Eyes on Christmas: Miracle on 34th Street

It is hard to eleven that Christmas is just about here. When I was thinking about the marathon, I was thinking of doing 3 or 4 movies a week, but I ended up doing one a day and it feels like I just started. Anyway, since the day is so close, I decided to go to a classic holiday film that I have not seen in some time. This is a movie that I am not sure if I have seen this since I was a little kid. Whatever the time was, it was a big enough time gap so that as I watched it, it felt pretty new. I liked that.



The movie is the original Miracle on 34th Street, a bonafide classic. As I sit here looking for words to write about it, I cannot think of any. It is the sort of movie that has been covered and written about so much over the years that anything I would have to say would be but a drop in the bucket, more noise filling the echo chamber.

There is something infinitely sweet, hopeful, and touching about it that never feels insincere or pandering. It is one of those movies that is so easy to watch and enjoy. Part of that enjoyment has to be the performance of Edmund Gwenn. His portrayal of Kris Kringle is just pitch perfect.

For those unfamiliar with the story, it concerns a nice man hired to be Santa at Macy's who claims to be the real thing. He is eventually committed for being insane only to have an idealistic young lawyer step to his defense and look to prove that he is the real deal.

What helps the move pass the test of time is the way it plays as a way of allowing children to believe, it also puts the commercialization of the holiday on trial. It certainly as an interesting way it plays to the two different audiences.

All I really know is that I should make it a more regular viewing each year. Maybe one day I will actually have something interesting to say about it.

Highly Recommended.



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