Classic Christmas Movies on Sky Arts - Miracle on 34th Street

 

This episode is all about the 1947 black and white film and not the one with Richard Attenborough from 1994. What was most interesting was the fact that when first released (in the summer!) it was marketed as a rom com and that is why the two adult leads are pictured on the poster. Not a mention of Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, who actually won the Oscar for best supporting actor. Later on we hear all about his background. Here he is when the studio eventually cashed in on it's Christmas theme.

The movie asks the one question, is he real. The ambiguity is key. This is an original story by Valentine Davies and directed by George Seaton. Neal Norman tells us "it sounds like a children's film when actually is a movie for adults". The story is based on the rivalry between the two main New York department stores, Macy's and Gimbels leading up to Christmas. It all starts with the Macy's parade and the film has real New York locations. In fact the two stores wanted the film re-shot to leave out any refence to their names. But, as Stephen Armstrong says, "you cannot buy pr like this". We hear all about Maureen O'Hara's character as the mother, and about her background. Also her daughter in the film, ten year old Natalie Wood. But hardly a mention of John Payne as Fred Gailey in that poster at the top.