The Miracle on 34th Street (1955)

The Miracle on 34th Street (1955)

20th Century Fox Television, USA, 1955.

Part of Mill Creek's Family Holiday 20 Film Collection.

Man named Kris Kringle (Thomas Mitchell) appears to Macy's and gets a job as Santa. Young girl Susan (Sandy Descher) has been told by her mother Doris (Teresa Wright) that Santa is only a myth. Kris believes himself to be real Santa Claus. Doris works in Macy's too and weirdly acting Santa makes her think that he is a looney. He is just a nice man with the white whiskers. Lawyer Fred Gaily (Macdonald Carey) who is new boyfriend of Doris believes that Kris is a good man who makes children happy. Kris has to go to a sour psychiatrist Dr. Sawyer (John Abbott) who hates Santa Claus. Eventually court has to decide if Kris is insane or is he real Santa Claus.

Fred Gaily

Doris

Kris and Susan

20th Century Fox TV version of the classic 1947 movie is a nice short version (46 min) of the classic film. It was probably made to benefit from the increasing popularity of the TV-medium. It feels very condensed but it has nothing to be disliked. It has right amounts of Christmas magic, humour and good acting.

Dr Sawyer

Rating: Good

Starring: Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, Thomas Mitchell, Sandy Descher, Hans Conried, Ray Collins, Dick Foran, John Abbott, Don Beddoe, Whit Bissell, Sara Berner, Herb Vigran, Maudie Prickett, Paul Smith, Herbert Heyes, Louis Towers, Earl Robie, Benjie Bancroft, John Breen , Bud Cokes, Franklyn Farnum, James Flavin, George Ford, Stuart Hall, Wilbur Mack, Jack Mower, Paul Power, Jessie Proctor, Bob Reeves, Edward Rickard, Scott Seaton, Mabel Smaney 

Director: Robert Stevenson