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Anyone skeptical of updated retreads of Christmas movie classics may be
genuinely surprised by this 1994 version of Miracle on 34th
Street. Based on the 1947 holiday classic, this new Miracle
sticks close to the original's story, though it offers more
contemporary, crisper pacing and a tone curiously more reflective--even
sorrowful--than before. Richard Attenborough is charming and twinkly as
Kris Kringle, the part that won Edmund Gwenn an Oscar. Mara Wilson is
the little New York City girl who doesn't believe in Santa Claus until
Kris persuades her otherwise. Elizabeth Perkins is her hardened mother,
and Dylan McDermott plays the handsome lawyer next door who defends
Kris during an insanity hearing. While screenwriter John Hughes has
toughened up the dialogue a bit, and McDermott's intensity looks like a
dry run for his then- future role on television's The Practice,
this Miracle is as persuasively sweet as the one
previous. --Tom Keogh
Mara Wilson is WAY better (my opinion) than Natalie Wood -
Dennis Grittner
"You're Just A
Nice Old Man With A Beard", December 16, 2005
If you were a child growing up in the fifties
like I was you will certainly remember that there were three classic
Christmas films that you had to see every holiday season. They were; 'A
Christmas Carol' ('51), 'It's A Wonderful Life' ('47) and 'Miracle On
34th Street' ('47).
'Miracle On 34th Street' is a charming, magical tale about modern day loss of innocence and joy and how one rotund old man with a white beard revives the "Spirit of Christmas" in an increasingly cyncial world. He sees little Susan Walker (Natalie Wood) as his test case. If he can't convince her that he is the real Santa Claus, all is lost.
Will he succeed? Can he convince not only Susan, but the entire state of New York? Even more impossible, can he teach Susans' Mother (Maureen O'Hara) to open her heart and trust once again. Anything is possible at Christmast time!
Edmund Gwenn is wonderful in the role of Kris Kringle and John Payne serves as the perfect foil and romantic interest for Ms. O'Hara. Director Geroge Seaton and an absolutely wonderful cast give the performances of a lifetime in this Christmas classic that belongs in everyones DVD collection.
P.S.: I have to also mention the performance of Marlene Lyden as the Dutch girl who doesn't speak a word of English but wanted to see Santa anyway. This is without a doubt one of the sweetest moments ever put on film.
| Reviewer: | Brian E. Erland "Rainbow Sphinx"
(Orange County, CA - USA) - See
all my reviews
|
'Miracle On 34th Street' is a charming, magical tale about modern day loss of innocence and joy and how one rotund old man with a white beard revives the "Spirit of Christmas" in an increasingly cyncial world. He sees little Susan Walker (Natalie Wood) as his test case. If he can't convince her that he is the real Santa Claus, all is lost.
Will he succeed? Can he convince not only Susan, but the entire state of New York? Even more impossible, can he teach Susans' Mother (Maureen O'Hara) to open her heart and trust once again. Anything is possible at Christmast time!
Edmund Gwenn is wonderful in the role of Kris Kringle and John Payne serves as the perfect foil and romantic interest for Ms. O'Hara. Director Geroge Seaton and an absolutely wonderful cast give the performances of a lifetime in this Christmas classic that belongs in everyones DVD collection.
P.S.: I have to also mention the performance of Marlene Lyden as the Dutch girl who doesn't speak a word of English but wanted to see Santa anyway. This is without a doubt one of the sweetest moments ever put on film.
Film
2:‘Miracle on 34th Street’, 1994
Editorial Reviews