Miracle on 34th Street (1947) : Classic Movie Hub (CMH)

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Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Director(s)	George Seaton
Producer(s)	William Perlberg
Top Genres	Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Top Topics	Book-Based, Children, Christmas, Holiday, Integrity, New York, Romance (Drama)

Featured Cast:

See Full Cast

Maureen O'Hara
(as Doris Walker)

John Payne
(as Fred Gailey)

Edmund Gwenn
(as Kris Kringle)

Miracle on 34th Street Overview:

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by George Seaton and produced by William Perlberg.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Valentine Davies published in 1947.

SYNOPSIS

After It's a Wonderful Life (1946), this is the ultimate Hollywood Christmas movie, featuring Gwenn as the real Kris Kringle playing a department-store Santa who teacher the true meaning of Christmas to a doubting 9-year-old Wood, O'Hara's daughter. A sentimental slice of Americana that still brings a smile. Ritter's screen debut. Remade in 1973 and 1994. The 50th-anniversary edition includes remastered footage and a promotional short.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Miracle on 34th Street was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2005.

Academy Awards 1947 --- Ceremony Number 20 (source: AMPAS)

Award	Recipient	Result
Best Supporting Actor	Edmund Gwenn	Won
Best Writing	Valentine Davies	Won
Best Writing	George Seaton	Won
Best Picture	20th Century-Fox	Nominated

BlogHub Articles:

75 years and five versions of Miracle on 34th Street

on Dec 21, 2022 From Comet Over Hollywood

Released on June 4, 1947, the 20th Century Fox film, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET celebrates 75 years in 2022. Since its release, the film and story have continued to be a holiday favorite. While the 1947 film continues to be celebrated, the story was retold and adapted for five times over the span of 47 ... Read full article

Maureen O'Hara and John Payne experience the "Miracle on 34th Street"

By Stephen Reginald on Dec 13, 2022 From Classic Movie Man

Maureen O'Hara and John Payne experience the "Miracle on 34th Street" Miracle on 34th Street (1947) is a comedy-drama directed by George Seaton and starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, and Edmund Gwenn. Others in the cast include Natalie Wood, Gene Lockhart, Porter Hall, Jerome Cowan, William F... Read full article

Review: Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 24, 2018 From 4 Star Films

From its opening motif of a man nitpicking the arrangement of reindeer in a shop window, Miracle on 34th Street skates away on a delightful journey that evokes both fanciful whimsy and a liberal amount of holiday sentimentality. However, it also one of the finest examples and greatest purveyors of h... Read full article

25 Days of Christmas: Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

on Dec 22, 2017 From Journeys in Classic Film

This review originally ran on December 20th, 2011.? My thoughts on the film itself haven’t changed, and have only grown. Natalie Wood continues to astound me, and the film has such love embedded in it. How can I say I’m a film fan, and actually write reviews for a living, if I’ve o... Read full article

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

on Dec 1, 2017 From Journeys in Classic Film

I gave my thoughts on 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street in a previous review which you can peruse here before reading my thoughts on the remake. I was rather harsh regarding this remake in my original review, if only because I’ve grown to accept this film’s faults and praise what it do... Read full article

See all Miracle on 34th Street articles

Quotes from

Kris Kringle: You know what the imagination is?
Susan Walker: Oh, sure. That's when you see things, but they're not really there.
Kris Kringle: Well, that can be caused by other things, too.

Susan: I believe... I believe... It's silly, but I believe.

Kris Kringle: Now wait a minute, Susie. Just because every child can't get his wish that doesn't mean there isn't a Santa Claus.

Facts about

The character of District Attorney Thomas Mara is clearly based on Thomas E. Dewey, a Manhattan District Attorney, who went on to become governor of New York state and twice the (unsuccessful) Republican candidate for President in 1944 and 1948. Jerome Cowan, the actor who played Mara and Dewey bear a strong physical resemblance and both wore mustaches, highly unusual for professional men of the time. Also, the Judge mentions that the District Attorney is a Republican, also a rarity back then for elected officials in New York City.

20th Century-Fox studio head Darryl F. Zanuck was very much against making this film because he thought it too corny to succeed. He finally agreed to a medium-sized budget provided writer/director George Seaton would accept his next three assignments unconditionally. Seaton, who desperately wanted to get the picture made, agreed.

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 21, 1954 with Edmund Gwenn again reprising his film role.

Featured Cast: See Full Cast

Maureen O'Hara(as Doris Walker)

John Payne(as Fred Gailey)