While commonly associated with Christmas(for obvious reasons) it is a joy to watch any time of year (it isespecially wonderful when you need your faith in humanity renewed!) Asrelevant today as the day it was filmed young and old will delight inwatching this film and unlike many of today's so called family filmsthis is one that the whole family can actually watch together. I knowof VHS versions in black-and-white (perfect for the film purist) or ina color version for those looking for a bit of an update. A Miracle onThirty-Fourth Street is a true classic in ever sense of the word.

johnryan247-1

(2013-05-05 00:05:20)

A perfect 10

Miracle on 34th Street is, in my opinion, that rarity of rarities, atruly perfect film. Without a doubt my favorite holiday film and one ofmy favorite all-around films, the movie is flawless. The spirit, tone,and message are timeless, and indeed seem to ring truer with everyviewing. The gorgeous Maureen O'Hara conveys just the right balance ofemotions, and we believe her as the cynical and bitter abandoned wife,and revel in her slow but sure acceptance of "lovely intangibles". JohnPayne is just right as her suitor, and Natalie Wood, well what can onesay about Natalie Wood? Beautiful and precocious and yet without a hintof "child actor", she is true and real and absolutely natural. Thesupporting cast is priceless...Thelma Ritter, Gene Lockhart, WilliamFrawley, Porter Hall, Jerome Cowan....each one unforgettable andperfectly cast. Even the smaller roles are pitch perfect...who canforget Mrs. Schellhammer's tipsy phone conversation? That said, I savethe best for last....Edmund Gwenn IS Santa Claus! This has to be theperformance bar against which all other portrayals of Santa Claus aremeasured...although honestly, I'm still not absolutely convinced it ISa performance, since I believe he really is Santa Claus. How can younot be touched when Kris talks and sings with the Dutch girl? Or whenhe teaches Susan how to be a monkey? I watch this movie every yeararound Christmas time, and it always makes me laugh out loud as well asbring tears to my eyes several times.PERFECT, FLAWLESS, UNMATCHED....THE BEST

PO'D

(2013-05-04 05:44:50)

THIS GETS MY VOTE...

As the BEST Christmas movie ever made! Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar for his portrayal as the REAL Santa Claus (or is he? The screenplay also won an Oscar...) alongside Maureen O'Hara as a very practical no nonsense New York businesswoman, and her daughter, played by a wonderful very young Natalie Wood. Everything about this film sparkles from the first frame to the last, and it will always and forever remain the quintessential Christmas film. Perfectly marvelous and charming...there simply aren't enough adjectives to describe how joyous this film makes you feel inside. Please do yourself a favor and just go out and buy it if you don't already own it. And watch it with your family year after year to kick off the Christmas season.Transplendent!

(2013-05-03 10:33:14)

Miracle on 34th Street

I expected the colorized version but instead recieved the black and white version and there were not any indications of niether on the shopping page so it's not really the film it's self but more of the advertisement

(2013-05-02 23:17:24)

Great movie bad blu ray

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) What else can I say about the movie. It is a classic. This blu ray however is a wast of money. The blu ray says it has a color version, but it does not. The transfer is not that great ether. I can still see flaws in the transfer. Wait for a better copy. And please when the disk says it has a color version, give me a color version.

(2013-04-29 00:00:17)

Miracle on 34th Street

Was there ever a better big-screen Santa than Oscar winner Edmund Gwenn? This timeless Christmas fable about an elderly retiree who sets New York a-twitter with his claim to be the sleigh-riding patron saint of the North Pole captures the spirit of the season like few other holiday films. Young Natalie Wood is delightful as the disbelieving girl who, hewing to her mother's urban sophisticate views, thinks the notion of elves and Saint Nick is preposterous. Repeat viewings won't diminish the charming allure or the endearing message of "Miracle."

(2013-04-28 12:00:06)

THE ONLY VERSION WORTH OWNING.

Perfection was struck when they made this movie. Why they even bothered with the awful remakes is beyond the comprehension of even the wisest of people. I'm not going to go into a plot detail. One reviewer described Thomas Mara Jr. getting his oversized football helmut Christmas morning. I tried going to every site possible and can find no mention of that scene. Besides that scene doesn't sound all that monumental. Now if that beautiful, throat lumping, eyes welling up, I hope everyone in the room is watching the movie and not me scene with the little Dutch girl was cut, THAT would be a far better reason to boycott this dvd. But they haven't. It's all there. With all the bonus features this 2 disc version is a must have. If you have the previously released DVD the cute 5 minute trailer is known as (promotional spot) on this set. Disc 2. There's a nicety to having both the colorized and original Black & White versions. I'm comfortable watching either one. I am amazed and disgusted as I find a growing number of morons oops! (I mean people) who flat out refuse to watch anything that's in Black & White. No matter how good it is. I suffered through the 1997 remake with my then wife who totally refused to watch this version simply because it was in B&W. The color version looks a little drab. A little adjustment of the tint and color settings from your TV may be necessary for the best possible picture. I know alot of people are upset because a classic B&W movie has been tampered with. Chances are, maybe the filmakers wanted to film this in color, but Fox studio exec Darryl F Zanuck did not grant a large enough budget. After all this is a Christmas movie. Who wouldn't want to display all the wonderous colors of Christmas. If this dvd was offered as a colorized version only, I would still buy it. Why? Because I could always turn the color completely off on my TV and instantly have the classic B&W version. I dread the thought of movies being colorized just to draw in knuckleheads who didn't have the respect for the classic films in the first place. Yet I'm curious as to what would something like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein look like in color. Wow! Sorry about the tangent. This is a great movie colorized or not.

(2013-04-26 23:07:12)

The oldies can't be beat!

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) (Amazon Instant Video) Miracle on 34th Street (Special Edition) This movie is the best one to watch with children that are questioning the reality of Santa, since it gives a foundation to the fact that we can believe in what we want. As they get older, children seem to lean toward the belief that there is no Santa, thus removing the "fun" of the holiday. The idea that a big man with a white beard and a jolly laugh will bring you gifts if you are good is a long-time belief that keeps kids wondering, as they try to "be good" so they'll get their just rewards. When that belief is gone, the holiday joy is also gone. This movie shows just this.The little girl in the movie is not a believer to begin with, but the arrival of Kris Kringle and events that transpire during the movie have her changing her belief by the end of the movie. The movie plot is enjoyable every year, no matter how many times it's shown on TV. Owning the movie means you won't have to wait until one of the stations decide to show it - you can make that decision yourself!We hope you can have the same enjoyment from this movie that our family has had.

(2013-04-26 07:38:20)

Miracle on 34th Street

This review is from: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) (Amazon Instant Video) Miracle on 34th Street is a classic Christmas film. To be able to view this story at your own descretion is great and to see again Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn adn Natalie Wood as a little girl is priceless. There is a Santa Claus