Look I know, it’s technically after Christmas at this point, but I love the holidays and holiday movies, and I’ve watched plenty of them this season. I’ve just been too caught up in the hecticness of the holiday itself this past week to be able to jump on here and talk about any of them until now, so that’s what we’re going to do. It’s still the holiday season though, the holiday vibes are still wisping through the air (even though it’s like 65 degrees here right now), and I’m going to do my best to keep them vibes around for as long as I can, so without further ado, let’s just get into it!
I’ll lead this off by saying that the original ’47 version of Miracle on 34th Street is one of my favorite holiday films ever, it honestly may be my favorite. I love the Santa character and Miracle is through and through a Santa story, or should I say a Kris Kringle story, and a more intelligent one at that. Edmund Gwenn was an amazing Santa Claus and to this day still has one of the greatest real Santa beards of all time. He felt so warm and endearing in the role, while still being the stern figure when he needed to be, like standing up to the “psychiatrist” character Granville Sawyer. That was one of the big changes in the 1994 version is they removed the spineless know-it-all psychiatrist character, which in a way was good because Sawyer sucked, but he made for some funny moments, and he was a great antagonist because he was so easy to hate. I mean this guy had so many issues of his own, yet he was out here misdiagnosing everyone else with ailments and also trying to get Santa Claus thrown in the loony bin! How much more hate-able of a character can you be?! Kris still ended up getting put on trial in the 94 version because that’s such a major element in the story, but he was provoked by a drunk hired by the competition in that one and then made out to look a lot worse than he was by them. That was another major element that changed from the original film, in the 1994 version instead of it being Macy’s, Santa worked at the fictitious department store ‘Cole’s’. Apparently, Macy’s declined the offer to be used in the remake because they had too much commitment and respect for the original film and felt like it couldn’t be improved upon, I respect that though and can’t say I disagree with them, although the 94 version is still pretty respectable as well. Instead of the competition being the very famous and real ‘Gimble’s’ as well, the remake used ‘Shopper’s Express’, which I have to say sounds like such a generic corporate big bad name, but I much prefer the real stores used in the original film.
Richard Attenborough, the old, soft voice in some of the previous nature docs and Doctor John Hammond in Jurassic Park just gave that wise old guy energy off anyways so it made so much sense that he would play Santa in something, and they capitalized on it, so I’m not at all mad at that casting choice. He may not have had that beard, but he killed the role of Kris as well, so nothing taken away from him, he’s a legend. I have to say though, I still prefer Edmund Gwenn. He just looks exactly how I imagine Santa to look; he’s like straight off the Coke cans and it was all real and all him, it’s one of my favorite castings and roles in film history. Not that I need to drive it home any further, but if I had to give my answer for who I thought the best interpretation of Santa Claus in all of film was (animated included), I really think I would have to say Edmund Gwenn in the 1947 Miracle on 34th Street. It’s been almost 80 years and it’s still yet to be outdone! Attenborough did great though, it felt like he tried to pay respect to Gwenn and the original while still making the character and the role his own. He had some very sweet and touching lines throughout the film delivered in the way only he can and seemed to really dive in and live the character as well so credit where credit is due. There is no slouchy performance of Kris Kringle/Santa Claus to be found in either interpretation of Miracle on 34th Street.
This holiday story is one of my favorites though because of the message it conveys to the audience. It’s basically a love letter to Santa Claus and the spirit of the holiday season and the idea that even as an adult, you can interpret him as real. He’s as real as the season itself, the warmth and joy and love and gift giving. He IS the spirit and the embodiment of the Christmas holiday itself so yes, he is real, just as real as you want to make him or let him be. I love that interpretation of it and it kind of shaped my viewpoint of the figure of Santa Claus and of the Christmas season itself far beyond those magical childhood years and into my adulthood. This story and these films are a joy, I recommend them both for anyone who’s been under a rock and never seen these, but you HAVE to see the original before the remake. I know from my generation especially a lot of us probably grew up with the 94 version because it was our generation’s version of the film and it was fresh and new at the time, but the original is one of the best and most heartful films and stories of all time that’s stood the test of time through generations, a true holiday classic.
That’s all for this one though folks! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you continue to have a joyous holiday season as things start to wind down and into the new year. Continue to be good and kind to one another far beyond the holiday season and continue to carry that light and spirit with you as much as you can. Until next time, give the page a like and follow or come back to the website to check out new content dropped at least weekly. It’s the end of the year so I’m about to start getting into my ‘Best Ofs’ and ‘Top 10s’ of 2025 and that’s some of the most fun I have on this blog all year long, so I’m looking forward to sharing that with you!
