My Movie Review of Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Merry Christmas, my friends!

This is your jolly film, TV show, and episode reporter here with another review.

Today, for the 2nd installment of this year's "Christmas Craze", I'm gonna give you guys my take of "Miracle on 34th Street". The 1947 version, to be precise.

Considering the fact that the plot is the same as the 1994 version I reviewed years before, I hardly think that a summary is necessary. But, I will say that this version has some significant differences from the former, among them being that the main antagonist is an arrogant psychologist named Granville Sawyer instead of a rival store company like in the remake.

In all honesty, I can't remember if I planned on reviewing the old version of "Miracle on 34th Street" before, but I do recall being open to the possibility if given the chance. With Christmas here, I wanted to analyze one more movie based on the holiday, and I chose this film since it was free to watch on Amazon Prime Video earlier this month.

As a fan of the 1994 remake, I definitely believed that it wouldn't be fair of me not to review the very film it was based on. It'd be like saying a potato is better than a tomato without actually trying the red fruit.

Coming from a guy who actually saw the 1947 version of "Miracle on 34th Street" twice this year, the main flaw I personally noted was this:

Whereas the 1994 version took the time to breathe and flesh out every part, the 1947 version didn't do so with many of the story's core aspects. There were some parts of the story that seemed a little too quick and straightforward for my liking, such as the moment where Kris becomes a last minute replacement for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Other than that, though, the 1947 version was still an amazing film in its own right. Especially as a product of the early 1900s.

For instance, the direction and story by George Seaton, and the screenplay by Valentine Davies, were fantastic.

Regardless of how straightforward and quick some parts were, I thought George Seaton did a marvelous job ensuring that the film flowed smoothly, and the narrative still kept itself focused and didn't leave any loose ends. On top of this, it was incredibly heartfelt and touching thanks to the developing romance between Doris Walker and Fred Bailey, as well as the friendships Kris made with Doris, Fred, and Susan. Its morals and themes on friendship and believing were also strong and meaningful, and they were executed brilliantly throughout the film.

Another thing I'd like to point out is that this movie was undeniably the most comedic of the two versions. Everything about this movie's overall approach to the concept felt strongly reminiscent of a situational family comedy, and the jokes and humorous moments were truly a delight to watch. The humor was so innocent and well-executed that I couldn't resist laughing, that's for sure.

The acting, characters, and character development were terrific as well.

Doris, Fred, and Susan may not have had the same amount of personal depth as their counterparts in the remake, but they were still very lovable and three-dimensional characters in their own way. The performances of Maureen O'Hara as Doris, John Payne as Fred, and Natalie Wood as Susan were also quite marvelous, particularly because their performances were what helped their characters be all-the-more fully-realized as individuals.

If I had to pick what cast member gave the best performance out of everyone, though, it'd be Edmund Gwenn in his portrayal of Kris Kringle. Not only did Gwenn look the part of Santa, but he gave Kris a warmth and innocence that made him instantly lovable inside and out, especially to where he captured exactly what Santa would be like if someone outside of the North Pole were to meet him. Even the sense of humor he incorporated felt like exactly the kind the real Santa Clause would have. Kringle himself had a jolly personality and dynamic development, and his moral stances made him someone to instantly root for no matter what.

In conclusion, "Miracle on 34th Street (1947)" may not be 100% perfect nor as fantastic as the 1994 remake, but it's still a wonderful and worthwhile film regardless. It's a Christmas movie that I'd personally recommend to others, that's for sure.

So, I rate "Miracle on 34th Street (1947)" 4½ out of 5 stars.