Miracle on 34th Street’ is one of the best holiday films of all-time. It is very easy to see why this movie won several Oscars. The storyline is clever, imaginative, and memorable.
Mrs. Walker (Maureen O’Hara) is a single mother, who works for Macy’s Department Store in New York City. Doris raises her daughter (Natalie Wood) to be practical while leaving no room for fantasy or make believe in her life. As a result, Susan acts more like a grown up than a child.
The cast is magnificent. Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Gene Lockhart, and young Natalie Wood are all great. Above all, Edmund Gwenn is utterly stupendous as Kris Kringle. He possesses the perfect embodiment of charm as an exceptional Santa Claus and was awarded an Oscar for this role.
The idealistic figure of Santa Claus serves as a symbol who nurtures our quest to be better people and this film validates the philosophy of faith and kindness. Moreover, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ embraces traditional values that transcends and reminds us that Santa Claus does exist as a paragon for humanitarianism.
Overall, a ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ is an outstanding piece of holiday cinema – an essential classic that most everyone must see!